May 2009 Archives

Game Forty-Nine - Cubs 2 Dodgers 8
WP - Eric Milton (2-0) LP - Sean Marshall (3-4) Save - None

A short time after finding out he would be returning to the bullpen after his next start, Sean Marshall barely made it out of the first inning. The first five Dodgers reached against Marshall and before the lefty could record the first out they had scored two runs. Sean Marshall allowed five runs in the first inning while David Patton spent half of the inning loosening in the Cubs' pen.

The Dodgers plated five runs on six hits in the first inning with only one extra base hit...a two-run double by Mark Loretta. Marshall departed with one out in the fifth after allowing eight runs, seven earned, on eight hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Marshall's worst outing of the year and one of his worst as a Cub.

The top of the first did in the Cubs and before Alfonso Soriano swung at the first pitch the Cubs were down 5-0. The Cubs' offense put a runner on in each of the first three innings but was unable to score any runs off of Eric Milton until the sixth inning.

Ryan Theriot and Milton Bradley reached on back-to-back singles with one out in the sixth. Eric Milton hit Derrek Lee to load the bases. Reed Johnson came through with a two-run double to right center.

Reed Johnson was the Cubs' offense on Sunday night...he finished the night 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and two RBI.

Ryan Theriot (2-for-4 with a run scored), Milton Bradley (1-for-4 with a run scored), Derrek Lee (1-for-3) and Geovany Soto (1-for-4) were the rest of the Cubs offense on Sunday night. The Cubs had chances but once again could not string together any hits. They finished the night 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left eight on base.

The Cubs earned a four-game split against the best team in the National League...and finished the month of May with a 15-13 record after winning four of their last six.

Game Forty-Nine: Cubs (25-23) vs. Dodgers (34-17)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: ESPN Sunday Night Baseball - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 175
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Sean Marshall (3-3, 3.70/1.28) vs. Eric Milton (1-0, 3.00/1.44)

Can Lou Piniella's crew build on the momentum created from Friday and Saturday's victories over the best team in the league? In order to do so they will have to be very patient against Eric Milton and make the veteran southpaw work...the former Red is trying to make another comeback and is coming off a win against the Colorado Rockies.

The Cubs will send their 'second lefty' to the hill tonight in search of his fourth win of the year. The Dodgers like facing southpaws and are 11-4 on the year against lefty starters. Sean Marshall must pick up where he left off against the Pirates, throw strikes and not fall behind in the count.

Lou Piniella announced on Saturday that Mike Fontenot would play exclusively at third base until Aramis Ramirez returns...that was evident on Saturday when Piniella started Fontenot against the left-handed Eric Stults. The Cubs feel Mike Fontenot is their best internal option to fill in while Ramirez is on the DL.

There have been several conflicting reports on the sale of the team over the past week. One said the deal was far from being done and that Sam Zell might have to explore other options...then reports in the last twenty-four hours have suggested the deal could be done soon with the Ricketts Family. Bottom line is, the sale of the Chicago Cubs must be completed as quickly as possible. The Cubs cannot add to their payroll according to Bruce Levine...Sam Zell will not give the approval and Tom Ricketts cannot legally give the go ahead to add to the payroll. So while the Cubs try to scratch out as many wins as possible, the sale of the Chicago National League Ballclub must be completed...and soon.

After beginning May with an 11-3 record, the Cubs are 15-12 over the last month with one more remaining on the schedule....

Game Forty-Eight - Cubs 7 Dodgers 0
WP - Ryan Dempster (4-3) LP - Eric Stults (4-2) Save - None

In front of the largest crowd of the year at Wrigley Field, Ryan Dempster pitched his best game of the season. Dempster tossed a three-hit, seven-inning shutout against the best offense in the National League. Dempster struck out five (four in a row in the third and fourth innings), walked one and did not allow the leadoff hitter to reach all afternoon. After the low-scoring, come from behind victory on Friday, Ryan Dempster turned in the type of performance his team needed.

Lou Piniella pulled Dempster after seven innings for precautionary reasons due to a blister he's been fighting. Dempster will be re-evaluated on Tuesday and might have to be pushed back a couple of days but will not miss his next start.

