The First Week of May

By Neil on May 7, 2007 11 Vote 0 Votes

What a difference a week makes. The Cubs had their best single week of the season and for the first time since 1937 they won their first 5 games to start the month of May. While Derrek Lee, Alfonso Soriano and Jacque Jones had huge offensive weeks, the pitching staff continued to perform well for Lou Piniella. The Cubs dug themselves out the early season hole this past week, now the trick is to continue to win games in bunches and put the horrible start to the season behind them.

The NL Central received good news on Sunday when the Yankees announced Roger Clemens will be pitching for them in the Bronx this summer....for a hefty sum of course. The team, other than the Cubs, making the most noise in the league continues to be the Milwaukee Brewers who are playing their best ball since moving to the National League in 1998. Here are the highlights from the past week around the central....

The Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers are the hottest team in baseball and own the best record in the big leagues at 21-10 (Boston has the best record in the AL, 20-10). The Brewers, Cubs and Detroit Tigers are all 8-2 in their last 10, tied for the best stretch in the majors while the Brewers are 8-1 in their last 9. Prince Fielder hit two home runs in the come from behind win against the Pirates in the series finale on Sunday. The Brewers took three of four from the slumping Pirates in their recent 4-game series. Before the Pirates series, the Brewers swept the Cardinals in the aftermath of the death of Josh Hancock.

J.J. Hardy is playing more like Alex Rodriguez than Alex Gonzalez and is second on the Brewers behind Prince Fielder for the team lead in home runs (Hardy, 8 - Fielder, 9) and the two are tied for the team lead in RBI's with 26. Hardy hit .519 (14-27) with a .567 OBP to go along with 2 home runs and 10 RBI's in the last week. Hardy is hitting .339 with a .396 OBP and a .606 SLG on the year, by far the best on the Brewers squad.

After a 0-2 start, Jeff Suppan has won his last 5 in a row. Couple his record with an ERA of 2.63 (1.25 WHIP) and he has become the ace of the Brewers staff....followed closely by Chris Capuano who is 4-0 with a 2.90 ERA (1.19 WHIP) in 6 starts. Derrick Turnbow has returned to form and has been lights out in the setup role (2.03 ERA) for Francisco Cordero. Cordero has saved 12 games, has not allowed an earned run this season and was named the Delivery Man of the Month for April.

Upcoming schedule:

May 7 - May 9 - The Washington Nationals at Miller Park
May 11 - May 13 - The New York Mets at Shea Stadium

The Chicago Cubs

The Cubs boast the major's longest current winning streak, 5 games, and are coming off their best week of the season. While many will argue the Cubs 8-2 record over the last 10 games is not very impressive with wins against the Cardinals, Pirates and Nationals, it is worth mentioning the following:

The Cubs entered the weekend series in St. Louis with an 18-40 record in St. Louis over the last six full seasons.

The Pirates were a game under .500, just finished a 3-game sweep of the Astros before losing 2 of 3 to the Reds.

The Nationals, while possibly being the worst team in the majors, have played the Cubs very well in the past and under the previous regime these were games the Cubs were supposed to win, but never could.

Derrek Lee is leading the world with a .414 batting average and recorded an extra base hit in 9 straight games (Lee hit at least one double in eight straight games). He is currently working on a 14-game hitting streak and has reached base in all 29 games the Cubs have played this season. Alfonso Soriano hit home runs in consecutive games to start the month. Lee hit .524 with a .583 OBP over the last week while Soriano hit .440 with a .440 OBP. Ryan Theriot led the Cubs with a .647 OBP in the last 7 days.

Upcoming Schedule:

May 8 - May 10 - The Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field
May 11 - May 13 - The Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park

The Cincinnati Reds

The Reds salvaged the last game of the 3-game series against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday thanks in large part to Josh Hamilton. Hamilton hit two more home runs on Sunday to run his season total to 8. Hamilton had a great week after being named the NL Rookie of the Month for April (.318/.400/.455). The Reds as a team struggled this past week. After taking 2 of 3 in Pittsburgh to end April, they lost 2 of 3 in Houston. For the week the Reds were 3-4.

