The final month of the season has not begun the way most felt it would for the Cubs. After posting seven straight wins the offense became single happy in the final two games of the series with the Phillies....and then stone cold in the three games against the Astros. While the Cubs scored 7 runs in the middle game, a majority of the production came from Mark DeRosa, Geovany Soto, Jim Edmonds, Mike Fontenot and Ryan Theriot....all very important pieces to the Cubs success this season but not exactly the players that most expect to lead the team to their second consecutive Central Division crown.
Other than Mark DeRosa, Ryan Dempster, Geovany Soto and possibly Ryan Theriot, Lou Piniella is not receiving career years from any player on his roster. With Soto being a rookie and Theriot in his first full year as a starter, it is too early to tell if they will have Jody Davis and Shawon Dunston type careers or if they will be more like Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith.
The Cubs' offense has received contributions from different sources all season. One game it might be Jim Edmonds, another day Reed Johnson or Geovany Soto and early in the year Kosuke Fukudome. But as the season comes to an end, the three players that must lead this team are Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez.
Aramis Ramirez is the clutch hitter on the roster and the player most would want at the plate with the game on the line. His 11 home runs and 45 RBI's from the 7th inning on says it all. But Ramirez, like Lee and Soriano, can be a very streaky hitter. When all three are struggling at the same time, it adds pressure to the rest of the lineup, as well as the pitching staff, to step up their game in order to compensate.
A quick look at the lines from the first three games of the month answers several questions.
- Alfonso Soriano - 3-for-13 with a home run and 1 RBI (.231/.286/.462)
- Aramis Ramirez - 1-for-12 with a double (.083/.154/.167)
- Derrek Lee - 3-for-12 with 2 walks (.250/.357/.250)
With the Cubs on the road for basically the remainder of the season, the 'Big Three' must elevate their game....at the plate as well as in the field and lead this team. But they must do more than just hit solo home runs. Advance runners, hit to the opposite field, take the extra base, hustle out of the box and sacrifice flies....basically play solid fundamental baseball.
September is the time teams need their leaders to do the job they are paid to do.
The sky is not falling, the Cubs still own the best record in the National League and will start the road trip on Friday with a 5-game lead over the Brewers....with that said, it is the time of year that requires consistent contributions from the players paid to drive in runs and win ballgames.
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Neil...great points....the one out of the big three who needs to step it up the most: D-Lee..no surprise there. It has been said again and again that everyday it's a new hero for the Cubbies...but when was the last time D-Lee was the hero? He NEEDS to step it up...
I'll be at the game tonight to see the Cubs. There is no reason why the Cubs shouldn't beat the hell out of the Reds, and sweep. That would go a long way in recovering from the BS the last 5 games.
Starts with game 1.
We are sitting pretty right now but I don't want to back into the playoffs. We need to be clicking on all cylinders when the playoffs start.
I have to make a comment about yesterday's discussion
Howry is the only veteran in the bullpen that is an actual bullpen pitcher.
I stated that a "good" Howry is needed in the playoffs. I say this because evrybody else is either young or has no playoff experience or will be a starter converted to bullpen. Howry is the only has all of that. I know he has stunk up the place this year. and if he doesn't straighten it out before the end of the season, then leave him off the playoff roster.
Gaudin is the closest person to take over that roll.
He's not young but he's not a veteran but not a lot of playoff experience. and yes we will have Marquis and Lieber but lets face it, they are starters. They are OK coming into game at the start of an inning but what about when its a 4-3 game and the opposition has a man on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs. Pitchers that are use to being starter usually dont do good in those situations.
I know its hard to explain but it is a different situation then they are use to. You got to be on fire from the first pitch where a starter can ease into his good stuff. They have time to get a feel for their pitches were a reliever doesn't have time to do that. Especially when they come into a game in the middle of an inning.
I just want to state because you guys seem to be misunderstanding me.
I am not supporting Howry. I hope he is gone after this season. I was just trying to explain why Lou keeps throwing him out there. Because he is the only one in the bullpen that is a veteran, has experience in the bullpen, and has playoff experience. And without him, will be a hole in our bullpen during the playoffs.
I would rather have that hole then to have Howry on the team pitching the way he has??? Yes.
Could somebody else step up?? yes. Probably Marmol.
But remember that Marmol was not the same pitcher in the playoffs last year and he was in the regular season. Totally different pressure. Think of how you feel watching them and multiply it by 10. Be nice to have a veteran that has had success in the past in that situation.
