The Cubs week in futility

Wow, what a crappy week to be a Cubs fan. Our play this week reminded me of the 3 game series with LA last October. Decent picthing performances from our starters, but no timely hits to put us on the board.

Our starters should all have better records than what they are posting right now. Each one, as far as I can remember, have kept us at 3 or below for most of their starts. But with no runs from us, I guess it doesn't really matter if I'm starting. On top of this lack of timely hitting, we are making mistake after mistake around on the bases. And our relief is in poor shape right now too. Oh, and our lack of infield depth is on display right now with Aramis' strained calf muscle. Saturday's Cardinals game is a good example of all of this:

First off, and probably most importantly, we're not scoring runs. It's not that we're not getting hits, they just aren't coming at the right time. Yesterday we matched the Cardinals with 10 hits. But, they got 7 runs, and we got 1 (that one run wouldn't have happened without a Cardinals error). This could easily just be that everyone's cold right now, and in a few weeks when we get a good home stand with the wind blowing out, all will be fine. With all our bats, I'm not too concerned with us getting hits, but there again, the hits have to come at the right time.

The baserunning yesterday was some crap. Joey Gathright, who I believe we have on our team just for his speed (because he's sure not here to hit for average or power), was picked off at first. He was froze. And, we just keep hitting into double plays when we do get men on. It's so frustrating. I like that we're trying to steal bases, but it just seems to be coming at the wrong time.

Next is our lack of depth (especially in the infield). Aramis has a strained calf and should probably be out at least 5 days or so (they said he's not going to be put on the 15 day dl). So, yesterday, our infield as lee(1b, of course), miles (2b), fontenot (3b) and theriot (ss). If any of those guys had gone done, we would have had to go to soriano or koyie hill. Last year, I think our depth on the bench was a very underated part of our success. On the bench, we had fontenot and cedeno (and you can roll your eyes about ronny cedeno if you want, he was a solid back-up last year). We also had DeRosa, who could easily play any position. This season, we picked Miles up to be that person, but Lou is playing him at second (which I think is his natural position). Last season, we'd have shifted DeRosa to third and Fontenot would play second (which is where he should be). And, we would still have Cedeno ready to go if we needed him.

And, this week our bullpen has made a bad situation worse nearly every game. We get into the 7th with some hope because we're just behind one or two runs, and the next reliever proceeds to walk a few batters then give up a home run. Case in point, Patton's batting practice grand slam toss to Pujols after filling up the bases. Did you see this pitch? I could have hit it out of Busch Stadium (at least out of the infield if there were no fielders). The Cardinals should send Patton a bottle of champagne for that. Our bullpen is in poor shape right now. Marmol is hurt and not playing. Gregg is hurt and kind of playing, and there aren't many other people there I feel comfortable with. I'd say right now, Heilman is our best bet. I get worried whenever Patton, Cotts, or Guzman take the mound. I'm glad Smarj is back, but he gave up several runs in his first game back.

Here's another problem, while I'm thinking about it. We have 3 players not playing now because they are hurt (Bradley, Ramirez, Marmol) and Gregg only able to pitch an inning at a time, but no one on the dl. So, we have 3 guys who are sitting the bench and unlikely to get in, but no one pulled up to take their place. I hope we don't end up in extra innnings next week.

I'm writing this just before the Sunday 4/26 Cardinals game. Hopefully we'll escape St Louis with a scrap of dignity becuase of the game today. But, if it goes as it has all week, Harden will pitch a solid 6 innings where he gives up a one run homer, then walks a batter and gives up a double to the next batter, making it out with just 2 runs. We will record 7 hits during Harden's six innings but won't score a run. We'll hit into 2 double plays and get caught stealing 2nd while Soriano is batting. In the 7th, whatever reliever we bring in will immediately walk at least one batter (maybe two) then give up a home run to someone in the lower half of the order (Barden or Thurston I'm guessing). We'll then be down, let's say 5-0. Fukudome will score on a double by Lee, putting us at 5-1, but this massive scoring surge will be ended by a double play two batters later. Then in the 8th, the Cards will pile on more runs from Ludwick, Duncan or Pujols on whatever reliever pitches. We will strike out or hit weak pop outs for the rest of the game (except for the double play ground outs). I hope I'm wrong.

Retiring number 31

Earlier the Cubs announced that they would be retiring the number 31 in honor of Greg Maddux and Ferguson Jenkins. Everywhere I've read, people have been excited about this, but I want to try to play devil's advocate here. When I went to UT, the University began renaming streets. They started with Peyton Manning. But, then the next year when the Vols actually won a championship under Tee Martin, it bacame evident that they needed to name a street after him as well. Then they named one after Phil Fulmer. With that, though, they had to be fair to other sports, so we also have a Todd Helton and Chamiqua Holdsclaw street. So, in the four years I was there we had 5 streets renamed. It was great during that time, but it seems like it waters down the honor. I feel like the cubs may be doing this with retired numbers.

I'm not sure why I'm so worried with this, because I think the Hall of Fame is too exclusive. But, I feel like to retire a number, you have to, not only be a great player, but you have to be a career player for your team (or at least most of your career). Banks, Santo, Williams and Sandberg are career Cubs, minus a few years at the twilight of Santo and Williams' careers. But Maddux really earned his Hall of Fame spot as a Brave. And Fergie played 10 seasons as a Cub and 10 seasons not a Cub. I love both of these guys, but to me, in this case, we're rewarding great players who are not as synonomous as Cubs as the other retired members.

One that I do think needs to be retired is Gabby Hartnett. He was a catcher for the Cubs in the 20s, 30s and 40s and also managed for the Cubs. He was in 4 of the Cubs' World Series appearances and was responsible for the "homer in the gloamin," which is considered one of the greatest moments in Cubs history. Before Johnny Bench, Hartnett was considered the greatest National League catcher all time. And, he minus two seasons with the giants at the end of his career, he was a life long Cub. I don't understand why he hasn't got the nod.

I'd like to hear what other people think

Game 2 Cubs/Astros 4/7

I'm watching the game right now in the top of the 8th inning, and I figure by the time I'm done with it the game will be over. Right now, the Astros are leading 2-1. I feel like the Cubs are playing well. Here are some of my observations about the team so far (Oh, by the way, Soriano just jacked a home run off Latroy Hawkins. Score now 2-2)

-Dempster did what he needed to do tonight. I think Lou left him in one inning too long. He looked like he was falling off in the fifth. Should have brought Angel Guzman in in the sixth. Which brings me to the next observation,
-Angel Guzman looked pretty good in his inning of work. Hopefully, he'll stay healthy. That strike out was nasty, and he wouldn't have even needed it if Theriot hadn't had his first error of the year.
-Koyie Hill straight gunned down Kaz Matsui on a steal attempt to second. It was a bullet. Man, I'm glad we chose him as back-up catcher as opposed to Paul Bako. He also hit the ball pretty hard in his first at bat.
-Tejada had a great play on the ball, but Reed Johnson was safe. I knew it before the replay.
-We gave up too many hits to people we shouldn't have. It wasn't like Berkman/Tejada/Lee killed us. When we run into a serious line-up (Mets, Phillies) we could have some trouble.
-It's one thing to not get hits off of Valverde, but who should have stroked most of the rest of those guys.
-That double play really hurt.
-I'm so tired of the word, "drinkability," already.

So much for the undefeated season.