The Cubs played one of their better games of the year. Great starting pitching, a solid outing by the bullpen but most importantly...timely hitting. The Cubs were 3-for-9 on the day with runners in scoring position and scored their first two runs with two outs.

Reed Johnson and Mike Fontenot had huge days for the offense. While Milton Bradley finished the day 3-for-4 with a run scored, it was Fontenot and Johnson that was the difference.

Reed Johnson scored the Cubs first run after leading off the second inning with a single to left. With two outs and Mike Fontenot at the plate, Johnson stole second on the first pitch of the at bat. Fontenot ripped the next pitch from Eric Stults into right center...Johnson scored easily on Fontenot's first extra base hit of the game.

Eric Stults hit Ryan Theriot with one-out on a 1-2 pitch in the third inning. Milton Bradley singled Theriot to third and with two outs, Reed Johnson dropped a beautiful bunt up the third base line that plated Theriot with the game's second run.

Mike Fontenot drove in his second run of the game with a triple off the wall in right center that just missed leaving the park. Bobby Scales scored and two outs later, Ryan Theriot delivered a clutch single to left.

Reed Johnson hit his third home run of the year in the seventh off of Jeff Weaver. Johnson's blast ended up on Waveland and completed the Cubs' scoring on the afternoon.

Mike Fontenot (2-for-3 with a double, a triple, a walk, a run scored and two RBI) and Reed Johnson (3-for-3 with a home run, a walk, two runs scored and two RBI) gave their skipper the production from the bottom half of the lineup he's been looking for.

Ryan Dempster by far put together his best outing of the year...and the Cubs have won four of their last five games.

Game Forty-Eight: Cubs (24-23) vs. Dodgers (34-16)
Game Time - 3:10pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: FOX Saturday Baseball - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 184
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Ryan Dempster (3-3, 4.99/1.35) vs. Eric Stults (4-1, 4.29/1.50)

Did the Cubs learn how to win a low scoring game on Friday? Not only was the 2-1 defeat of the Dodgers their first win of the year in which they scored less than four runs (1-19); Friday marked the first time since early September of 2008 that Lou Piniella's crew posted a victory when they did not put at least a four-spot on the scoreboard. The Cubs team that was built to score runs in bunches simply is not getting it done right now. They were 1-for-17 with runners in scoring position in the first two games of the series without a single RBI...without Aramis Ramirez's stats figured in, the Cubs are hitting just .228 as a team this season with RISP.

Several of the players talked about how important Friday's low scoring win was...now it is time for them to build on it and realize sometimes it is the little things that win ballgames.

It was revealed a week or so ago that Alfonso Soriano is dealing with a sore left knee. Reports prior to Friday's game indicated that Soriano's knee was heavily wrapped and he was having trouble moving around the clubhouse. Soriano likes to play every day and should, when healthy.

Alfonso Soriano is struggling at the plate. He has only five hits in his last nine games (36 at bats) and his line for May is very concerning... 224/.267/.418/.685 with four doubles, five home runs, five walks and 26 strikeouts. With the off-day on Monday and two southpaws going for the Dodgers (Eric Milton on Sunday night) it might be a good time for Soriano to get some time off. The Cubs open a challenging nine-game road trip on Tuesday with the first of three in Atlanta...the Cubs travel to Cincinnati next weekend and finish up in Houston on June 11. The Cubs play only nine of their 26 games in June at Wrigley and the next month will be difficult enough without Aramis Ramirez...much less a healthy and productive Alfonso Soriano.

The Cubs cannot afford to lose Soriano for any length of time and maybe the next two days would give Jake Fox a little time in left to see if he can keep hitting big league pitching.

The Cubs will face a lefty starter for only the ninth time this season. They are 4-4 in the first eight and must be very patient against Eric Stults today. The offense will have plenty of opportunities as long as they do not swing early and often....

Game Forty-Seven - Cubs 2 Dodgers 1
WP - Ted Lilly (6-4) LP - Chad Billingsley (6-3) Save - Kevin Gregg (8)

Lou Piniella's crew finally won a low scoring game on Friday with their 2-1 defeat of the Los Angeles Dodgers. For the first time this season the Cubs won a game in which they scored less than four runs (1-19) and turned a frustrating afternoon into a big come-from-behind victory.