Sure, we'd all like our beloved Cubbies to win every game but the reality is in a long season there are going to be ups and downs. Now is not the worst time to have a down time. Our two most talented pitchers are not pitching right now and our three most prolific hitters are in a funk. Yet we still hold a 9 game lead in the playoff chase. We can handle Z and Harden getting a little extra rest right now because of the September callups. Also, the past performances of Soriano, Lee, and Ramirez show that they are very streaky, looking awful for a stretch and then snapping out and carrying the team for an extended period of time. Let them have their slumps now and get hot for the playoffs.
On a final note and I cringe as I write this...let's not forget about the Sox in '05 and their September swoon. They had a horrible finish and turned it around and were unbelievable in October.
Young pitchers step up all the time in the playoffs & one huge example is Wainright for St. Louis when they won the World Series 2 years ago. I'm sorry but Howry is done and if he enters a tight game in the playoffs we're done.
I hope your right Cory,
There's more examples of them blowing up.
Jerjlr, I do tend to like your commentary, but if you think this group tends to misunderstand your posts, then re-read them before sending to ensure it conveys what you really mean. When you state (yesterday), that Howry was the key to getting to(or winning) the WS, what other way is there to interpret that? Again, I'm not being critical at all, but you're spending a lot of time clarifying for yourself as a result of that.
I didn't say that he was the key to getting to the WS. I said that Lou needs a veteran he can count on in the bullpen in the playoffs.
When it gets hairy in a key game in the series. Who will he have confidence in to go to?
Its probably going to be Marmol or Guadin. But I'm sure he wished that he had a veteran of the playoff wars to go to.
That is a big hole. But, Somebody (the shark, Marmol, or Gaudin) maybe able to pitch over their years and experience. But, right now its an unknown and it will be an unknown until we get in that situation. If they don't, it will be too late. But Lou will have to guess on who that guy is, if he's out there. Thats why Lou wants Howry to find it again. Because he has been there. But, I agree with all of you. It wont happen.
I'll give you a close example. Not pitching but pinching.
Say David Eckstien was on this team and we have a man on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs and we are down by one in the 8th inning. We have Fontenot and Eckstien on the bench and the guy that pinch hits will have to play second (make up your own reason). Who would you have bat? Eckstien or Fontenot? Stats are simular but Eckstien has produced in this situation before but Fontenot has done it during the season, but not in the playoffs. I would go with Eckstien. Hell you could make a good argument if you slotted Theriot in Fontenot spot in my example. Even though he has better stats.
Experience is big in the playoffs and its something that we are going to lack in the bullpen.
But we got a lot of other things to make up for it. Hopefully. We pummel them with our offense or the starting pitcher shut them out. were never in that situation.
And yes young pitchers that can stand up in the playoffs. But we dont know, and nobody can say they will, because they haven't done it before.
You can only "think" they will.
Jerljr, yesterday you clearly wrote "He (Lou) keeps running him out there because he has to get out of this funk. Because we need Howry. He is a key player if we are going to win the World Series."
But at this point, who cares. Move on already. Howry has sucked, and we all tend to agree on that.
OK, I should of said Lou needs someone he has confidence in for those key situations.
I must of been heated at that time.
Blogging while I'm working will do that to ya.
Blogging while you work will do that to ya.
I like the story on www.cubs.com. This is why I'm glad we picked up Edmonds and another example of veterans leadership.
LOL, Faithful and jerljr, It took a while, but jerljr has found his groove.
IMO, Howry and Lieber are mute points as post season relievers. They won't make the roster. Lou will likely carry 10 or 11 pitchers. Assuming they are healthy, here they are: Z, Demp, Harden, Lilly, Marquis, Wood, Marmol, Gaudin, Samardzija, Marshall--and (to make 11) one of Cotts, Wuertz and Guzman.
In the latter group, Cotts would have an edge as a lefty, but he hasn't been effective lately. I wonder if the "reborn" Wuertz or Guzman might be very effective down the stretch. If Z or Harden have to sit out, Lieber's chances rise some as a guy who can go multiple innings--but that's too horrible a thought to even mention as much as I have.
I changed hats, so maybe that will break the streak.
I am not a conspiracy theorist, but ridiculous strike zones have accompanied this little offensive slump.
Wow! The top of the order strikes out, sloppy defense, left handed batters hitting homers off the Chihuahua, and yet another 1st inning hole. Way to show them what you are made of Cubbies.