Game Sixty-Eight - Cubs 3 Tigers 5
WP - Zach Miner (5-1, BS 2) LP - Rich Harden (4-4) Save - Fernando Rodney (15)
The Cubs cannot buy a hit with runners in scoring position. After a 0-for-6 shutout on Monday, a 0-for-8 performance on Tuesday the Cubs were 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position on Wednesday night ... 0-for-14 when it counted. The Cubs lone hit with a runner in scoring position was a single to left by Kosuke Fukudome that loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth. Remove the one single that did not plate a run and the Cubs are a pathetic 0-for-28 with runners in scoring position in the last three games.
The Cubs had more than their fare share of chances. They loaded the bases in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings and managed a total of two runs. Mike Fontenot grounded into a force out in the sixth that tied the game at two and Jake Fox hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh that cut the Tigers lead in half. Lou Piniella's crew out hit the Tigers, 11-10 and walked seven times ... an unbelievable 13 runners left on base in a game lost by two runs on the road.
The Cubs fell back to .500 on the season at 34-34 ... and the main reason, they simply cannot hit with runners on base.
Wednesday night in Detroit highlighted all of the Cubs defencies this season: Poor baserunning, lack of clutch hitting and questionable defense ... plus a bullpen that cannot throw strikes late in the game. Both Aaron Heilman and Carlos Marmol issued walks with the bases loaded that forced in the Tigers' last two runs. As the old cliché goes, gotta make 'em earn it.
Derrek Lee had another good night at the plate. Lee extended his career-high hitting streak to 21 games with a single to left in the seventh. Lee finished his first game of the year in the DH role 1-for-2 with three walks. The Tigers did not give Lee much to hit ... five pitches in the fourth resulted in a walk, four straight in the fifth for his second walk and four straight out of the zone in the ninth for his third walk of the game. Until the rest of the offense starts to contribute, Lee will continue to be pitched around ... especially in close games.
Rich Harden was effective despite a lot of deep counts. Harden lasted just 5 1/3 innings and threw 109 pitches, 58 for strikes. Harden allowed four runs, two earned, on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Two of the Tigers' four hits were solo home runs by Miguel Cabrera and Gerald Laird. The last two runs off Harden were unearned due to an error by Geovany Soto that led to the Tigers' two-run sixth inning. Soto dropped a foul pop up off the bat of Marcus Thames. Harden ended up walking Thames two pitches later and he scored the eventual winning run after Aaron Heilman walked Curtis Granderson with the bases loaded.
While the Cubs' offense has been stuck in neutral since Aramis Ramirez went on the DL, the Cubs are a very different team on the road. At Wrigley they find ways to win on the road it seems like they find ways to lose.
The Cubs went quietly in the first inning and it appeared like it was going to be a long night. Rick Porcello retired the Cubs in order with three groundouts with very few pitches. Micah Hoffpauir led off the second with a single and Milton Bradley walked. The Cubs had runners on first and second with no outs ...
Jake Fox nearly grounded into a triple play. Fox hit a grounder to Brandon Inge at third. Inge touched the back, threw to second and forced Bradley ... Placido Polanco almost turned it fast enough for an around the horn triple play. Kosuke Fukudome struck out to end the inning.
Ryan Theriot reached on an infield single to start the fourth. Derrek Lee walked and the Cubs had runners on first and second with no outs ...
Micah Hoffpauir popped out, Milton Bradley was called out on a check swing and Jake Fox grounded out to second to end the inning.
Geovany Soto tied the game at one in the fifth. Soto hit his eighth of the year over the wall in left. After Mike Fontenot grounded out, Alfonso Soriano and Ryan Theriot singled with two outs. Derrek Lee walked on four pitches to load the bases ... but Micah Hoffpauir struck out swinging to end the inning.
With the Cubs down by one in the sixth, Milton Bradley reached on a leadoff walk. Jake Fox singled to center and the Cubs had runners on first and second with no outs ...
