Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Padres – 05/05/06

Carlos Zambrano (0-2, 5.35) vs. Chan Ho Park (1-1, 5.34)

Carlos Zambrano takes his 0-2 record to the mound tonight at PETCO Park against Chan Ho Park and the Padres. This is game one of a four game series that will not wrap until Monday when Greg Maddux takes the mound. Zambrano has struggled this season and last Sunday against the Brewers he threw 106 pitches in just 4 complete innings….Zambrano was unable to record an out in the 5th. Some are blaming his participation in the WBC as the reason for his poor start and Dusty even used the phrase “dead arm” this past week. Whatever the case the Cubs need Zambrano to pickup the win tonight. Dusty shook up the lineup on Thursday and flip flopped Walker and Ramirez in the batting order, that experiment did not work as they combined for a 1 for 8 night at the plate, but Dusty’s other experiment had a fine evening.

While the Cubs were in Las Vegas at the end of Spring Training, they traded John Koronka and a player to be named later to the Rangers for utility man Freddie Bynum. Bynum had gotten little play, just a few pinch hits and some mop up work before Thursday’s game in Arizona. Bynum made the start at 2nd and had a 1 for 3 night with a walk and two stolen bases…and played a fine defensive 2nd base. The Cubs have to get offense out of the 2nd base position and neither Perez nor Hairston have had any consistent production all season. Bynum gives the Cubs more speed on the bases and another head ache for the opposing pitcher to go along with Juan Pierre and Ronny Cedeno.

Pierre had a 3-hit night on Thursday and he must build on the performance….just not a one and done. The Cubs need to win this 4-game series against the Padres and it will take consistent contributions from Ramirez and Jones to do so.

The Cubs need to go back to basics against a potentially dangerous Padres team. Patience, consistency and trust are the key words for the weekend series….just go win a game.

Let’s Talk Cubbies Baseball….