Ted Lilly pitched a gem and made only one mistake in seven innings. 'The Bulldog' gave up only three hits and two walks in the first six innings. Andres Blanco helped keep the Dodgers off the board in the third and Lilly out pitched Chad Billingsley for most of the afternoon.

Casey Blake walked to start the seventh but the Cubs defense turned their second double play of the afternoon. With the bases empty and two outs, Lilly left a 1-0 pitch out over the plate to Matt Kemp and he deposited it into the basket in left center. The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead...

The Cubs wasted two chances against Chad Billingsley before the Kemp home run and it appeared the Cubs were on their way to being shutout once again. The Cubs could not plate any runs in the second inning after putting runners on second and third with no outs. In the sixth, Kosuke Fukudome led off with a double, ended up at third on an error by Andre Ethier but was stranded after three straight groundouts.

Koyie Hill tied the game on the first pitch by Billingsley in the bottom of the seventh. Hill's second homer of the year ended up a row deep in the bleachers in right center...before Friday, the Dodgers number one pitcher had allowed only one home run.

One out later, Jake Fox (3-for-4 on the season) singled to center on a 0-2 pitch from Billingsley. Alfonso Soriano and Bobby Scales loaded the bases with back-to-back singles. Kosuke Fukudome was very patient once again. On a 3-1 pitch from Chad Billingsley, Fukudome hit a sacrifice fly into center that plated Jake Fox with the go ahead run.

Carlos Marmol walked a tight rope in the eighth and did not allow any runs despite walking two more hitters. The Cubs defense turned their third double play of the game to help get Marmol out of one of his jams. After walking Russell Martin with two outs, Marmol struck out Orlando Hudson to end the inning.

Kevin Gregg picked up his eighth save and worked around an error by Bobby Scales. Gregg retired the first two batters he faced before surrendering a two-out single to Andre Ethier. Matt Kemp reached on Scales' error but Mark Loretta grounded out to short to end the game.

The Cubs improved to a game over .500 on the season with a win over an excellent pitcher...and have won three of their last four after dropping eight straight.

Game Forty-Seven: Cubs (23-23) vs. Dodgers (34-15)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Ted Lilly (5-4, 3.77/1.10) vs. Chad Billingsley (6-2, 2.82/1.19)

Lou Piniella reportedly did not meet with the media for the first time this season following Thursday night's loss...the Cubs have lost nine of eleven, is Piniella getting ready to blow? Something needs to be done before the 2009 Chicago Cubs turn into the 2008 Detroit Tigers.

Alan Trammell is working with Jake Fox at third. Fox has a great attitude and reportedly a great work ethic. While it might not always be pretty with Jake Fox, one thing is for sure he will always give 110%...

Ted Lilly will finally face the Dodgers today...eight months later than he anticipated last fall. The Cubs need another quality start out of 'The Bulldog' who was fined $1,500 for arguing with Bob Davidson on Monday night. But more importantly it is about time the offense quit making excuses and start scoring runs on a consistent basis.

Game Forty-Six - Cubs 1 Dodgers 2
WP - Randy Wolf (3-1) LP - Randy Wells (0-2) Save - Ramon Troncoso (3)

Lou Piniella's crew dropped back to .500 on the season after failing to capitalize in the eighth and ninth innings on Thursday night. Randy Wolf held the Cubs' offense in check and had a five-hit shutout through seven innings. Bobby Scales pinch hit for Mike Fontenot to start the eighth. Scales quickly fell behind 0-2 against the veteran southpaw. Scales worked the count back to 3-2 then lifted Wolf's next pitch just over the wall in left center.

Bobby Scales broke up the shutout and appeared to jump start the offense. Joe Torre brought in Ramon Troncoso to face pinch-hitter Jake Fox. Fox singled to center and with the tying run on base, Lou Piniella went to his bench again. Kosuke Fukudome hit for Aaron Heilman and walked. With the Cubs down 2-1 and the tying run on second, Alfonso Soriano struck out swinging on a ball in the dirt for the first out. Ryan Theriot grounded into an inning ending 4-6-3 double play on the first pitch of the at bat...his second of the night and the Cubs fourth twin killing of the game.