Jim Leyland lifted Rick Porcello and brought in Nate Robertson to face Kosuke. Fukudome attempted a couple of bunts before singling to left to load the bases ... the Cubs lone hit with runners in scoring position.
Leyland made the slow walk again and brought in Zach Miner to face Geovany Soto. Soto struck out looking for the first out of the inning. Mike Fontenot grounded out to Polanco at second. Fukudome was forced but Bradley scored and tied the game at two. Alfonso Soriano popped out to end the inning.
Ryan Theriot led off the seventh with a walk and the Cubs down 4-2. Derrek Lee singled and the Cubs had runners on first and second with no outs ...
Jim Leyland brought in Bobby Seay to face Micah Hoffpauir. On a 1-2 pitch, Hoffpauir lined out to second. Leyland went to his pen again and brought in the right-hander, Brandon Lyon to turn Milton Bradley around. Bradley walked to load the bases after starting the at bat 0-2. Jake Fox followed with a sacrifice fly to right center that plated Theriot and cut the Tigers lead to 4-3.
Fukudome grounded out to first to end the inning.
The Cubs went quietly in the eighth but it was more of the same in the ninth.
Down by two, Derrek Lee walked to start the inning. Micah Hoffpauir blooped a single into left center and the Cubs had runners on first and second with no outs ...
Milton Bradley struck out swinging, Jake Fox flied out to right center and Kosuke looked at a very high strike three on a 3-2 pitch (it was out of the strike zone) to end the game.
The Tigers tack on runs came via free passes. After Soto's error gave Marcus Thames a new life to start the sixth, Thames walked with the game tied at two. Harden retired Don Kelly on a pop out to short, then walked Brandon Inge on five pitches.
Lou Piniella brought in Aaron Heilman with two on and one out. Magglio Ordonez blooped a single into right to load the bases. Gerald Laird hit a rocket to Jake Fox that he held onto for the second out. Adam Everett followed with an infield single to third. Fox made a nice diving stop, that saved a run, but he could not get to his feet quick enough to throw out Everett.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Aaron Heilman walked Curtis Granderson to force in the Tigers' fourth run. Heilman retired Polanco on a groundout to second to end the inning.
Jose Ascanio took the mound in the eighth with the Cubs down by only one run. Ascanio struggled again and gave up a single to Magglio Ordonez to start the inning. Gerald Laird pushed a bunt to the right side past the mound. It was perfectly executed but pinch runner Josh Anderson tried to advance to third after no one picked up the ball. Fontenot finally did and threw out Anderson at third.
Adam Everett singled to left and chased Ascanio from the game.
Sean Marshall struck out Curtis Granderson on three pitches for the second out. Piniella brought in Carlos Marmol ... which ended up being a mistake. Marmol issued back-to-back walks to Placido Polanco and Miguel Cabrera to force in the Tigers' fifth run. In 33 innings this season, Marmol has issued 35 free passes. Marmol struck out Marcus Thames to end the inning.
Once again this season, the Cubs lost a very winnable game.
Ted Lilly will try to salvage the final game of the series on Thursday. The Tigers will counter with Armando Galarraga.
looking for a closer how bout that david aadarsma trade for neil cotts? he is lights out for the mariners this year and is 2nd in the al in saves with an era under 2...
That's one of those hindsight 20/20 things. Aardsma sucked for us. Heck, he sucked for the Sox. Now he's in a "no-pressure" situation with the Mariners and excelling. It's kinda like Will Ohman: sucked with us, made sense to trade him, and ultimately the change of scenery saved him.
Yet another indictment of Rothschild. He just can't seem to turn pitchers around, nor can he take a project, and turn him into a winner.
He can't fix Marmol, couldn't fix Rich Hill, can't get Z pitching consistently, couldn't even help Dempster (Dempster was on his own FYI...training hard, and throwing in the offseason).
But Rothschild is another one of Hendry's bff's that just won't go away.
Just look at all the pitchers to come through here with tons of ability...Z, Cruz, Wood, Prior, Marmol, Hill, Ascanio, Aardsma, Marshall, Samardzija, Hart, etc.
