Cubs Go Mental

Lots of mental errors Monday night.

Theriot gets throw out going second to third on a ball hit to his right, Dempster throws a pickoff throw into center field, and Freel makes a force play at third too close for comfort—each factored into the Cubs’ eighth straight loss.

We knew the hitting would come around, even though it felt like the Cubs would never score again, and the starting pitching has been terrific.

However, the bullpen stinks. Pittsburgh scored four runs on 11 hits against the pen. Bad, bad, and bad.

Marmol’s absence was huge. It left Lou with Neal Cotts who likely made his last outing as a Chicago Cub—three runs on four hits. Heilman is terribly inconsistent and isn’t much better than Cotts, either.

Chicago needs another quality bullpen arm, period.

ESPN 1000’s Bruce Levine says the Cubs are entertaining thoughts about trading for Nomar Garciaparra, a guy who could add some pop from the right side. Not sure where the Cubs would play him, but interesting nonetheless.

• Cubs (21-22) are in fourth place.

• W: Gorzelanny (2-1) L: Cotts (0-2) S: Burnett (1)

• This was the 400th night game at Wrigley Field.

• All time under the lights at home the Cubs are 212-188.

• Chicago was 14-4 overall against Pittsburgh last year, 7-2 at Wrigley.

• The last time Chicago faced a southpaw starter was May 6 against Mike Hampton.

• Cubs are 2-15 when committing an error.

• This is the first time in 10 starts Dempster hasn’t lasted at least six innings.