When is that break coming?

The Cubs got bombed by the Sox over the weekend. I don't have much good to say about it. The series was a disaster, the Cubs continue to struggle on the road (even when "on the road" means just down to the other part of town) and the battered team is showing some weakness in the absence of key players (and while some who are playing, remain a bit bruised).



To add insult to injury, Ramirez is going to miss the first three games at San Fran due to some family issues in the Dominican. The man for all seasons, Mark DeRosa, has experience at third and, with Cedeno, is likely to get some time over there. Do you think DeRosa could make a spot start while we wait for Big Z to get ready? I think I heard he was going to sling some cold Buds in the upper deck, too.



While I was soaking up the sun at the Cell on Saturday, the weather was not behaving so nicely on the North Side. A downed tree in the neighborhood seemed like the perfect opportunity to fashion a wonder bat for some of the slumping Cubs (Ramirez was 0-13 against the Sox this weekend).

Flipped by the Bird

Cubs lose 2 of 3 at home to Baltimore. Ouch. The magic of Wrigley didn't help with this series.

The team is still banged up with Zambrano and Soriano on the DL, Fukudome sitting out the final 2 games of the series and Eyre leaving Thursday's game with a groin pull.

Marquis slid back to mediocrity, going 4 innings and giving up 7 runs. He was brutalized in the third inning when he gave up 5 runs, all with 2 outs. Eyre managed to give up a couple runs before leaving the game and Lieber and Wuertz each gave up a run. It reached a horrific 11-0 Baltimore lead before the Cubs plated 3 in the sixth and another in the eigth. Sweet Lou gave up the goat and let Cotts bat for himself with two outs in the ninth.

On the plus side, Ward is back and got 2 hits in his 2 at bats, including an RBI single.

In other positive news, Piniella was added to the NL All-Star Game coaching staff. Lou replaces ousted manager Willie Randolph, who was tossed on the scrap heap by the Mets. This is good news for Lou, who gets another visit to Yankee Stadium before it tumbles. Piniella was a player for the Yanks from 1974-84 and manager from 1986-88. This is also good news for the Cubs, who will get a fair shake at grabbing home-field advantage for any possible World Series appearance this year. With Lou on the bench and a host of Cubbies with a chance to be on the team, they will have an impact. Sportsline has recent projections showing five Cubs with a shot to be on the roster (Soto, Lee, Soriano, Fukudome, Big Z). That doesn't even include Dempster (4th in NL ERA at 2.63 and 30 points higher than Santana at 5th and 4th in Wins at 9 behind Webb-11, Volquez-10, Cook-10 and tied with Sheets) and Wood (second in NL saves with 20 and 1 behind Brian Wilson).

Running on High

Well, the Sox series was a blast. Home runs galore, a tense first game with spectacular ending, and some good old fashioned whoop ass on the Sox. The Cubs did some damage with the home field advantage and cruised into the Baltimore series on a high.

Wrigley was hopping and the fans were in force. That is the kind of atmosphere a fan can really dig (except for some of the rowdies that needed to be taken care of by security). The upcoming turn on the South Side should be just as raucus. I'll see you there.

The Cubs took that momentum and a 14 game home winning streak into the Baltimore series and promptly took it on the chin. Marshall was only average in giving up 4 earned and Wuertz and Cotts followed up with subpar performances, though Wuertz was not charged with any earned runs thanks to a Patterson error. However, after going down 7-1 through six innings, the Cubs hitched up their pants and made it a ball game at 7-5 after eight before loading the bases in the 9th and going down with three straight strikeouts. The never say die attitude is part of the new Cubby swagger and, as a fan, it's good to see.

The Northsiders came back on Thursday with a 7-4 win and hopefully are starting another winning streak. Lilly notched his 8th win and Wood his 20th save. Edmonds hit his seventh home run, getting 2 RBIs, scoring 2 runs and walking 3 times. Soto had 2 hits, 3 rbis and 2 walks.

As the team heads to the weekend, Fukudome is banged up a little, but it is good to see D. Ward back. Word on the street is that Soriano is healing well and still would love to be back for the All-Star Game in Yankee Stadium. Middle relief is not having a good stretch right now, with little positives coming from the lefties and some shaky outings by Marmol in the set-up role.

On the plus side, Jim Edmonds has responded this month, hitting .352 (19-54) in June with 5 doubles, 5 homers, 18 RBIs, a .438 on-base percentage and a .759 slugging percentage. That's good news while Soriano continues to mend.

Sliding

Cubs lose three in a row for the first time this season. Not a good streak to have going into the series with the White Sox.

Last night's game seemed like it would be close. The bullpen didn't let that happen. The Cubs managed to scrap out a lead late in the game as they plated three in the 7th to go up 3-1. Marmol came in and it seemed like a lock, but no such luck as he walked two and then hit two to force in a run before heading for the showers. Fresh off the end of Eyre's club record 33 scoreless outings (ended last week) came in and gave up a grand slam to Crawford on his second pitch. In total, he managed to give up 4 extra-base hits and a sac fly in facing 5 batters. Yet another solid start (Gallagher, one earned in 6 innings) goes for nothing.

At least the Rays are a good team, but it was a troubling three games.

The team is limping toward the All-Star break and a bad showing in this Sox series could be a real kick in the nuts.

