First Star – Ryan Braun (.541)
Second Star – Carlos Marmol (.247)
Third Star – Jason Kendall (.237)
Top Play – Ryan Braun’s double in the 9th (+.437)
The Cubs let one slip away today and the way they did it raised some questions and had Lou screaming. Soriano made his return today and went 0 for 4…which is understandable on his return. However, it was an outfield play in the ninth inning that had people bothered. Kerry Wood also blew the save, his third blown save in seven opportunities. Unfortunately for Kid K this blown save came after Carlos Marmol came in in the seventh and shut the Brewers down in a crucial situation preserving a lead for the Cubs and keeping Carlos Zambrano in line for his fifth win.
Big Z looked good today as he has in almost every start this season. He was doing well through six only giving up a solo home run to Ryan Braun who carried the Brewers through this game. He ran into trouble in the seventh and Marmol came on to relieve him up by two with runners at the corners and one out. Marmol was Marmol striking out the next two batters and retiring the side in the eighth.
Zambrano also put the Cubs on the board with a solo shot to lead off the third. The Cubs faced Yovani Gallardo and scored three runs. I was surprised that they got so many hits in the game- 11 total yet they only scored three runs. Theriot had 3 hits and Fokudome had 4.
The defense had highs and lows. Fukudome had two OF assists at the plate. Unfortunately, the second one came after he got a bad jump on Ryan Braun’s eventual game winning double. Soto made a really good play on the first one as Prince Fielder was booking down the line and crashed into Soto with a forearm shiver to the head. (Do you remember the moment whan Pudge Rodriguez held the ball thrust in the air when the Marlins won their first round playoff series on a play at the plate a few years ago? That was one of those cool baseball moments.)
The story of the game came in the ninth. Wood comes in and hits the first batter. On the next play Soriano misplays a ball that he either misjudged or didn’t run as hard after as he should. I know he is just back but I think his outfield pursuit is terrible. I know there is a thought that he is a good left fielder but I think this line of thinking doesn’t take into considerations all of the plays he does not make. Today was one of those days. I wonder if Soriano has more games that he contributes a major amount towards a win or a loss. We are better with him in the lineup I know. But he is a superstar and has major flaws. (Let the disagreement begin.) However, the fault is certainly not just Soriano’s. Wood then gave up an infield single and then walked the bases loaded. After a strike out Braun doubled home two and the Brewers took a 4-3 lead. The questions about Wood being a reliable closer will continue to stir.
Lou was asked after the game if he considered pulling Soriano for defenive reasons in the ninth. Lou exploded that he is not stupid and of course he did. It seems like Lou regretted not making the change especially on his first day back. Lou didn’t have a great day and when Cedeno led off the ninth with a walk it was confusing why he didn’t try to steal. Remember Jason Kendall catched for the Brewers.
The thing about Lou is that he hates losing. Which is nice because sometimes it seemed like former managers took losing easily – or at least not as hard. So I wonder if Kerry continues to struggle, how long will Lou wait. Also, did Lou’s blow up today have anything to do with frustrations with Soriano or at least all the questions he gets about Soriano. If this is the case it is possible that Lou will respond in some way soon.
Hard not to over react on a game like this. Wood really let us down and I am beginning to question whether he should be our closer. Maybe he does not have what it takes to close a game. I am also worried about Afonz. While I agree that we can not expect him to be 100% percent after coming off the DL, nothing has changed my mind that he is adding value. There is something wrong with him this year and he is hurting the club. Lou needs to pull him in critical situations until he can prove he can add value. We have played our key division rival twice and dropped both series to them. Really make you wonder if we have what it takes.
I love Kerry but Marmol should definitely be our closer (and not just because of today’s game, but because he’s EARNED it!). The problem with Wood is that his pitches have very little movement and he’s still having control problems. Marmol’s stuff is just NASTY!
Also, for those of you who always say “who cares about the 8-hole”, well look what happened today. With the game on the line, Pie grounds out into a double play. The guy just can’t hit at the Major League level and I don’t think he ever will. I think he’s had enough at-bats to at least determine whether he has potential and I’ve never seen a guy take so many good pitches, and swing at so may bad pitches.
