Doumit! Cubs Zwept by Z Bucs - Cubs 2 Pirates 8

By Neil on September 30, 2009 12 Vote 0 Votes

Game One Hundred Fifty-Eight - Cubs 2 Pirates 8
WP - Jeff Karstens (4-5) LP - Carlos Zambrano (9-7) Save - None

The Chicago Cubs are just going through the motions at this point. After dropping game one 4-0 and managing only four hits on Wednesday afternoon, the Cubs scored only two runs in the second game and the Pirates swept the Cubs in the day-night doubleheader.

Entering play on Wednesday the Pirates had lost 17 of their last 18 road games. The Bucs swept the Cubs and posted back-to-back wins on the road for the first time since June 10 and 11 in Atlanta.

Charlie Morton and Jeff Karstens beat Ted Lilly and Carlos Zambrano on Wednesday.

Carlos Zambrano did not finish his season on a positive note. Zambrano struggled with his command and lasted only six innings. Big Z gave up four runs on six hits with four walks and six strikeouts. Zambrano threw only 98 pitches in his complete game gem against the Giants ... on Wednesday night he reached pitch number 98 with two outs in the fifth. Zambrano threw 117 against the Pirates, 75 for strikes.

This is the first season since 2002 (4-8) that Carlos Zambrano did not posted double digit wins.

Ryan Doumit wore out Cubs' pitching in game two. Doumit finished the game 4-for-4 with a walk, a double, a home run, three runs scored and four RBI. Doumit broke a 1-1 tie in the third with a two-run double off of Carlos Zambrano that proved to be the game winner.

The Pirates scored eight runs on 12 hits against Cubs' pitching on Wednesday night. Justin Berg took over for Zambrano in the seventh but left after a grounder off the bat of Garrett Jones hit him in the right calf. John Grabow replaced Berg and the Pirates put the game away against their former teammate. Grabow gave up three runs (two earned and one inherited) in one of his worst outings as a Cub.

Ryan Doumit capped his night with a home run in the ninth off of Carlos Marmol ... just the second home run served up by Marmol this season.

Mike Fontenot and Ryan Theriot drove in the Cubs' runs on Wednesday night. Fontenot tied the game with a single in the second and Theriot drove in Carlos Zambrano on a safety squeeze in the third.

After posting their 82nd win of the year and officially being eliminated on Tuesday night, the Cubs just appeared uninterested in a long day of baseball on Wednesday ...

Carlos Zambrano was not sharp on Wednesday night and Lou Piniella said he was not pleased with Zambrano's last start of the year. The Cubs were expecting a lot more from Zambrano after his previous outing against the Giants. Piniella indicated Zambrano has a lot of work to do over the winter to get ready for next season.

Lou Piniella said everyone (including Zambrano) expects more out Zambrano than the way he performed this season.

Andrew McCutchen tripled to left center to start the game. Micah Hoffpauir and Sam Fuld collided near the wall trying to make a catch. The ball fell to the ground and the speedy McCutchen made it all the way to third.

Zambrano looked like he was going to get out of the first without allowing a run. He struck out Andy LaRoche (the first of three strikeouts on the night for LaRoche against Zambrano) and Derrek Lee took a hit away from Garrett Jones. Lee made a nice grab on a ball ticketed for the right field corner, held McCutchen at third and stepped on first for the second out.

After a very close pitch on a 2-2 offering from Zambrano, Ryan Doumit walked with two outs. Lastings Milledge followed with a single to center on a 1-2 pitch. McCutchen scored and it was obvious Zambrano did not have it at that point.

Zambrano retired Brandon Moss on a fly out to left on the 30th pitch of the inning.

Big Z retired the Pirates in order in the second.

After Mike Fontenot singled in Jeff Baker and tied the game at one in the bottom of the second, Zambrano walked Andrew McCutchen to start the third.

LaRoche struck out for the second time then Zambrano walked Garrett Jones on four pitches. Ryan Doumit ripped Zambrano's first pitch into the alley in right center. McCutchen and Jones scored, 3-1 Pirates.

