First Star – Alfonso Soriano (.172)
Second Star – Jody Gerut (.147)
Third Star – Ryan Theriot (.098)
Top Play – A. Soriano’s homerun in the 5th (+.198)
Fresh off the sweep of the team with the best record in baseball the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Cubs begin a four game series with the San Diego Padres, the team with the worst. The Cubs dominated this one and though they fell behind 2-1 in the top of the fifth it never seemed like the Cubs were in danger of losing this game.Prior to and during the game there were rumblings surrounding the pitching and the hitting. Jon Lieber was moved back into the bullpen after his really bad start against the Reds last week. This paves the way for a number of potential moves. The Cubs pitching staff has a lot of TBD even for the remainder of this homestand. Tomorrow night Lou will pitch Jason Marquis. I think it is possible that tomorrow night’s start could be a last chance for Marquis. If he has another bad outing I look for Lieber to get another shot to gain a spot in the rotation. For now Lieber enters the ‘pen once again to make room for a lefty such as Sean Marshall who was sent down to get “stretched out” or maybe the return of Rich Hill who has improved since going down. Lou wants another left hander to get some starts and those would be the options. After a pretty good start yesterday afternoon Sean Gallagher might also get another start to become the number five guy.
The other big news is that according to multiple sources the Cubs seem poised to pick up Jim Edmonds once he clears waivers after being released by the Padres. His numbers on the year were poor- batting in the .170’s- at 37 Edmonds might be done. However, it doesn’t seem to hurt for now with Reed Johnson’s numbers dropping and Felix Pie continuing to struggle. The readers are divided on the best plan for Pie with many believing that Pie should be given the opportunity to sink or swin once and for all. Look for Edmonds to be signed this week and join the team with Pie being sent down again. It is very possible that Pie will now be seen as less “untouchable” and could be included in trade rumors. A reader posted that San Diego papers are suggesting that the Padres might be interested in trading Pie for Khalil Greene. I have not heard this but it is intriguing. The Padres were interested in getting an outfielder and were talking with the Cubs about getting Matt Murton in the off season. Would the Cubs make this deal? Theriot “The Scrappy”, as I will now refer to him, had another big game tonight both at the plate and in the field. When does he deserve some “everyday player” love from the average Cub fan?
In the first couple innings of the game I thought it was possible that Big Z would make a run at finally garnering the elusive Cubs no hitter. A few years back he had one stolen from him in the ninth inning of a game against the Diamondbacks in Arizona. He began the game in good form with 1-2-3’s in the first and second with only 19 pitches. Zambrano’s control has been stunningly better this year with only 16 walks in 62 innings. He is almost at only 1.1 WHIP and 3 K/BB ratio. Much…much better. He has become a better pitcher and hopefully will continue to make a Cy Young run if Brandon Webb would ever lose. By the way did you know his ERA on the year is 2.03? It appeared that he might be cramping up again in the third when he gave up a run and the trainer needed to come out to check on him. The Cubs fell behind in the top of the fifth when former Cub Jody Gerut (remember him?) crushed a homerun onto Sheffield Avenue. It was his first home run at Wrigley Field which is not good since he was a former Cub. Zambrano’s line on the day: 7ip, 6h, 3er, 2bb, 5k…and another good day at the plate: 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. Insert deep announcer voice here: “He continues to help himself out at the plate.”
The Cubs scored in the first when Theriot singled and scored on big Lee’s double. The offense poured forth in the fifth and sixth innings to the tune of 11 runs. Z began the fifth with a double and scored on Alfonso Soriano’s home run to center. Soriano was 2 for 5 with 2 rbi and 2 runs scored tonight. He is hitting better and might be entering a groove. Theriot walked and Lee and Ramirez followed with singles to score the Riot. Kosuke Fukudome walked to load the bases and Soto scored two with a single. DeRosa gets an rbi single scoring Fukudome and the Cubs lead 7-2. Johnson comes up and hits into a double play- the first outs of the inning. Zambrano strikes out to end the fifth. Soriano begins the sixth with a double and Theriot walks. The Cubs continue to be patient and take pitches and walk. With one out Ramirez walks to load the bases and scores on a bases loaded walk by F-Dome. At this point a wild play happens that caused me to turn to my wife and say “How am I gonna explain that?” DeRosa hits a routine grounder on a 3-2 pitch with the runners moving and the bases loaded. Padres third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff takes it to the bag but A-Ram beats him there. Kouzmanoff then fires to first but first baseman Adrian Gonzalez cannot catch the throw and no one bothers to chase the errant ball. The Cubs keep running and the bases are cleared. Cubs lead 11-2. Johnson drives in DeRosa and the Cubs have a dozen. Eyre and Howry close the game and the Cubs win.