Reds' pitching had a rough week, with the exception of Bronson Arroyo. Aaron Harang was 1-1 with 6.92 ERA....10 earned run in 18 innings. Mike Stanton blew a save and posted an 0-2 record with a 18.00 ERA. As a team, the Reds did not record a save until Sunday's 9-3 victory over the Rockies.

Upcoming Schedule:

May 7 - May 10 - The Houston Astros at Great American Ball Park
May 11 - May 13 - The Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium

The Houston Astros

The Astros were having a bad week before receiving the news they had been outbid for the services of Roger Clemens. With the Rocket slated to pitch in the Bronx, the Astros will have to find other answers to their pitching woes. Matt Albers came up big for the 'Stros in Saturday's win against the Cardinals but the big story was the grand slam hit by their prize prospect, Hunter Pence, off of Dennis Dove (who replaced Josh Hancock in the Cardinals bullpen). The Astros are starting to hit but they are struggling with runners in scoring position. This past week as a team they hit just two home runs. Carlos Lee (.409/.440) and Lance Berkman (.375/.615) are starting to get hot.

The Astros dropped 2 of 3 to the Cardinals in St. Louis after taking 2 of 3 from the Reds at home and finished the week 3-4.

Upcoming Schedule:

May 7 - May 10 - The Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park
May 11 - May 13 - The Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field

The Pittsburgh Pirates

The 7th inning of Tuesday's suspended game against the Cubs changed the Pirates entire week. At the end of the 6th inning, the rain began falling harder, the Pirates were ahead of the Cubs 5-2 and it appeared to everyone the Pirates were well on their way to winning the second game of the series. With Ian Snell slated to pitch the finale, many in Pittsburgh were thinking of a sweep against the Cubs and a season record that was 3 games over .500. Cesar Izturis changed those plans with his 2-out single and by Wednesday afternoon the two teams fortunes had been reversed and the Pirates have been in a tailspin ever since.

The Pirates dropped 3 out of 4 to the Brewers and after reaching .500 on Monday with a 12-12 record, the Pirates have lost 5 of their last 6 and finished the week with a 2-6 record. The Pirates are a dangerous team and with the fact the Cubs have a big 3-game series starting on Tuesday against them, no one should take them lightly. Xavier Nady is back in the starting lineup and with a pair of lefties pitching on Tuesday and Wednesday....the upcoming series will be much like the one the two teams just completed.

Upcoming Schedule:

May 8 - May 10 - The Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field
May 11 - May 13 - The Atlanta Braves at PNC Park

The St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals had a week they would soon like to forget. After the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ran a cover story entitled, "No Tinker, No Evers, No Chance" that rubbed the nose in all of the Cubs failures over the years, they dropped the first two games of the series to the Cubs before the death of Josh Hancock. After the postponement of the Sunday night game against the Cubs, they were swept in a 3-game series by the Brewers at Miller Park. News surfaced that Hancock was driving under the influence and Tony LaRussa and Walt Jocketty responded by banning alcohol in the Cardinals' clubhouse. David Eckstein was moved down in the order during the series against the Brewers' and on Friday night against the Astros, LaRussa used Preston Wilson in the leadoff spot.

On Saturday, the Cardinals announced Chris Carpenter would have shoulder surgery on Tuesday and miss at least the next three months. On Sunday morning they placed Preston Wilson on the 15-day DL....one of several moves for the Cardinals on Sunday morning. The Cardinals are not getting any production out of their leadoff spot and have used eight different players there this season. After using Wilson at the top of the order on Friday, LaRussa inserted Scott Spiezio there on Saturday and Adam Kennedy on Sunday.

The Cardinals did take 2 of 3 from the Astros to finish the week 2-4 but they find themselves in unfamiliar territory....last place in the central, 8 games back of the Brewers.

