Where Have You Been Aramis Ramirez? - Cubs 4 Phillies 3

By Neil on July 16, 2010 17 Vote 0 Votes

Game Ninety-One - Cubs 4 Phillies 3
WP - Sean Marshall (6-2) LP - Ryan Madson (2-1) Save - Carlos Marmol (17)

Where has this been all season? Not only have the Cubs won back-to-back games, but both victories have also been in come from behind fashion. The team that has taken the field over the last two days barely resembles the club that lost 50 of their first 89 games. The Cubs appear to be playing with confidence, something that has eluded Lou's crew all year. Friday was a game the Cubs would have lost in the first half.

Aramis Ramirez was the difference once again Friday. Ramirez not only hit the game-winning homer in the bottom of the eighth off of Ryan Madson but he extended the inning for Marlon Byrd in the sixth. Ramirez doubled with two outs off Joe Blanton and was along for the ride on Byrd's longball that tied the game at three. Ramirez finished the afternoon 3-for-4 with his 11th home run, a double, three runs scored and a RBI.

Marlon Byrd was the other half of the Cubs' offense. Byrd tied the game at three with his 10th homer of the season in the sixth ... his first longball since June 9 in Milwaukee. Byrd managed a pair of hits in four trips to the plate.

Ted Lilly rebounded nicely from his previous two outings and notched the Cubs Major League leading 57th quality start. Lilly made only two mistakes but both left the park. Shane Victorino recorded the Phillies first hit, a homer to left in the fourth that gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead. Lilly settled down but his first walk in the sixth set it up for Ryan Howard.

Lilly issued a four-pitch, two-out walk to Jayson Werth then served up a 1-1 fastball to Ryan Howard. Howard deposited the ball onto the roof of the batter's eye in center and gave Philadelphia a 3-1 lead.

Ted Lilly left after seven complete and allowing three runs on four hits with a walk and a season-high 10 strikeouts. Lilly also notched his first RBI of the year in the fifth with a bases loaded walk. Lilly is hitless on the season but 'drove' in his first run since May 2, 2009 against the Marlins. Theodore ended up with a no-decision but if Friday ends up being his last outing as a Cub at Wrigley, he left on more than a positive note.

Sean Marshall picked up his sixth win after throwing a perfect eighth inning. Marshall retired the Phillies on just 10 pitches.

Carlos Marmol was nasty in the ninth. Marmol made his first appearance in nearly a week (July 10) and struck out the side on just 14 pitches.

Lou's crew did not quit Friday afternoon and have won six of their last nine. Where was this in May?

With Friday's victory, the Cubs improved to 41-50 (12-20 in one-run games) on the year ... nine games below the mediocre mark.

The Cubs' offense struggled most of the afternoon against Joe Blanton. They managed only one hit the first time through the lineup and tied the game on a bases loaded walk to Ted Lilly in the fifth.

Aramis Ramirez recorded the Cubs' second hit of the game in the fifth. Ramirez advanced to second when Alfonso Soriano drew the Cubs' first walk of the afternoon. Starlin Castro hit a weak grounder to short. Jimmy Rollins only play was at first and he just barely threw out the hustling Castro.

With runners on second and third with two outs, Joe Blanton intentionally walked Geovany Soto to load the bases.

Ted Lilly quickly fell behind 0-2 before working a walk on the seventh pitch of the at bat. Lilly's free pass forced in Ramirez and tied the game at one.

The Phillies took the lead right back in the top of the sixth. Ted Lilly issued a four-pitch walk to Jayson Werth. With two outs and Werth on first, Lilly uncorked a wild pitch on a 0-1 offering to Ryan Howard. Werth advanced to second and Lilly decided to pitch to Howard.

Ryan Howard hit his third two-run homer of the series on the next pitch. The Phillies took a 3-1 lead and once again, the game appeared over.

Aramis Ramirez proved how important he is to the Cubs in the bottom of the sixth. Blanton struck out Tyler Colvin and Derrek Lee for the first two outs. Ramirez then ripped a 1-1 pitch into left center. Ramirez trotted into second and set the stage for Marlon Byrd.

Byrd launched Blanton's first pitch into the bleachers in left center and tied the game at three. Byrd's first homer at Wrigley since May 14 ... and first longball since his two homer game in Milwaukee on June 9.

Ted Lilly retired the Phillies in order on just eight pitches in the seventh ... and put himself in line for the win.

Starlin Castro led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to left. Castro took second on a wild pickoff attempt by Blanton. Geovany Soto advanced Castro to third with a fly out to right center. The productive out put the go ahead run on third with less than two outs.

Kosuke Fukudome hit for Lilly and struck out swinging on four pitches. Ryan Theriot followed and struck out on a 3-2 pitch to end the inning.

For as good as Friday's win was, again, it is a case of too much too late.