Lou rests the big guys after the big lead in the sixth. I love Lou. All weekend I was saying to my wife “This guy is amazing. He almost always makes the right move and he outmanages all the other managers.” This is a nice change. Especially watching Dusty Baker blow another double switch yesterday and lose an out when his guy batted out of order. I like Dusty as a person. I like him as a manager in the other dugout. “Dusty please bring in Clement in game 7 in the ‘03 NLCS. He is warm and Kerry is done for the day. Please, we have the lead. We can do this thing. Look McKeon is doing it you should be doing it too. Oh well, wait til next year.”
Tomorrow the Cubs face off against Shawn Estes. Estes is one of my Cub icons. In 2003 the Cubs were battling for the division and it was coming down to the wire. Estes had been removed from the rotation because he couldn’t win. Yet in a critical game against the Reds in the September playoff race Estes pitches a ballsy game in a spot start and gives the Cubs a crucial victory. He and Jacque Jones will be similar Cubs heroes throughout my life for being clutch even when everyone was down on them. (BTW he is also available if you’re interested in aging outfielders.)
Incidentals:
If there ever is a no hitter I will no longer be allowed to write on the site because I will break the rules by writing about it in the eighth just to prove that the don’t jinx the no hitter rule is ridiculous on all levels. People really believe this. I heard Sox fans yelling twice this year when the announcers “caused them” to lose no hitters by talking about it late in the game.
Mark Prior is hurt again. The Padres were hoping that he would be pitching by now but he has been sidelined with shoulder problems. I guess I am glad they moved on from him.
Tonight the Jersey Boys sang the seventh inning stretch and sounded real good. Especially compared to Tony Romo yesterday, who gave as bad a rendition as it gets. He was booed. The whole concept is old and dead and I wish they would get rid of it and just play a recording of Harry Caray. Any concept that prolongs the public exposure of Tom Arnold should cease immediately.
Finally, in an atrocious scheduling move, the Cubs will play their first three games of this series at 7pm. This uses 3 of their 30 night games in May when it is 70 degrees out and not in the summer when it is 100 degrees and energy zapping. I hate this. It’s all about money and ticket sales and is another reason the Cubs should move out of Wrigley and build a new stadium in the suburbs where they can play as many night games as they want. Did I just say that? I guess I did. Seriously try to move and see how flexible the Wrigleyville neighborhood and the City Council become.
I’ve always liked Ryan Theriot and was sad when folks would put him down. I will admit to having a soft spot for the underdog (also liked Jacque Jones, would prefer him to Edmonds) but Theriot seems to sometimes deserve more love than he gets. He’s never going to be a D. Lee (who I also love) or Aramis in his star power but he’s holding his own. At least this week!
If Marquis doesn’t come through, do y’all think he will be traded or kept as a bullpen guy? I do NOT have a soft spot for him. I didn’t like his little ultimatum at the beginning of the year and although I would have gotten over it (everyone else did) I’m not surprised that he’s not living up to his opinion of himself.
That’s odd, I find it usually the other way around. I’ll give Theriot this, he is proving to hold his own this year. I don’t think you can move him out of that spot for now. Although he started last year on a hot streak and pittered out, so we’ll see.
Are you kidding me? Pie for Khalil Greene. That is a bunch of garbage. Is Greene better than Theriot? Defensively, there is no doubt, but offensively Green is a low average and low on-base guy with decent power (career .435 SLG, only .308 OBP, 9/32 BB/K). To me that is completely giving up on Pie (BTW – I think Pie is as good a hitter as Greene). If we trade Pie, it should be for some pitching help, or possibly a left handed power bat, not another Alex Gonzales.
Anyways, the looks good. They are scoring runs in bunches and without the home run ball. I am enjoying watching this team hit. Lets get a sweep over these Padres.