Upcoming Schedule:

May 7 - May 9 - The Colorado Rockies at Busch Stadium
May 11 - May 13 - The San Diego Padres at PETCO Park

NL Central Division Standings

Brewers - 21-10/.677
Cubs - 15-14/.517, 5 GB
Reds - 14-17/.452, 7 GB
Astros - 13-17/.433, 7 1/2 GB
Pirates - 13-17/.433, 7 1/2 GB
Cardinals - 12-17/.414, 8 GB

Well, that's the week that was. Shaun and is colorful weekly recaps will return next week.

agustin rexach

You are right Ryan if the WS is the ultimate and only goal it has not worked out for any of them. The Marlins have an Idea of how to build championship teams!

On a side note I really think that all the fuzz [by the Yankees] of "wining a championship or it is a disapointment" is just a motivational speech.

Bottom line is that they have to give fans what they want and say what they wanna hear cause those fans spend a lot of money all over the world. And management does it pretty good but at the end of the day...the Yankees have the best buisness in all of baseball. They make more money than MLB and everything they do is marketing and to create expectation with fans equals to have them on the edge of the seat the whole season. The media of baseball runs around the Yamkees. Espn gives more Yankee games than of any other team [that has not lost a player to death recently].

Oh well, I do like our chances of making the playoffs this year. And to tell you the truth, Clemens will not hel the Yankees at all and I see them not making the playoffs.

Prediction-Cleveland will be in the WS this year.

Ryan R

agustin,

I see your point, but what I meant was that if winning the World Series is your ultimate goal, then the formula that the Yanks have had the last 5 years isn't getting it done. Yes they have won lots of ballgames and divisions, but haven't won the WS. The same goes for developing your own talent like the A's and Twins. They have gotten to the playoffs, yet haven't won it all yet. I actually think the Cubs formula with a mix of vets and young talent is the best. Other teams, like the White Sox, have done it and seems to be the best value for the money. Of course the Yanks or A's could win it this year and prove me completely wrong.

agustin rexach

Agreed Ryan, but remember that it is not just the World Championship...It is the commitment of winning the division year after year. They have been the highest payroll for allmost 15 years, except in 1999[NY Mets and Mr.Mo Vaughn?]. And I believe it has paid off for the fans with all the division titles. Steinbrenner has spoiled NY fans like little kids. Ask Yankees fan if it is pretty or not and they don't care cause other teams do similar things to win.

IMO [And to level with you]it is way more poetic/honorable to do it the way the A's do it [the hard cheap way] and for sure the Pirates have a ton more of poetic than the Cubs...Yet nobody is braking the rules and if we have to spend to win, well so be it. Cub fans have pre-paid their championship some time ago. If we had the A's/Twins scouts maybe we could save some money!

But we don't, but we have a BIG Market team that makes a lot of money and can afford to pay. Sorry Ryan, this was about Clemens and I got Carried Away! Yea Screw Clemens, and thanks George for throwing Yankee money in the face of Astro money!!!

Jim, I have no doubt he has been covered up by the league...unlike Barry who has taken the load by himself when hundreds of players have done it. And to be fair, even though I have no doubt that he used steroids, nothing has been proved. And when they do, nothing can be done [baseball wise] other than a suspension. Giambi said he was sorry and they let him go.

Jim (Tinley Park)

A few thoughts on Roger Clemens.....

* I can't believe this guys hasn't popped up on a "roid" suspect list, no way he gets better with age.

* I wonder if he gets the same perk as he did in Houston, he shows up for all the home ganes and flys in the night before he pitches on the road.

Could you imagine how good Roy Oswalt would be if he had the same deal?

* I would have loved to see Mike Piazza beat the crap out him after the splinter bat incident during the 2000 World Series. Probably the only time I ever cheered for the Mets.