Box Score from Yahoo Sports

Randy Wells will face Cole Hamels in game three on Saturday afternoon.

Aaron

Open letter to Jerljr and Gramps:

I think I speak for a lot on here, but I could be wrong....We are simply jaded. We do not believe in this team, because the team in itself was poorly conceived, poorly constructed, and poorly managed. There were HUGE flaws in the team last year, and then the only major move we made was to replace Bradley with Byrd....a huge improvement, there's no denying that, but if you're already behind the 8-ball from the 2009 moves and that's your only major move on offense, then you're asking for trouble. I think a lot of us could've seen that.

The only thing we problem couldn't have seen was the horrible fundamental play all around: moving runners, fielding, poor situational hitting (actually, non-existent), mental errors, etc.

But let's be real. This was NOT a good team to start off with. You two are acting like it was, and there was a lot to like about the team. There simply was NOT, nor is there much to like about it even now.

What do you want me to say that I already haven't?!? I've given props to the play of Castro, Colvin, Dempster, Marshall, Marmol, Silva, Lilly, Gorzelanny, Cashner, and Byrd. Outside of them, there's not much to like, including the perpetually streaky Soriano, even though he leads the team in about every offensive category.

Is ARAM back? Talk to me again if we're actually in the race for the division title and/or Wild Card. Why? Does it really effin' matter if he's back in the first place if we're not in contention?!? It's like Dawson winning the MVP on a last place team in 1988. It's ludicrous to think that way as a fan, as if that somehow makes everything better.

Hey, we're on a 2-game winning streak. Ask me how many streaks of at least 2 games we've had this year.....The answer would be 8...(three 2 game winning streaks, including this one; three 3 game winning streaks; and two 4 games winning streaks). This is now our 30th series on the season.

Obviously, this is my personal opinion, and everyone is entitled to their own...I just don't understand how that data could make anyone optimistic that the Cubs are "coming out of it".

Additionally, you have to look at what the other teams are doing ahead of us in the second half, and lo and behold, the Cardinals have won 2 in a row, and the Reds have won their first game back from the break, so we've gained absolutely nothing on our division. This is what I meant by "20 game swing" just to get back into the race (and that's not even to be in 1st place...just "getting back in it"). Doesn't make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, does it?!?

I know that my opinion is controversial with some on here, and you think I'm just poo-pooing everything this team does, but there simply isn't much to get excited about, other than our young talent in the minors right now, and the rookies/younger players on our roster right now. I look forward to the day when we have this type of lineup:

Lee-SS

Castro-2B

Colvin-RF

Vitters-3B

B Jackson-LF

Ridling (or whatever power hitting 1B we can find)-1B

Castillo-C

Campana-CF

But this 30-something lineup we have right now is a joke...an absolute joke for nearly $80 million just for the lineup.

We still need to blow up this team. And to put things into better perspective for some of you (and you know who you are), we still have to win 11 straight games (I'm including the 2 we've won in a row thus far) just to get to .500. That's pretty pathetic, isn't it?!?

As Neil said, it's "too little, too late" even with the wins, as good as they might feel for all of us.

Every single veteran that is in the final year of their deals and/or is 30 and older and due for arbitration, absolutely HAS to be traded. There's no way that Lee, Lilly, Howry, Nady, Theriot, Fontenot, Koyie Hill, and Baker fit in with this team long-term. And then, in the event of a miracle happening, and the Cubs making the playoffs, do you really think that this team would even win a game in the postseason?!? So, why even hang around to these guys?!?

John_CC

I have to agree with Rip's comment above. A TWO game win streak and all of a sudden "we're" back in it is, well, an extremely ggogly view.

I love seeing Aramis dialed in. I love feeling that every time he comes to the plate that the game could change...I'm very happy he is over whatever the hell was wrong with him. I want him to ride out his years and be the veteran anchor of this order.

For you "buyers" out there, who exactly do you think the Cubs could acquire to lead them to the wild card - be real for a minute, that is the only hope, if you go that way (and I don't) - and how do the Cubs get them? What do the Cubs possibly have talent wise to trade to acquire game changers that doesn't take away the only positives on the team - Marmol, Marshall, Castro, Soto, Lilly, Demp - or gut the future?

ripsnorter

Look at those Cubs' goggles! Two wins in a row and we're right back in it! That attitude alone explains 102 years on the skids.

Yes, I enjoyed the two wins. Just show me the next 24 in a row, (so we can catch the Sox), and I'll be REAL happy.

As for the Reds, don't forget: MR. Dusty Eugene Baker is asleep, er, I mean, the manager. He'll kill that staff, and the Reds won't make it. The Cards have the manager.

scott

It doesnt matter if the Cards "Have the manager"

The Reds have the better team.