When has Pie ever put together a season like Greene’s last year?
I am not a huge fan of either to be perfectly honest.
I love The Riot. While I would love to see another 25 HR bat in this lineup…it only goes to show you can put up alot of runs by having a bunch of .300+ avg guys on the squad that can run well. More then one way to win games. Hitless wonders anyone?
Well going back out to Leftfield…Go Cubs!
Regarding the bizarre bases loaded play by the Padres, Pat on the radio said that the first baseman was walking off the field, apparently assuming the third out had been made at third base. So the throw to first was wild only because no one was there to catch it.
I think signing Edmonds is a mistake. But then I also think that Pie hasn’t been given enough opportunity. At least on the fan level he is being punished for Patterson’s sins.
I’m betting that Marquis will not be one of our starters in the second half of the season. Hill will be back. Z, Dempster, Lilly, Hill and then Gallagher or Marshall.
Seems to me that Reed Johnson’s numbers started going down as soon as he wasn’t hitting leadoff. I thought we’d be better off platooning Pie/Johnson in center and at leadoff. But now that Soriano is hitting, I doubt Lou will move him out of that spot. Since we’re leading the majors in runs scored, I guess things as they are is OK.
I wouldn’t have any problem with a new field. Just take the scoreboard with ya and plant ivy on the outfield wall.
What’s with all these trade proposals for position players?!?!?
Hasn’t anyone noticed the Cubs have a good enough offense!!!! WTF!!!
Edmonds is bad news. If they put him 5th in the lineup and Fukudome 2nd, the offense is weakened. The defense is weakend. Baserunning is weakened!!!! What is the benefit?!?!?!?
Unbeliveable. The myth of the proven veteran strikes again.
I think Jim Hendry should make a run at Griffey. He could play RF and move Fukudome to CF. He can still hit the long ball and runs pretty well. He’s a heck of a lot better than Edmonds or Jacque Jones. He wouldn’t have to play everyday, and wouldn’t it just be sweet to have Ken Griffey Jr. on the team? I wouldn’t give up on Pie either just because of his defense and speed. Teams need those guys in critical situation (like the playoffs) and to have Pie there would be necessary. I remember Figgins being a pinch-runner extroardinaire with Angels back in 2002. Pie could be that this year. We’d still be getting some use from him.
Haan – I agree man. If there were an aging vet I would like, it’s Griffey. He’ll take his walks and hits for power. Whatever the Cubs do, they should be looking for a lefty OF with pop so they can get Fukudome into the 2-hole where he can wreak some havoc with his “batsmanship”. He could drive teams nuts with the hit and run, hitting behind runners, dropping bunts, etc…
brad – I love the Alez Gonzalez comparison, as I just made it in a separate comment. They’ll be hot for a month, and stink the joint out for the rest of the season. Yuck.
What’s with this moving from Wrigley Field business?? Are you guys kidding me?? Don’t get me wrong, eventually it has to happen, but we are years away from that point!
I think that Griffey could be the last piece of the puzzle for the Cubs, but the big question is this…..What would we have to give up to get him? Being from Ohio, and working with a bunch of Reds fans, I would say the Reds are set at 1B, 2B, SS, and they have a couple of good OF prospects that are close plus they have Dunn who is nearing the end of his contract. Their 3B is questionable (steaky), and their C’s are terrible (although Bako has been doing relatively well, he is not a long term answer). Their pitching in the 4 and 5 spot is bad.
I would say, the Reds would want some youth and some cash. I don’t know, maybe something like Gallagher and Marshall, and our best ML catcher plus cash. Would you guys/gals be willing to do this deal to get Griffey?
I would. I think Griffey could put us over the top, but it would scare me in that it takes away a lot of our pitching depth. Over all, its worth a roll of the dice to me. This deal would only work out for us if Hill got himself straightenend out in a hurry, and we would have to rely on Marquis to be our #5 or get Hart stretched out to be able to fill in for him if he continues to suck.
Oh, and Griffey has a clause in his contract that he has to agree to the deal. Rumors here in OH say that he would welcome a trip back to Seattle where he started, but I would have to guess that he would also welcome a chance to play for a contender like the Cubs and get to the WS.
So, like Theriot…..