Lastings Milledge struck out but Brandon Moss reached on a broken bat single to right. Doumit scored the Pirates fourth run.

Carlos Zambrano led off the bottom of the third with a double to center ... on any other night the ball would have left the park. With the wind blowing in on a cold night (50 degrees at game time), Zambrano settled for a double and advanced to third on a ground out to second by Sam Fuld. Ryan Theriot dropped down a bunt to the first base side of the mound. The safety squeeze scored Zambrano and cut the Pirates lead to 4-2.

Justin Berg took the mound to start the seventh. Andy LaRoche singled to center on a 1-2 pitch from Berg. Garrett Jones then hit a come backer to the mound. The ball hit Berg in the leg but he recovered and threw out Jones at first. LaRoche advanced to second and Berg turned the game over to John Grabow.

Grabow gave up three runs (two earned and an inherited run) on four hits in 2/3 of an inning. Ryan Doumit singled to left on a 1-1 pitch, LaRoche scored the Pirates fifth run. Doumit advanced to second on Jake Fox's throw to the plate. Doumit then advanced to third on a single to right by Lastings Milledge. Brandon Moss hit a slow grounder to third. Baker tried to start the around the horn double play but could only get the sure out at second ... Doumit scored, 6-2 Pirates.

After Moss stole second on Grabow's first pitch to Delwyn Young, Young singled to center and plated Moss with the Pirates third run of the inning ... 7-2 Pirates.

The Cubs lost for the fourth time in 14 games to the Pirates on Wednesday night ...

4 ...

Box Score from Yahoo Sports

Jeff Samardzija is scheduled to face Paul Maholm in the series and season finale against the Pirates on Thursday night.

JimK

I'm not one of the Zambrano haters. I like his superior skills--albeit more so when he exhibits them. The context for my thinking is that the team is contract challenged (as Bryan mentions above), and Z's is one of the longest and most expensive at $18 mil per.

Unlike Lilly's or Lee's contracts that have a year to run, and may result in retirement, Z's value is enhanced because of his relative youth. He would likely yield some significant talent in return.

Bottom line, Z sees himself as a star and a "big stage" performer, and he might decide pretty quickly that financially stronger contending teams like the Yankees, Red Sox and Angels would be a better place for him. Contnders like the Cards, Braves and Dodgers in the NL all have budget constraints that probably diminishes their interest in Z.

paul k

Give me a break. I am sick of all the Zambrano haters. He admittedly has had a subpar year by his standards, but he won at least 14 games in his previous 5 seasons. Not to mention that he would have even less wins this year if he didn’t drive in the winning runs at least a couple times.

How quickly people forget that when this team was bad, he was one of the few hustling. He hates losing. Seems to me that people only started disliking him once he got a new contract.

As far as what to do next year, this team doesn’t need an overhaul. I read that the Marlins will once again be cleaning house and a couple interesting names will be on the block or not re-signed. Since they are always looking to keep their costs low, how about trading Bradley for Hermida or Uggla (with the Cubs picking up most of the tab of Bradley’s contract). Hermida’s only 25 and I see some potential in him.

matt coutz

after watching this season i seen that very few times the cubs played with great passion to go out there and just beat down that opposing team we need a firey guy that goes out there and just attacks the opposing team im not saying i want millage but kind of like he played yesterday. it just seems that there is no fire for competeing for these guys. hell bring back micheal barret he is a cheap player that playes with passion every day, he can back up hill and soto if one of the doesnt come through like we want and can fill in at 3rd for aram bc he was brought up as a 3rd bagger and could play a desent 1st base if was asked.

JimK

Bryan, you may be a closet koolaid drinker. You identify Fox, Fuld, Wells and Gorzelanny as keepers and valued players while implying it's wrong for others to, in effect, see them as a silver lining in this team's poor season. That Lee played very well and ARAM demonstrated he has most of his prowess intact after missing 65 or so games also bodes well for 2010. It's arguable that we ended the season with an improved back of the pen.