It is too Easy to criticize utilizing Pie, and what is your solution? I.E. It is easy to divide profits, but hard to divide losses. Pie has shown good at bats. I am not sold on anyone else for his position
the thing is.
WE ARENT BETTER with soriano in the lineup.
Rob; I’m sorry but it is difficult not to overreact. Championship caliber teams, if the Cubs are truly one, do not lose important games like this one. They will come back to haunt you…I think the Cubs have a greatly improved team, but I still believe their relief pitching and current closer Kerry Wood are suspect…Although I usually don’t agree with Jay Mariotti of the Sun-Times, I have to side with him on his “Wood experiment fizzles” article. I hope proper changes are made before the morale of the club goes the opposite way.
Is it too early to call Pie another Corey Patterson? He’s shown flashes, but he can’t seem to develop past a certain point. Perhaps he just isn’t quite ready for the majors. Maybe with his buddy Soriano back he’ll be more comfortable.
I’m not convinced this game will cost the Cubs that much. Its still early in the season, and the Brewers proved last year that they have issues finishing. The fact that the Cubs are where they are at this point in the season tells me that they are right where they need to be to make a playoff push later. St. Louis’ youth will eventually catch up to them as well.
I’m also not entirely convinced Wood isn’t our closer. If you take away this past game and the opener, he’s been very good. Who knows why the Brewers know how to get to him? Maybe Lou should just avoid using him against the Brewers, or pitch him when the game isn’t on the line to build up his confidence against the team.
K. Wood really screwed this one up. There…thats my kick to the dead horse. However, had C. Marmol been the closer who would have come in to save the day in the seventh with two on and one out. Would K. Wood have come in then and done any better. In fact our best arm in the bullpen was put in the game at the most critical time. K. Wood was given a rather straight forward task in the ninth which he messed up. OK OK I kicked the dead horse again. As I have read before on this blog, sometimes your best arm is needed in the seventh and not the ninth. Although we needed one in the ninth too.
The point that really bothered me was Soriano leading off. With Johnson and Theriot doing such a good job the last two weeks I was really disappointed in Pinella that he broke that up and put Soriano in leading off. This was his chance to “work” Soriano back into the lineup by batting him umm 4th…no 5th wait Fuki’s there 6th…no 7th nope Soto’s there umm I guess we have an opening in the 8th spot. As you can see I am really not to high on putting a guy batting .162 with OBP of .215 at the top. As a reference point Zambrano is batting .211 with an OBP of .211 he has 1 HR, and 2 RBI in 19 AB’s. Soriano has 2 HR with 5 RBI this in 64 AB’s. Past results do not guarantee future earnings as they caution in the financial world. At this point it is time to forget what Soriano did two years ago and make him earn the lead off spot.
Here is a real test for Afonz. If he is really a team player and he is currently stinking up the place. Why does he not go up to Lou and ask to bat 8th until he picks things up? I would and currently do on my teams.
Or had they used Wood in the seventh, would there have been a need for Marmol to close it out in the ninth. Quit playing “what ifs” people.
By my count the Cubs still have 134 more games to play.
The only reason 100yrs. wanted to kick the dead horse is because he has K. Wood on his fantasy baseball team……and I have C. Marmol!
Anyway, I must agree…..I was very disappointed to see Soriano in the leadoff spot. This team has been on fire offensively since he went on the DL, and Johnson/Theriot at the top of the order has been setting the plate for everyone else. Soriano needs to eat his humble pie, and drop down in the lineup to protect Fukudome or maybe even one more spot to protect Soto. In the end, he makes his millions, and it makes the offense better…..a win/win situation. And, if he really does consider himself an All-Star caliber player, it should not matter where he bats in the lineup.
#3 – “It is too Easy to criticize utilizing Pie…Pie has shown good at bats”.
If it’s too easy to criticize Pie, isn’t that saying something? And as far as “good at bats”, what the hell games are you watching? My solution? Either send him back to Iowa, trade him, or use him only as a pinch-runner. Leave Johnson in CF permanantly.
Pie – 16 Strikeouts in only 45 AB’s (and only 3 walks). Ughh.