April 2006 Archives

Game Twenty-Three - Cubs 0 Brewers 9

The Cubs were shutout for the first time this season and did not end the month of April with a win, but did finish the month 13-10, 3 games over .500. Chris Capuano threw a gem allowing only 5 hits (2 in the 8th and 1 in the 9th), he struck out 6 and did not issue a walk. Capuano threw first pitch strikes to 27 of the 30 batters he faced and recorded his first career complete game shutout. Capuano only threw 91 pitches in 9 innings and Carlos Zambrano threw 103 in 4+ innings....Capuano was on the mark and kept the Cubs guessing all day.

The Cubs were outscored on Saturday and Sunday 25-2. Cubs pitching allowed 27 hits, 8 of them were home runs, 17 walks and only struck out 16, while the Cubs offense only managed 13 hits, 6 walks and struck out 10 times in those 2 games.

Game Twenty-Three: Cubs (13-9) vs. Brewers (13-11)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T. on WGN TV, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 185
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Carlos Zambrano (0-1, 3.94) vs. Chris Capuano (3-2, 3.00)

As the rain falls all over the Midwest, especially in Chicago, there are doubts that the scheduled game between the Cubs and Brewers will be played today and rain is in the forecast until Wednesday when the Cubs head to Arizona to take on the Diamondbacks. There has not be an official word yet and if the game is played today it is a MUST for Carlos Zambrano to give the Cubs an innings eating performance and a win in the series against the Brewers.

Game Twenty-Two - Cubs 2 Brewers 16

Glendon Rusch took the hill on a very cloudy, rainy Wrigley Field on Saturday. Rusch was horrible and the Cubs' pitching staff as a whole allowed 6 home runs to the Brewers. Rusch came into the game on Saturday second in the league in home runs allowed with 7 and left the game being the league leader with 11. Rusch threw 81 pitches in just 2 2/3 innings and allowed 7 runs on 6 hits, walked 3 and did not record a strike out. Rusch never looked comfortable on the mound and before the Cubs offense ever stepped to the plate, Rusch had dug the Cubs a 3-0 hole.

Rusch was not the only problem on Saturday; David Aardsma came in to relieve Rusch in the 3rd and was unable to slow down the very impressive Brewers offense. The Cubs offense was non-existent again and showed little patience against the Brewers' Doug Davis who had allowed 9 walks in his last outing.

Game Twenty-Two: Cubs (13-8) vs. Brewers (12-11)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T. on WGN TV, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 185
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Glendon Rusch (1-3, 6.41) vs. Doug Davis (0-2, 7.66)

The Cubs battle the Brewers today on draft day, so while many young men throughout the country become instant millionaires the question from the Northside of Chicago is....will this be the last start of the season for Glendon Rusch? Rusch has not performed well all season....Spring Training or regular season....and management has shown they are not willing to stick with a guy that is not helping his team win. With the recent demotions of Michael Wuertz and Jerome Williams, the Cubs have shown losing is not going to be tolerated....no matter who is not in the everyday lineup.

Game Twenty-One - Cubs 6 Brewers 2
Updated - 10:24pm C.T.

On a beautiful spring day in Chicago with Babe Ruth's relatives in the crowd the Cubs Faithful went back to school....with the 'Ole Professor' at the head of the class. Greg Maddux threw another masterpiece....what can Maddux not do? For a guy that was written off at the beginning of the season, he is proving all of the critics wrong....the fountain of youth has been found and it is in Greg Maddux's house. Maddux is off to the best start of his already Hall of Fame career at 5-0 and Friday was career victory number 323. But Maddux was not the only story on Friday.

The Cubs' offense looked very sharp on Friday and pounded out 13 hits (they only had 13 hits in the entire series against the Marlins), including 4 doubles and 2 home runs and supplied Maddux and Co. with more than enough runs to beat the Brewers.

Game Twenty-One: Cubs (12-8) vs. Brewers (12-10)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T. on Comcast SportsNet, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 185
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Greg Maddux (4-0, 0.99) vs. Dave Bush (2-1, 3.54)

Greg Maddux takes his Major League leading ERA (0.99) and the best start of his career (4-0) to the mound today against the Milwaukee Brewers and Cub Killer, Carlos Lee. Maddux is 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA lifetime against the Brewers, but the Cubs as a team was 7-9 last season against the Brew Crew and if the Cubs want to win the Central this season, they must beat the Brewers.

Before when I used to listen to Abbott & Costello's stand up act I used to sit back and enjoy the hilarity. However on Thursday when I heard a rendition of the version on ESPN 1000 in Chicago, I sat back and began to think, who should be on first? While I currently think that Walker and Hairston can man the right side of the infield for the next two months, this is a question that should be answered. There are multiple possibilities or opportunities let's take a look at a few of them and as always we will let you know how we feel.

I am sure there are plenty of people in this world who have been waiting a long time for me to ask that question. Unfortunately for them, I am referring to my Cubbie ramblings. It has been almost three weeks since I have unleashed my ridiculous stream of consciousness to the public, and that is just not right. Also, as a heads up, I have had A LOT of Cubbie Kool-Aid lately. Even after the rough 7-5 loss to the Fish in the series finale, I am still riding high. And on to the ridiculousness that is my brain:

Game Twenty - Cubs 5 Marlins 7
Updated - 9:55pm C.T.

By no means does a regular season game compare to a playoff game but why does it seem like the 8th innings of games between the Marlins and the Cubs are always the make-it or break-it inning of the ballgame. On Monday night the Cubs' offense was quiet until the 8th inning and on Wednesday the Marlins broke a 3-3 tie in the 8th inning to eventually win the ball game 7 to 5. The bullpen, other than Roberto Novoa, had its worst collective outing of the year and the offense was non-existent on Wednesday. But the major impact on the game was the amount of walks, extra bases and extra outs the Marlins were given.

The Cubs pitching staff as a whole allowed 8 walks and 6 of those free passes scored and the pitching staff had 2 wild pitches, a balk and a hit batsman. The Cubs offense could not manage but 4 hits and only totaled 13 for the series. Juan Pierre only had one hit in the series against his former team and the Cubs were not able to capitalize on a quality start in the Major League debut of Angel Guzman.

Game Twenty: Cubs (12-7) vs. Marlins (5-13)
Game Time - 1:20 pm C.T. on WGN TV, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 185
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Angel Guzman (0-0, -.--) vs. Scott Olsen (1-1, 1,50)

Can you say pressure? This afternoon is the much-anticipated debut of Angel Guzman in a Chicago Cubs uniform, the Cubs Faithful have been looking forward to this day for what seems like a long time. Guzman's progress to the Major Leagues has been slowed over the past few years due to injury and the promise that such a talent, as Angel Guzman, can give the Cubs has added to the pressure on the 24-year old right hander.