Milton Bradley led off the ninth and popped a bunt perfectly between the mound and first base. Bradley beat it out and advanced to second on a single to center by Derrek Lee. Reed Johnson failed to lay down a bunt but ended up grounding out softly to short. Bradley and Lee advanced to second and third...with only one-out.

Joe Torre intentionally walked Geovany Soto to load the bases.

Ramon Troncoso fell behind Bobby Scales 2-1 but ended up striking out Scales on a ball low and outside...Scales tried to check. With the bases loaded and two outs, Jake Fox stepped in. Fox looked at ball one but on a 1-2 pitch from Troncoso swung at a ball well out of the strike zone to end the game.

The Cubs' inability to hit with runners on base in the last two innings cost them the game. They had plenty off opportunities against the best team in the National League. The Cubs finished the night 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

A team that has aspirations of playing after game 162 must execute the fundamentals of the game, and this version of the Chicago Cubs is sorely lacking in those areas. The loss on Thursday dropped the Cubs record to 0-19 when they score less than four runs.

Randy Wells pitched another great game. He allowed two runs in seven innings on eight hits...one extra base hit. Wells struck out seven and the only walk he issued ended up being the difference in the game.

Aaron Heilman pitched a perfect eighth and Angel Guzman bailed out Jose Ascanio in the ninth. The Cubs bullpen did not allow a run or a hit in two innings on Thursday.

The Cubs' offense wasted another great outing by a starting pitcher...and it is time for the players the Cubs are depending on this season to start getting the job done.

Game Forty-Six: Cubs (23-22) vs. Dodgers (33-15)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WCIU/MLB Network - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Randy Wells (0-1, 1.50/1.11) vs. Randy Wolf (2-1, 3.02/1.12)

Carlos Zambrano Suspended for Six Games will begin serving suspension on Thursday night

The Cubs open a four-game weekend series tonight against the best team in the National League...the Los Angeles Dodgers. Joe Torre's team has won three in a row and eight of their last 10, currently nine games ahead of the San Diego Padres in the West.

The Dodgers are winning even without the suspended Manny Ramirez. Juan Pierre is one of the biggest reasons. The former Cub is having a career year and is hitting .395 with a .463 OBP and a .532 SLG...well off his career numbers. Pierre has always played well against the Cubs, especially after his one bad year in blue pinstripes back in 2006. In his last 24 games Pierre's line is unbelievable: .393/.465/.551/1.016 with eight doubles and three triples.

After the Dodgers embarrassed the Cubs last October, Lou Piniella became infatuated with putting a balanced lineup on the field. Piniella said the Dodgers did not use a single left-handed pitcher against his right-handed dominant lineup. With Hiroki Kuroda on the DL, Torre's rotation consists of four southpaws and one very good right-hander in Chad Billingsley.

The Cubs must play mistake free, fundamental ball this weekend if they want to win their second series in a row...and it all starts with Randy Wells.

According to multiple reports, Carlos Zambrano received a six-game suspension and a $3,000 fine for his actions in the seventh inning on Wednesday. The ruling was handed down on Thursday afternoon and Zambrano will not appeal the suspension...and will begin serving the suspension starting on Thursday. The Cubs will play a man short until Zambrano returns next Thursday in Atlanta.

Here is your mid-week update for our Young Cubs. This was one heck of a busy beginning to the week for call-ups; of course the big one was Jake Fox getting called up to Chicago from Iowa. Bobby Scales was sent back down to Iowa on Wednesday but appears to be headed back to Chicago with Ryan Freel going on the DL.

Josh Vitters was named Midwest League Player of the Week on Tuesday. Vitters hit .476 with seven home runs, 11 runs scored and 14 RBI over a ten game stretch.

Andrew Cashner had a great start for Daytona (yes they finally got to play a game); he went 5 innings and gave up only one earned run and did not walk a batter.

Don't forget that you can check out my site at YoungCubsWorld.com for daily updates of the big performers.