The Cubs beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-2 on Saturday, using a big, six-run seventh-inning rally to win back-to-back games for the first time since late April.
So you'd think I'd be happy, right? Well, yes and no.
I'm happy for the win, of course, and with Zambrano scheduled to take the mound on Mother's Day Sunday, the Cubbies are in position to sweep the first-place D-Backs, despite the fact that the Big Unit (Big Z's Sunday opponent) is 12-0 lifetime against our Cubs.
It's just that I need to get some things off of my chest, which shouldn't surprise my regular readers.
First off, what is Carlos Marmol doing pitching the ninth inning of a game well in hand? Isn't that why we have relievers like Wuertz and Chad Fox? Hello, Lou, anybody home?
Soriano isn't running well. True, he had four hits on the day, which brought his batting average all the way up to a pedestrian .223. But twice while rounding the bases on Saturday, Soriano slowed down, even stopping for a moment, and only clever slides overcame what could have been outs at second and at home.
Sori claims nothing's wrong, he just needs to get confidence in his legs in cold weather, whatever that means. But I'm concerned.
Along the same lines, why didn't Soriano get pulled after the Cubs big seventh inning?
Ryan Dempster is throwing too many damn pitches. He needs to get more economical so that he can pitch longer into games, and avoid blowing his arm out early this season. 118 pitches in six innings is a lot for anyone, especially a pitcher whose arm hasn't been conditioned to start for several years.
On an unrelated note, why is it absolutely no surprise to hear that a certain No. 22 pitching in the San Diego Padres system has had yet another setback?
Speaking of injured pitchers, it was good to see Stevie Ire (as Lou would call him) get a victory in his first action since last year's forgetful playoff series.
Daryle Ward was 0-for-14 with six walks as a pinch-hitter this season before his seventh-inning single. Last year, he was the National League's best pinch hitter. Hopefully, this is the start of something good. It's about time.
All in all, it was a good day for Cubs fans on Saturday. Should be a good matchup on Sunday, though bad weather is on the agenda. Come to think of it, it'll feel like summer with another victory.
Comments (8) Add a comment »
from 6 days ago
Good points, but I've learned not to ask questions when the Cubs win ;)
from 5 days ago
I like your spin on this one, to be honest. As far as Sori's leg goes, I can attest to the fact that the weather may have caused some hiccups in his rounding the bases (I have a bum knee on one leg, and a bum calf on the other, and don't run much myself anymore). Lifting him would have been the reasonable thing to do, but Lou's standard line this year has been (to paraphrase and misquote a bit)--'(They'll) need time to get in the swing of things'--insert the name of Soriano, Wood, Hill, Lilly, or really anyone else whose performance of late has been a little bit on the painful-to-watch side.
So far as putting Marmol in for the 9th, well, let's say if the Cubs can get 6 in an inning, against Wuertz OR Fox (to be fair to Fox, he's had only one outing since his callup, but it was rather pathetic), what's to say the D-Backs couldn't have? It was more of a safety and 'I don't trust those guys, even with this lead' thing. If the score were, say, 19-1, Wuertz would have been in there.
My big gripe was putting Ward in to Pinch-hit where they did. He's not been real good with it thus far, and with better options off the bench, it was a risky move. Luckily, it worked out--otherwise, there may not have been a single damn run in the 7th, and the Cubs lose the game. I guess, working with the nature of statistics, the guy without a hit has to get a hit sometime, but that's not a call I'd've made in a 1-run game.
from 5 days ago
I think leaving Marmol in the 9th inning was Lou's way off nailing down the win, as well as the series win. This is a huge momentum-based series for the Cubs, and they have proven they can compete with the elite. If they can beat Randy Johnson today (who is 12-0 lifetime vs the Cubs), the team will be more confident than ever heading into the summer. What does everyone think the outcome will be in the game today? Big Z or the Big Unit?
from 5 days ago
Well that certainly doesn't say much for Lou's confidence in his bullpen if he thinks he needs his best guy to protect a 5-run lead with 3 outs to go.
As for today, I don't know how the weather will impact things - I live on the south side (unusual I know - south side Cubs fan) and there's no way there would be a game today on this side of town. But all things equal, I like Zambrano's chances. He's been pitching really well, and while I know Big Unit has had our number, to say the least, he's not the same guy he used to be.
from 5 days ago
Oh one thing about Soriano he always heats up as the summer goes even when he was a Yankke he is going to be just fine. He would be a perfect DH candidate later on down the road.
from 5 days ago
Except Soriano can't DH in the NL and won't be tradeable due to his contract. I still say the signing is a bust, but I would be happy to be proven wrong.
from 4 days ago
I said later in his career. not sure if you noticed that I wrote that part down. also I am not sure why they even signed him he is not a good fit
from 4 days ago
he has butchered every defensive position he has played he has carried teams at times with his power but this was a bad move for the Cubs they are stuck with him for a long time
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