You are absolutely right that the team is age and contract challenged. It's going to take codliver oil, good developmental results and sound management to reach the NLCS and likely the playoffs again. Part of the codliver oil will almost certainly be moving Bradley. Some of the other disappointments (like Gregg and Heilman) will be gone too. Because, the dollars are manageable and we have more talented alternatives, Miles is likely a goner too.

Another part of the codliver oil may be having to keep Soriano and hoping to be pleasantly surprised. Maybe there can be a blockbuster payroll move involving someone like Z--as you and I have touted or finding a way to get a player like Bartlett to upgrade the middle infield. We could have some success with a "tweak" or two also as we've done with Johnson, Edmonds, Gorzelanny, etc. We almost certainly will have four or five above average contributors from the farm in years 2011 and 2012.

In my mind, the process to regaining NLCS competitiveness likely takes until 2012. I agree with you that tweaks won't get us there. I do think the 2010 team can/will win more games than the team did in 2009. I suspect some on this site think it's a practical possibility to blowup the current team and be significantly improved in 2010. I'm not one of them.

SuzyS

Bryan...the reason for optimism is we are finally going to have an owner going forward...with the stated goal of bringing a World Series to the North side.

That being said, a new owner is not superman...and cannot do it overnight.

Younger and hungrier is coming...the question is how talented and productive

the younger and hungrier are.

It is key that the GM/Cubs/JH make few mistakes this offseason...and add

pieces that WILL be productive during the transition to a younger team.

While we don't have an outstanding farm

system...we do have many talented pieces

from AA on down...so there is reason for hope....Depending on how we utilize those assets via trades/callups etc.

I view this off season as the beginning of a new era...and it truly is.

The next 2/3 years will be years of transition...ie while not a lot of moves may be possible this off season (other than Bradley/a search for 2nd/ss...and the stated RBI bat...it could be extremely active in season trading session in 2010...as Ricketts gets his feet wet and starts to implement his dream.

Eating All of Bradley's contract is not the answer....at some point...they will have to eat Soriano's contract. So they should save their appetite for that unpalatable dinner.

*****************************************Nuts and Bolts Reply to your post.

A)Zambrano...not going anywhere in the offseason...and the Red Sox would be nuts to trade a young, cheap Bucholz

straight up for an expensive "Z".

BTW...if we would have had any kind of offense and bullpen in the early going

Z would have had 14 or 15 wins...how many 2-1/3-2 games did we lose with him on the mound the 1rst half?

He might possibly go in midseason next year though.

B) Lee and Aram...after the enormous

DeRo miscue Hendry wouldn't have the stomach for a Lee trade...unless it brought enormous talent back...and Lee

would have to OK it. Aram stays at 3rd.

BUT...the Cubs should have adequate back-ups at both positions...due to contracts

they both will be subject to trade deadline rumors in season.

I look for Fukodome to be moved next season...either in season or just after the season when the $$$ are more doable...say-in eating half a salary.

I fully expect Lou/Hendry/Kenney to be on a short leash...they won't survive a bad start with an owner in place.

There is room for optimism...Soto can resurrect himself ala DLee...(maybe not quite the numbers but close to his ROY

season...or he can become Jerome Walton.

Z still has the talent to win 20 games...

just depends on his head and his drive.

He's a proud guy...if he's not hurt...

I think he'll show up.

Anyway, this team could "contend" with just a few tweaks...on the way to transition and old age...I don't know...

I'm not God...chances are huge turnover in the next 2 years.

Mark

How many times did Soriano go 0-6? With 6 stikeouts? What about Fukodome with 493 AB's and only 11 HR's and 54 RBI's. Fox hit 11 HR's with 43 RBI's in only 209 at abts. He should have been played more and we should have found him a comfortable spot because he is a hitter. He was drafted as a C and played 3rd, LF, Rf, 1B, give him a break. Soto was horrendous at the plate, so I'd keep Hill who is one of the best in the NL at cutting down runners and do something with Soto (maybe trade or bench him). Hoffpauir has a nice swing, but hasn't sold me yet. 1.) Keep Lee at 1st, keep Ramirez at 3rd. 2.) Keep Wells, Lilly, Dempster, maybe Zambrano, Johnson, Theriot (unless someone gives more for him) Blanco. That's about it. Evryone else can go. With all this talk about potential to FINALLY go to a World Series for the last 3 years, it's been killing me, very frustrating.

waldo7239117

He has already prove that he can hit (Soriano). Fox has trouble hitting sliders out of the strike zone, I know Soriano soes but he can get a piece of it. Fox swings at mostly everythime and always trys for a homerun.