Brian: “I don’t know, maybe something like Gallagher and Marshall, and our best ML catcher plus cash. Would you guys/gals be willing to do this deal to get Griffey?”
Are you serious?!?!?! 2 major league pitchers and a major league catcher AND cash for a 38 year old who can barely play the OF any more? Not to mention that Griffy will insist that his 8 figure option for ‘09 is picked up.
Not a chance. Reds will have to take much, much, much less than that when they move Griff.
Let’s give Theriot a little more time before we compare him to Alex Gonzales. He has been streaky so far, but his OPS has been improving during those difficult times. If there is a knock on Theriot, its the awful SB success rate and low OPS. It bothers me when people say that his career .350 OBP is not good. I would argue that its still above average for the position he plays. I like the his trend, plus we have Ronny Cedeno to back him up. I see no reason why we need to trade a value piece for a SS (unless its a really good left handed bat). I think we need pitching and a leadoff hitter, in that order.
Boomer:
My bad on the typo that I had…..It was supposed to read “Gallagher or Marshall, and our best ML catcher plus cash.” And by ML I was meaning Minor League.
Guess I should have proof read my post before posting, but this is why I would be willing to do the deal…..we lose one young starter, and our best Minor League catching prospect (I’m not real up on the minor league rosters, but would it be Donaldson, any idea Joe?) plus we throw some cash their way, and we get Griffey to help make our push to end our 100 year drought.
More bad news
Mark Prior had an MRI on his surgically repaired right shoulder Monday and could fly to Birmingham, Ala., tomorrow to meet with famed orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. It was Andrews who performed the surgery on Prior last year.
I doubt the Reds are going to get much for Griffey, particularly if he’s traded after his 600th HR. No way the Cubs give that up for a rental. I think the Reds want to dump salary and get a few mid-level prospects back, likely in the pitching department. This is even more true if Griffey only agrees to a trade if the option is picked up. This move is all about the Reds opening space for Jay Bruce. I would envision a trade built around a couple of foundation type pitchers that project to relief pitchers in the major leagues. There just seems to be so much backlash about Seattle acquiring them that it may sour their deal, meaning we could get him at a reasonable price.
Matt – Touche on Theriot, though I am a closet Theriot fan. But at least we don’t give up anything for his foibles, and he’s cheap.
edmonds? bad idea… he’s hitting worse than pie and is old enough to be his teenage father.
pie? been jerked around by this organization. i agree with the patterson reference made earlier. at some point, you have to stop saying, “but he’s still really young.” now is not that time. he’s still pretty darn young.
this team is scoring plenty of runs, and reed johnson’s start was a fluke (lots of people saw that one coming), so why not let pie play every day for a month or two and see not what he can do now, but what he can do with some rhythm?
finally, thank goodness we have options when members of the rotation struggle. i can’t remember ever having that luxury as a cub fan! it’s good to be able to gripe about depth and what to do with all of our talented players rather than lamenting being in last place… AGAIN. GO CUBS!!!
Theriot has done enough to deserve the benefit of the doubt for now. Sure, he tailed off last year and doesn’t hit for power, but he’s doing everything to be expected of him. He’s been solid.
I really hope we don’t sign Edmonds. I despised him as a Cardinal.
Did anyone see that totally insane play by DeRosa last night? The ball took a bad hop and went behind him. He grabbed it, behind him, backhanded–like that was what he wanted to do. Definitely highlight material!
I’m waiting for those people who were proclaiming Sori’s career over to acknowledge that they might have been a bit premature…
^ If we did that, this blog would be silent each week.
Theres a big difference between declaring someones career over and saying that he does not fit well where the team in trying to play him.
Silk:
I will take that point. I think Afonz has about 2/3 years of good production left in him and the Cubs will never get the player they thought they were getting (40/40 or at least 30/30). After the next 2/3 years, we will be stuck with about fours years @ $16MM (?)for an average to sligthly below average player.
I think Jose is right on the money. Which I why I hope the Cubs will go all out to try to win the World Series before the decline of Soriano happens in full.
Jose….i think we are on the hook for 18 million each year between 2010-2014 for Soriano. This could be a large liability, but everyone thought that Manny Ramirez would have the same problem, but the Red Sox will probably end up picking up a 20 million dollar option for him next year, so you never know.