Lilly Is Cubs' Ace

Bullpen BrianJun 3, 2009

I’ll say it again. Ted Lilly is the Cubs’ best starter.

He’s won back-to-back crucial games in his last two outings.

Five days ago Lilly sparkled against the mighty Dod gers keeping Chicago from falling below .500.

Five days later he’s huge in the Cubs’ most important game of the season—an extra innings 3-2 win against the Braves.

Many fans don’t view Lilly as an Ace Pitcher, but I do!

Ted leads the entire staff with eight quality starts and has lasted six innings in nine of 11 outings this season.

In May, Lilly posted a 4-2 record and 3.32 ERA. The Cubs scored a grand total of three runs in both of his losses.

For goodness sake, give this guy some love!

The Cubs finally caught a break when the umpires upheld Derrek Lee’s checked swing in the fourth on Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves. It was a bad call in my mind—Lee definitely went around.

Instead, Lee ends up on first with a walk and Fontenot drives home two runs on a bases loaded double.

After a terrible 1-for-40 slump, the little man has turned the corner in his last 10 games batting .363. Perhaps, playing full time at third base is helping Fontenot at the plate?

Facing a left-hander, Micah Hoffpauir goes opposite field for the game-winning hit. I love it!

I’m sure reaching the major leagues has been enough to impress Bobby Scales’ hometown fans.

But, it would have been even more special if Scales comes through with the game-winning hit in the top of the ninth.

Is it possible the Cubs pitch to Chipper Jones tomorrow? He’s single handedly kept the Braves in both games. Why pitch to this guy?

Nice rebound game from the bullpen, in particular Angel Guzman. It seems this kid is throwing with more confidence each outing. His strikeout pitch against Chipper was electric!

I hope Zambrano isn’t too jacked up after the suspension to pitch a solid game Thursday. The Cubs desperately need another road win, and Lilly can’t pitch every game.