Game Twenty - Cubs 0 Diamondbacks 10
WP - Doug Davis (2-3) LP - Ryan Dempster (1-1) Save - None
Maybe Alfonso Soriano knows something that the Cubs front office is not willing to admit yet. Soriano told the Sun-Times before Tuesday night's game, "We're too much relaxed. We've got to go out and fight. We've been giving the 'W' to the other teams, because from what I see we're not fighting win. We just play nine innings, and what happen, happens. We don't play nine innings and try to get wins. The years two years, I saw more hunger to win."
Alfonso Soriano then helped lead his team to victory on Tuesday night...but Wednesday, it was back to the same Cubs that's been taking the field for the last week.
The problem with the team right now was summed up by Pat Hughes during the game...the Cubs were not competitive on Wednesday and we not in three of the six games on the road trip. The Cubs finished with a 2-4 record and the 'effort' on Wednesday was the worst of them all.
The Cubs did not pitch, hit or catch the ball. What is the line from Bull Durham? While it is only 20 games into the season and there are 142 left it is time for the Cubs to wake up and realize no one is just going to roll over and let them win a ballgame...much less a division or a playoff game.
Lou Piniella's offense managed two hits and was shutout for the second time in the last week on Wednesday. While they worked the count early on against Doug Davis, they managed only two walks and three all afternoon...just six baserunners, and that is not going to win any games at the big league level.
From the mound Ryan Dempster had another bad inning and with the fact the Cubs are not hitting right now, the three runs in the first inning might as well been ten. Dempster walked the leadoff hitter and after an infield single by Augie Ojeda, a passed ball and a ground rule double the Cubs were in a hole they simply could not get out of.
Chad Tracy had a big day for the D'Backs and his home run in the third off Dempster gave his team a 4-0 lead. Dempster settled down and did not allow another run until the seventh.
Carlos Marmol, Jeff Samardzija and Kevin Gregg allowed the game to get way out of hand in the seventh. Marmol walked the bases loaded before issuing his fourth walk to Connor Jackson that forced in Ryan Roberts with the D'Backs sixth run. Piniella pulled Marmol for Samardzija and he struck out Chris Young before giving up a bases clearing two-out double to Justin Upton. When it was all said and done, Arizona scored five times in the seventh on five walks, on intentional, and only one hit.
Kevin Gregg started the eighth and retired the first two batters with ease before the wheels came off. Gregg issued a two-out walk to Augie Ojeda, then a single to Chad Tracy before walked the free-swinging Mark Reynolds to load the bases. Gregg walked Connor Jackson with the bases loaded to force in the Diamondbacks' tenth and final run.
David Patton struck out Justin Upton to end the inning. In the final two innings, Cubs' pitching walked eight batters, three with the bases loaded. The Diamondbacks scored 10 runs on Wednesday on eight hits and the free-swinging lineup walked 10 times.
Thursday is a new day, one that might begin with the Cubs placing Aramis Ramirez on the DL...but no matter what happens, Lou Piniella must start insisting on his team competing day in and day out.
The Cubs open a four-game series on Thursday night at Wrigley against the Florida Marlins. Sean Marshall is slated to face Chris Volstad.
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Doug Davis was at the top of his game today, and the Cubs appeared to be overmatched. I personally believe that it wasn't the Cubs, but it was Davis' stellar pitching. This guy could directly impact the race for the NL West...and the Diamondbacks could get in if Davis continues to pitch at a high level.
yeah, but it sure seems like we're tipping our hat to the pitcher more often than not. Cueto is a good pitcher, but a shutout? Davis is a good pitcher, but a shutout? We seem to be making Cy young winners out of all of the opposing pitchers these days...
I'm tired of everyone saying, " this guy was on top of his game", " he was just better then our hitters" What BS!!!!!!!
Davis threw 55 pitches in the first two inniings. How is that on top of your game. The Cubs just got impatient. Started swinging at anything he threw.
For our payroll we sure do suck. Our best palyers are already complaining about injuries and we are only 20 games into the season. Oh this hurts, and this hurts. What ever happened to just playing baseball. Players these days get a hang nail and there out 3-4 weeks.
Makes me sick. I use to play with little injuries all the time. It never stopped me from giving 110% on the field and to my teamates. And while the Cubs are sitting around complaining about injuries the F-ing Cardinals are walking away with the division. Our players need to stop being 2 year olds and get out there and show us why we (the Fans) support them. I'm tired of hearing this "This will be our year" or "Next Year" Just do it already. Hell, we should have one the WS by accident already. 100 years, the odds were in our favor.
Sorry, for the rant & rave. Just a really die hard and kills me to watch such a lifless bunch go out everyday and play like crap. Also, if I have to watch Bradley take another strike 3 right down the middle.... What a joke he is. I thought he would be a good signing, I guess he is proving me wrong. Him and his .095 BA. I hope in the long run he proves me wrong, I hope all the Cubs do. I hope they can turn this season around. I HOPE!
Hey Neil I watched part of the Cubs game again last night on comcast. Don't know why just did. But I think that ball that Upton hit off of Samardzija to right center could have been caught by a player who should have been running hard after fly ball. Our right fielder looked as if he was running about 3/4 speed. So I have to agree with Soriano,s
statement about the way the team is playing.
Nick, I agree with you. I think Bradley should have caught both of those balls that went for doubles...Tracy and Upton.
I feel Fukudome would have.