Cubs-Marlins: A Cubs' April To Forget

You hope the Cubs' performance this month disappears with April, never to be seen again in 2009.

The Cubs' follow up their worst effort of the season in Arizona by registering more errors (three) than runs scored (two) on Thursday.

Failing to make the routine play is fast becoming the Cubs’ Achilles' heel: Errant throws on defense, coupled with an abundant lack of situational hitting, sums up Chicago’s 10-11 record to this point.

Three starters—Derrek Lee, Milton Bradley and Aaron Miles—are hitting below .200. On Thursday, only one batter, Bradley, drew a walk, and just five runners reached scoring position all night—none scoring, of course.

Thankfully, it’s still early in the season and the Cubs are too talented offensively not to start hitting. But they’re digging a grave by continuously wasting quality outings by the starting pitchers.

Marshall had his best outing of the year, although, he could tidy up his pitch count a bit—102 over seven innings. Marlins starer Chris Volstad, on the other hand, needed just 83 tosses to get through seven.

Obviously, Carlos Marmol isn’t right. One inning, two walks, a run scored, and a blown save. You can’t replace Marmol’s arm, but put this guy on the DL if it means he’ll get healthy.

Aaron Heilman was worse throwing the baseball, not to mention failing to cover first on a bunt as well.

I like seeing Koyie Hill back in the lineup. He’s earned more playing time—at least while Geovany Soto is struggling. However, Hill playing third base is a liability.

On a side note, the 10th inning had shades of Alex S. Gonzalez’s booted ball against Florida in the 2003 NLCS.

The Cubs steal three bases—Ryan Theriot swiping two and Alfonso Soriano the other. I love it!

Soriano guns down Alfredo Amezaga at second base trying to stretch a single into a double. Why do teams run on him? Why, why, why?

 

Notes

• Cubs: (10-11) are in fifth place.

• W: Pinto (2-0) L: Heilman (2-1)

• The Cubs finished April last year at 17-10.

• Chicago is 0-10 when scoring less than three runs.

• Conversely, when the Cubs score four or more runs, they’re 10-1.

• When committing an error, they are winless (0-8).