Ryan R

Yeah, I was being a little sarcastic when I meant he would only work 2 hours a week. Still, I remember during the pre-season when the Cubs were getting ripped for driving up the price of free agents. Of course nobody has ripped the Yankees, and they've been doing it for years. i'm not so sure that I would want Steinbrenner, but I get your point. Plus remember, paying huge sums of money to free agents hasen't yet worked for the Yankees. If I remember right, and let me be the first to tell you I could be completely wrong, weren't most of the guys on their World Series run a few years back from their own farm system/

agustin rexach

Ryan R...I think we will see Marshall pitch at some point this year. I hope Guzman prevents that, but I'm not sure he'll ever be consitent. Let's hope he does well cause he has the stuff to be at the least a #2 starter.

On Clemens...yeah it is a lot of money but this is baseball and those are the Yankees who will do what ever it takes. I have to acknoledge Steinbreners passion and wish he were the Cubs owner. Sorry but you know better than to say that a starting pitcher will work just two hours. That is simply not accurate and don't get me wrong, I dislike the "Rocket" but he is as prooven as there will ever be. Even at 45.

Ryan R

Not discounting the Nationals hitters, but I think Guzmans real tests will come against Philly and especially the Mets, in New York. Will be interesting to see if the Cubs stick with him if he struggles, or bring up Marshall, and move him to the pen as long relief, sending Cherry down. Of course Wade Miller is still out there, but he wasn't throwing that great before he got hurt.

As a side note, I just heard Clemens is getting 20+ million for pitching half a season? Are you freaking kidding me. I realize he's a hall of famer, but geez. No wonder the Astros couldn't talk him back. For half a plus the playoffs if the Yanks make it thats 1 million a start. I'd take a quarter of that to work for 2 hours every fifth day.

Cory

The Iowa Cubs defeated the Met's AAA team down in New Orleans 7-1 to complete the 4 game sweep and get the I-Cubs record over .500 they are now 16-15.

Sean Marshall pitched a great game. He went 6.1/3rd gave up 1 run on 3 hits, 1 walk, and 3 k's. The game was much closer than the outcome with the Cubbies scoring 2 in each of the 8th and 9th after Marshall had exited. Marshall's numbers after 2 games in AAA are;11.1 innings with a 0.79 era, he's given up 10 hits, 2 walks & 8 strikeouts.

Offensively Micah Hoffpauir hit his 5th bomb of the season, a 2-run shot in the 1st and Eric Patterson had 2 more hits including a double to raise his average to .290.

Cory

Sean Marshall takes the mound for the Iowa Cubs today as they go for the 4 game sweep in New Orleans. It's Marshall's 3rd start of the year and 2nd in AAA.

Yesterday the I-Cubbies beat N.O. 3-2 behind another good outing by Carlos Marmol who went 7 innings gave up 4 hits, 2 runs, and struck out 9. The runs came via two solo shots, one by Ricky Ledee, he still plays?

That outing improves Marmol to 3-1 in 6 starts with a 3.74 era and 39 k's in 33.2 innings.

My question is does that mean he's edging closer to being ready for the show? Or if you go by Guzman's quote that it's harder to pitch in AAA than the bigs because the AAA dudes are all hackers,well then considering Guzman's fairly dominant,(he was squeezed by the ump MORE than a few times), preformance yesterday is Marmol ready now?

I am joking of course but it is wierd that Guzman was lit up in AAA and pitched so well yesterday. I guess thats baseball!

Trevor

Lou is getting tired of the outfield questions...The ESPN article quoted him as:

"It's my decision. ... I'm trying to be as nice as I can every day. I get too many of these questions about my outfield. I come to the ballpark and I make a lineup, and I make the one that I think can help me win a baseball game that day."

Trade someone away for Lou's sanity as well as ours.

Dorasaga

Seriously, I was going to cry. Can someone make a SONG FOR SWEET LOU??? And no matter how embarrassing the lyrics' are, I will sing along when we make it to World Series!!!

This 5-games winning streak has a great drama here for a 10 IP game. After Lou used 21 out of his 25 men on the roster, will expecting a 6th, 7th, and 8th too much, you think?