Come To Think of It...Cubs Lefties Just Ain't Right

Riding the momentum of back-to-back victories over the Dusty Baker-led Cincinnati Reds, the Cubs brought out their brooms looking to sweep the Reds off their feet on Thursday.

Except something got in the way. It's called bad pitching.

Ted Lilly continued his miserable start to the 2008 season by allowing five runs in six innings, falling to 0-3 on the young season.

This is the same guy who was 15-9 as the team's No. 2 starter in 2007.

Now, the bloom is off the rose for the southpaw. His velocity is down and his control is off. But Lilly knows it. For this Lilly is no shrinking violet. 

“I’m just losing patience at this point,” Lilly said. “I want to go out there and give us a solid outing and give us a chance to win. I feel I owe that to my teammates.”

Yes you do. But simply wishing won't make it so. I'm sure Lilly was wishing he had continued to pitch the entire game the way he did during the first three innings.

Lilly allowed only one hit over the first three frames, before walking two, giving up a hit, and then a double to Joey Votto (5 RBI) in the fourth inning as the Reds took a lead they never relinquished.

It didn't help that the Cubs continued to play sloppy baseball. It's fun to win ugly, but you play that way and lose, it's no laughing matter.

And now what? Well, the Cubs turn to their other left handed starter, as Rich Hill takes the mound (or is Rich Mound taking the hill?) on Friday against the Pirates. Yes, the same Rich Hill who has struggled mightily thus far.

In fact, the two southpaws have a combined line that looks like this: 27.2 IP; 32 H; 24 R; 14 BB.  Ouch, babe.

Come to think of it, these lefties ain't right.

The good news is that they do have Jon Lieber waiting in the wings if needed. Of course, they also have Sean Marshall. And come to think of it, Marshall is also a lefty. Oh boy.