Cruz, Hart, Hill, Ascanio, Aardsma, and Samardzija have all been shuttled back and forth between AAA entirely too many times. I don't know what he even does to be quite honest with you. I mean, I remember hearing about when Maddux was with the team, our pitchers were picking up stuff from him that they'd never been taught before, and credited him with a lot of their success. Marshall and Hill were names that come to mind specifically. I think Dempster was another.
I remember thinking to myself, "isn't that a pitching coach's job?" You know...to identify problems in a pitcher's delivery, grips, etc., and suggest new ways of doing things.
Remember earlier this season how Len and Bob pointed out Marmol's arm slot being out of whack from last year, and his slider was flat. It'd been going on for weeks, and Rothschild failed to notice this. I remember reading about Joe Kerrigan and all the video work he did with the Pirates staff that really got them on track this year. I wonder what Rothschild does....Towel drills? Is that all?
After all, the primary reason Gerald Perry got fired was because he couldn't identify problems in player's swings, and fix them. He prepared them well, but if they were out of whack with their swings, he couldn't help. It's a lot like Rothschild...unless you're like Kerry Wood, Marmol, and Z that came on board with loads of natural ability....he just can't help your development. It's why we've seen others like LaTroy Hawkins go elsewhere and have success.
I still can't believe Rothschild hasn't gotten the ax yet. He's survived 4 separate managerial regimes thus far. How does any coach do that?!?!
It is now my belief that Hendry, Piniella, and Rothschild must go. I like Trammell, Quade, and Joshua, but that's about it. I think they need a new direction (GM), a new and energetic voice (manager), and a pitching coach that knows what he's doing. I'd give Maddux $5 million/year just to be our pitching coach. Hell, I'd give Mazzone that too. Rothschild isn't worth anything.
CUBS 2010 DREAM ROSTER
Mark Cuban or Ricketts- owner
Steve Stone-GM (not happening, but I can dream)
Bob Brenly-manager
Ryne Sandberg-bench coach
Von Joshua-hitting coach
Greg Maddux/Leo Mazzone-pitching coach
Mike Quade-3B coach
Alan Trammell-1B coach
Jody Davis-bullpen coach
C-Victor Martinez
1B-Fox/Hoffpauir
2B-Hudson
SS-Sean Rodriguez or Brandon Wood
3B-ARAM
LF-Dunn
CF-Crawford
RF-Hawpe
bench-Tony Thomas, Fox/Hoffpauir, Clevenger, Seth Smith, Ben Zobrist
Starting pitchers:
Z
Dempster
Jay Jackson
Jeff Samardzija
Randy Wells
pen-Marshall, Jeremy Papelbon, Jeff Stevens, Blake Parker, Ascanio, Marmol, Guzman
Lilly, Harden, Theriot, Soto, Fontenot, Lee, Bradley, and Soriano are all traded to obtain prospects to get Rodriguez/Wood of the Angels, Dunn of the Nats, Hawpe and Smith of the Rockies, and Zobrist of the Rays
The Rays need starting pitching and relief, which we'd have. The Rockies need pitching, which we have plenty of. The Nats need a little of everything, and we could offer mostly pitching, with Colvin and a few other position prospects. As far as I know, Martinez, Crawford, and Hudson are all free agents to some degree next season (Martinez and Crawford might have options...I'm not sure).
But that would get our team younger, more athletic, and more powerful almost immediately. I'd do whatever was necessary to ensure we get these players. Lee and/or Soriano could be traded to the Angels. Atkins, Hart, Gaub, Archer, etc. could be traded for Hawpe and Smith, and whatever pitching we have left can be traded for Zobrist. If you get Hawpe, Smith, and Zobrist, then Dunn becomes less of a priority, though I'd still try to get him.
Aaron,
I don't disagree with your end goal...but lets be fair.
Aardsma spent a few years away from us under the tuteledge of some great organizations...with out finding himself.