If Fox takes more pitches and cuts back on his homerun swing everytime, he has potential to be a good hitter.

bo

since everyone is playing with the house's money and nothing is coming out of our pockets its easy to say "cut em all". that is not possible. we are just gonna have to stand pat a little. sure, bradley has to go. but soriano has been hurt most of the year and we can not eat 5 years of contract just so we do not have to look at him. as far as cancer goes, sori is not one. he is a good club house guy that everyone seems to like. now bradley, thats a diff story.....

Bryan

Waldo, please "grow up". So you're "pissed at Fox because he went 0-6 and now he's useless". We have no-one to blame than our senile manager who refused to give Fox regularly playing time. If you extend out his numbers over an entire season his stats would be extremely healthy for this team, with a low-cost pricetag. The kid can flat-out hit, but needs a manager that will play him. For some reason, he's been placed in Lou's doghouse...gee, haven't we seen this before.

waldo7239117

The go be the GM and make that team or the manager and put the lineup in and you will be fire so fast.

Im just saying Fox show me nothing, I am not a big fan of him at all, trade him to a AL theat needs a DH while his value is still (kind of). I think JH will find someone that want him and he will trade him.

Bryan

To all the late-season koolaid drinkers, please stop trying to find the silver lining in an 82 win season.

This team is both age and contract challenged moving forward, and has serious issues to deal with heading into next year.

Bradley's $20m owed needs to be eaten, and moved. Zambrano (with his "impressive" 9 wins this year), needs to be moved. Fukodome is nothing more than an average OF (at $12m a year). Soto has one more chance, and better get on the Jenny Craig plan in the offseason. And best of all, we still have Soriano for 5 more years. Anyone who thinks these guys are going to show up next March with heightened skills and a new attitude are dreaming.

Capping off our optimism we have to endure a lame-duck manager who already has dismissed his role. Pinella has always sucked in late-contract years.

This team needs a major skill and attitude overhaul, but now what we hear are likely "minor tweaks", with hopes of a "revival" for next year from everyone who already suck, and who will be year older next year.

Personally, I'd eat both Bradley's and Soriano's contracts, and say "good bye" already. If retained, Soriano will be both a bust and cancer next year. I'd trade Fukodome for some reasonable prospects. I'd pursue a Zambrano for Buchholz trade, straight up, and relieve some of those $$$'s of this supposed ace. I'd then push hard for a trade of Carl Crawford. And if you really wanted to get bold, I'd trade Derrick Lee, coming off a great year, and get something of strong value before his last year of contract expires.

This team needs to get younger and hungrier. I would welcome a 2010 outfield of Fox, Fuld and Crawford, with Johnson being the swing guy. We need to get more athletic at either 2B or SS. If you can move Lee for some ML ready talent, then consider moving Ramirez to 1B (to extend his career further), and plug in at 3B. For the rotation, I would be pleased to see a Buchholz, Lilly, Dempster, Wells, Gorzellany core.

There will be plenty of chatter over the coming months about "what if" scenarios. But rest assured, if this team doesn't achieve a major shakeup in the offseason, 2010 will likely be worse to experience than this year.

waldo7239117

If we had Hoff starting at 1B ond Fox starting in LF the Cubs will finish below the Pirates in the division.

Hoff and Fox show me nothing, I would keep Hoff this offseason thought but if you can trade Fox do it. Im starting to get pissed off at him because if he does not hit he is useless and he went 0-6 yesterday. Trade him to a AL team.