Game Thirty-Seven: Cubs (15-21) vs. Padres (21-16)
Game Time – 1:20pm C.T. WGN TV, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 187
Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Rich Hill (0-2, 9.00) vs. Clay Hensley (1-2, 4.73)
Happy Mother’s Day….the Cubs try to salvage the last game of the series, as well as the season series, today against the Padres. The Cubs are 0-6 against the Padres and desperately need a win before tomorrow’s day off, their first since April 27th….over that 17 game span the Cubs are 3-13 entering today’s game. Rich Hill goes to the mound to day for the Cubs and he had a better outing his last time out on May 9th against the Giants. Hill went 6 innings and gave up 5 runs on 8 hits, like the entire pitching staff leadoff walks spoiled his outing and the Cubs lost the ballgame. Hill showed better command of his breaking ball and more confidence in his abilities against the Giants than he did against the Diamondbacks on May 4th. The Cubs need to pull no punches and leave the field today with a victory. With the 3-game series coming up against the Nationals, a 4-game winning streak is not out of the question. Zambrano (Tuesday), Marshall (Wednesday) and Kerry Wood (Thursday) will give the Cubs a chance at the sweep, but the confidence that a rookie could provide today is immeasurable.
The players did a better job on Saturday, but management did not put them in right situations to be successful. Piazza is swinging a hot stick right now and should be in the lineup, if he is the Cubs must run on him like they did in San Diego….get the leadoff hitter to 2nd via the steal and then to 3rd with a bunt, do not waste an out on a catcher that would not have thrown Greg Maddux out.
Matt Murton reportedly is in the doghouse, but Neifi is not? No one on this team, coaches or players, are playing this game the way they are capable and the team’s leading on base guy should not be sat for any reason. Murton should have been used in Saturday’s game and sitting him for the second consecutive game could be very damaging.
Juan Pierre and Aramis Ramirez are the keys to today’s game. They have not played well this entire season and in the absence of Derrek Lee, they must step up and play the way they are capable and lead this team to victory today.
Let’s Talk Cubbies Baseball….