Boseph Heyden

Very true. I expect the Cubs to be able to catch the Reds by the end of the season because they're due successive losing streaks. The Reds choke. They always choke. And it doesn't help that Dusty is already over-pitching his staff. Pretty soon, those 100+ pitch outings his guys are used to will take their tolls and at least one or two will wind up on the DL. And that's when the dominoes come crashing down.

Meanwhile, yeah, I expect the Cards to get to doing what they usually do best: get hot and stay hot. I would expect LaRussa's team to fire off a few 5, 6, maybe 10 game win streaks between now and September to put the Central away.

Ultimately, the Cubs' only shot is at the Wild Card. And to get that, they're pretty much looking at winning at least 45 more games. And this team does not strike me as a group that can stay motivated to do that, let alone get a nice record going for July. Then again, maybe a trade or two fixes that...

carmelo

With all the talk about trading Lilly, nobody is mentioning a possible replacement in the rotation for him. Tonight for Iowa, Shark is starting---same day as Lilly---if Ted get's traded, 5 days from now look for Jeff. S. to be starting for Cubs.

Patrick S.

Dan Uggla in a cubs uniform if we win 8 out ten on the homestand!!!

Keith Moreland

Do the Cub brass put plans on hold because they are back in it? I doubt it, and we are too far gone with 9 games between us and 2 teams (not just one). But who knows.

Ted Lilly certainly enhanced his trade value; his prior two starts were both not so good.

jerljr

We will still have Soriano, Byrd, Ramirez, Soto, etc., etc.

jerljr

HELLO, hello, ...............

scott

Jer

I'll agree with most of your thoughts.

Im very happy with the 2 wins..... especially when people were saying we would be lucky to go 2 & 5 against the Phils & Cards.

While I dont think we will win the division..... part of that is because I believe the Reds are a good team.

Also I think Brian hit the nail on the head the other day with these comments.

""•I understand that some young guys need experience, but I have to take a stand here. Saying that Cubs should start what would basically resemble a minor league team is not right. It's not true and it's not accurate.""

""•Go ahead and disagree, but Major League teams have to field the most competitive team and starting half of the Iowa and Tennessee rosters would not be competitive. There is a reason those players are where they are.""

jerljr

Agreed. Especially the Cubs because us as Cubs fans cant stomach building for the future because "we have waited long enough" mentality. Which I also believe is part of are problem but I'll leave that for another post.

I think they will get rid of Lilly, maybe Theriot(Fontenot), Maybe Nady. Got this feeling they will keep Lee. Because they wont get the value they want plus I think Lee wants to stay. Even though I do think they should try to trade him. But get a decent player back.

But I think they will do this whether we win the next 10 in a row or lose every game from now till the trade date. They may keep Lilly if we go on a win streak.

But even if we do this we can put a decent lineup out there. Will still have at least one of the three second basemen(Theriot, Fontenot, Baker) plus Barney.

First base will probably have Nady and/or Hoffpauer or like I said keep Lee.

To take Lilly's spot. Gruzz, Marshall, maybe Cashner or put Zambo there.

Point I'm making is that they can be sellers at the trade deadline and still put a reasonable competitive team on the field. We wont be the Pirates or Royals.

Maybe not as "potentially"(I say this because Lee and Ramirez have not played to their potential this year and trading Lee would drop the "potential" level but not the actual level compared to what Lee has done this season" good but still reasonable. Reasonable enough that something COULD click and we could still make a run.

Gotta go home. See ya GO CUBS!

jerljr

Gramps, if your there, help me out here!!!!!

Gramps

You don't need any help, you are doing fine! Like I said the other day in a comment, if they play like they did in the first half, they have no chance. The last 2 games were great to watch. Finally a few hits with men on base and some clutch hitting this afternoon. We don't know if this will be the way they play the rest of the season, but if they do.....it may be very interesting! I am not saying they will go to the playoffs, but I am also saying that they can't get there. It is on their shoulders. They are the ones that have to pitch, field, hit, etc. All we can do is be fans. I think almost everybody that comes in here is a die-hard Cubs fan. We all want the best for them. I just hope they would not wish for them to lose or predict that they will be swept in a series or say that they look like clowns. If anybody feels that way, they should try cheering for another team. Here is hoping we win another one tomorrow. GO CUBS!

jerljr

Oh and I know I'm in danger of being positive but did you notice that the Reds are on a little skid. Just pointing out a fact not saying we are on the easy road to a world series championship.

jerljr

No matter what your opinion is of the rest of the season

Cubs are playing better and that is what we wanted to happen. Be happy to be a Cubs fan and enjoy it. They cant get 3-4 wins in one game, they can only get one.

Good start of the second half and its something to be happy about.

Patrick S.

Dan Uggla to the Cubs?

If the Cubs are serious about trying to mke a huge comeback we need more FIRE POWER!!!!!!!!!!! Trade Theriot, and Nady, use those prospects and maybe a Ryan Flaherty or Lemehieu for Uggla!