First Star – Carlos Zambrano (.374)

Second Star – Kerry Wood (.208)

Third Star – Geovany Soto (.128)

 

It’s amazing how good I can feel about a team by seeing one player come off the disabled list. If Zambrano coming back can do that for me, a fan not actively involved with the team, imagine what a mental boost it has to be for the actual team. Throw in the fact that he comes back with six shutout innings of work in which he kept runners off base in bunches and low stress. If there was ever a better time for him to come back, I can’t think of what it would be. After going 2-5 on the road trip so far, this team needed a boost and he provided it. The win last night guarantees that we leave St. Louis with the lead in the division.

 

Geo hit another homer last night and is on pace to break the Cubs rookie homerun record. I marvel sometimes at how wrong people were on this guy. Let me give you some examples:

2006 – “Unless he retools his swing dramatically, he won’t hit many homers…All in all, he’d make a useful backup catcher for the right team.” ~ John Sickels

2007 – “With two seasons in Triple-A under his belt, it’s now clear what kind of skills Geovany Soto brings to the game…his level swing will not produce many home runs, and he won’t hit enough to force his way into a regular job. I wouldn’t mind giving him a shot as a reserve catcher.” ~ John Sickels

I don’t know if I’d go on record just yet and predict a 30 homer season by Geo, but that would be pretty sweet as long as he doesn’t turn into Rick Wilkins. Kosuke picked up the other Cub home run, but I’m still a little worried about him. He is starting to strike out way too much. Take a look at the at bats per strikeout rates by month for our Japanese import.

March/April – 6.5
May – 7.8
June – 4.8
July – 2.8

Since the month of May, he’s been striking out at alarming rates. Just to give you a little perspective on these rates, Ryan Howard has a career rate of 3.5. I don’t know that a player striking out that much is someone we need at the number two spot in the order. I think Ryan Theriot would be better suited there right now, with Fukudome moving to 6th or even 7th behind Edmonds and Geo.

Bobby Howry was outstanding aside from one pitch to Pujols that left the yard for the only other run in the game. I was glad to see Lou use Howry for the two inning stint rather than bring in Marmol. Even after Howry gave up the homer he went to Neal Cotts, which makes me happy. It’s time for Lou to begin developing confidence in other members of this bullpen and it starts by using them in critical situations and allowing them to prove themselves.