I think Cooper with the Sox is a good pitching coach and the Red Sox are no slouches...and yet they could not get Aardsma on track.
La Troy Hawkins looked the same to me
as he did before...remember I called the home run off of him just before it happened.
So I'm not knocking Rothschild...but we do need new blood...and I would love Maddux...question is...what does HE
want to do?
Gerald Perry was fired because Hendry was impotent as GM...and he had to do something to save his rear end...and make it look like he was doing something.
The Cubs didn't go from one of the best offenses in the league to one of the worst because of Perry...that change
happened because of player change that
Hendry initiated....and Lou no longer
has the fire he once had...( Funny how the Cubs keep doing that to managers).
So Perry gets a pass...but that leaves Lou and Hendry...no pass there...om either guy.
I can live with Dunn...IF...IF we don't have Soriano...and CF is strong...other than that...I still don't want him...and sorry...no statistics...I just hate all or nothing players...I much prefer high contact line drive hitters with some power...over straight power and high KO
guys even if they do draw a lot of walks.
btw...I never considered Sandberg to be a power guy...he was more a line drive
hitter...with high percentages....AND
some power.
I like your dream lineup...and Brenley
would make a great manager...it's obvious
a new owner needs to bring in new management...but lets hope it is good....I felt good about Ricketts,,,not so sure about other candidates...and Cuban just is not going to happen...much as he would be fun...because we'd have that crazy payroll.
My first move is to make sure that Vitters gets to Double AA at the break
this year...so we have a backup for Aram
next year if needed.
Info on Aramis:
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1638669,CST-SPT-aram25.article
George Sherrill anyone??????? The Cubs need some bullpen help and bad. But that wont fix the problem because if the pitching gets good or hitting still sucks. Can't win games if you leave all those base runners on. The problem is they have no consistence. One guy gets hot and everyone else is cold. Where the hell is this "hitting is Contagious" shit. The only thing contagious folr the Cubs this year is the FLU. We need to get a honest to god 2nd baseman. We should have signed Hudson in the off season. Let's try and get Brian Roberts again.
A true lead off hitter. I don't know of any other lead off hitter in the history of MLB that K's as many times as Soriano. 3 years into his 8 year contract and this is looking like a bad horror flick. This team has no life. Randy Wells should have like 8 wins by now. Which is sad, would probably be the team leader in wins right now. Ted Lilly leads with 7 wins. We have more quality starts than any other team in the league, yet we can't win anything becasue of horrible hitting and WALKS!!!! by the bullpen. Is it really that hard to throw strikes!!! Marmol is such a mystery to me. He has nasty stuff, if just threw more over the plate instead of try to hit the corners, he would get more people out. Because of his nasty moving pitches it is so hard to hit him even if he just threw everything down the middle.
It's amazing were only 3.5 back! And the sale of this team has draged on for to long. MLB needs to step in and get that shit resolved. That means you BUD SELIG. I know you like to turn a blind eye to everything and say you were not aware of what was/ is going on, but it's time to earn that rediculious paycheck, you ASS!
Neil, I was at the game last night and was really PO'd at the Cubs. They showed no spark and appeared disinterested. Soriano jogging to first on a single and lackadaisically strolling out to right field, usually the last Cub to take the field. And Soto looked like a lard bucket out there. Yeah, he hit a homerun, but it's probably the only way he could make it around the bases. The double he hit would have been a triple for any player in half way decent condition and then getting tagged out at third on a grounder to the second baseman was totally inexcusable. Their lack of hitting in clutch situations is becoming so frustrating it makes me want to pull out what little hair I have left. They had every opportunity to win that game last night and couldn't pull it off. The Tigers' top pitcher (arguably) didn't have his best stuff last night and the Cubs couldn't capitalize.
That being said, the Tigers are looking pretty good this year. They are the exact opposite of everything the Cubs aren't. And the big fireworks display on the riverfront was awesome. 500,000+ people downtown last night made for some hairy traffic after the game and the fireworks show. At least Detroit has that going for them these days.
Keep up the good work Neil.