The word of the day is regroup. Hopefully the fans and the Cubbies' success at home this season will get them straight. I would like to see some early runs for once. Give the pitching staff a little something to work with. Coming from behind is great and all, but the pitchers have been walking a tightrope for the first two-thirds of the games lately. A little cushion and a little less stress can make it alot easier on them.

That Smarts

Cubs lose another in Tampa.

Big Z has shoulder discomfort and needs an MRI. Johnson and Edmonds are ailing.

Is this a late start to another June Swoon?

I think they can play through. Hopefully. It won't be easy.

Is the brain trust feeling the pressure to get another ace pitcher finally? I know there isn't much out there, but something needs to be done. The boys in blue are really testing their depth as the heat of summer comes on.

The All-Star break couldn't come soon enough.

Road Warriors

So far so good. The Cubs followed a home sweep of Atlanta with winning two of three on the road in Toronto (including a nice win against Doc Halladay) before falling in the first game at Tampa 3-2.

Game 1 in Tampa was a tight ball game with a wild finish. Dempster gave up 1 earned in 5 innings before Cotts gave up 2 more in the 6th. Kazmir looked good, but only managed 4 2/3 innings and the Cubs hung on until the bitter end. Down 3-1 in the 9th, the Cubs made it interesting with a one out single by DeRosa, a Fukudome pinch-hit double and a passed ball that scored DeRosa to close the gap to 1 run. Eventually, with 2 outs and 2 on, Reed Johnson tried to sneak a bunt in down the third base line, but was nipped at first to end the game. It was a nice bare handed play by Longoria at third.

With the extra bat needed for interleague play and Soriano's right handed bat out, Murton got the call and lefty Patterson got sent back after a brief stint in the bigs. Speaking of Soriano, he has said he would like to get back before the All-Star break, but I doubt he'll play in the game. He is a fast healer and I'm sure he would like a shot at the final All-Star game in Yankee Stadium, but I think he'll have been out too long. Sweet Lou would like him to get a rehab stint before dropping him back in the lineup.

Another Big Win

What a game. Big Z goes 7 and gives up 2 runs (2-run homer to Francoeur in the 2nd), but it isn't quite good enough as the Cubs went to the bottom of the ninth down 2-1, with the single run coming from an Edmonds sac fly in the 7th.

Wearing the 1948 throw back unis, the Cubs tied it up with one out in the ninth on an Edmonds solo shot to the opposite field.

In extra innings, Wood pitched two scoreless and Johnson got hit by the first Ridgway pitch with the bases loaded to force in the winning run. A strange way to get a sweep, but they'll take it I'm sure. That makes 11 straight wins at home and a 29-8 home record.

Good start to the next six weeks of Soriano-free baseball as the slugger did indeed suffer a bad injury. A broken bone in his hand will keep him on the sidelines for a while and leaves a gap in the lineup. Soriano had really been looking good at the plate lately. Such a lengthy stretch will be tough, but the team built itself with depth in mind. They will really be tested, but I think they can get it done.

Eric Patterson got a game at LF today, going 1 for 5, but I don't think he will be a lasting solution. This setback certainly makes the reemergence of Edmonds a must. He has looked better of late and Reed Johnson is certainly capable. Fortunately, with DeRosa, Hoffpauir, and Cedeno the Cubs have a versatile lineup to work with.

Ouch

Soriano took a hard pitch on the left wrist in the bottom of the 2nd inning. It didn't look good. At first look, I thought he might have taken in the face, but it ricocheted off his wrist and bonked him behind the ear.

Hopefully, this isn't really serious. He was removed from the game. Fontenot pinch ran and scored immediately on a Theriot double to the gap in left center.

Apparently, Soriano is headed to the hospital for x-rays.

At least the Cubs lead the Braves 5-0 after 2.5 innings.

ISFA's Last Stand?

Who knows. This just won't go away.

According to the Trib, Jim Thompson and the ISFA's latest attempt to broker a deal for Wrigley Field has fallen flat.

As usual, both sides tell a different story, with Thompson claiming the Tribune Co. requires some use of future tax revenue, new taxes, or the transfer of ISFA funding already allocated to other projects. Trib Co. claims the ISFA plan is not within the policies of MLB, alleged by "sources" to be MLB's policy against using ticket revenue to back stadium financing.

Neither side will give any details to back their claims, which is to be expected. I see Thompson trying to make Trib Co. look bad by claiming they want exactly the sort of tax funded proposal Thompson was floating originally and throwing in the claim that Trib Co. may have wanted funds diverted from US Cellular projects.

I wish the state would just step back and let the team do its thing. This sale isn't likely to happen soon and this separate Wrigley deal is just getting in the way. The article stated, once again, "The financial books on the Chicago Cubs will go out". How many times have we heard about this impending feat of strength?

I'm tired of the nonsense. Thank god the team is looking good so far.

Across Town

The Cubs spent the week on the west coast and were able to swing a winning road trip, going 4-3. They won two of three in San Diego, with two wild wins and split two apiece with the Dodgers in a tough, tight series.

What to do when the boys are out of town? Go see how the other half lives. You can't beat that ticket price. The Sox busted out for four home runs in a 9-5 win and pitcher Gavin Floyd pitched 7 strong innings, giving up only 2 earned runs.

It didn't take long for the cold air to blow in some eerie mist. It makes you wonder when summer is going to show up (today, it seems).

A good time was had by all.

so far, so...far

This road trip is going ok. The Cubs continue to come from behind late.

Down 3-0 to the Dodgers after Hart gives up a squeeze play to score a runner from third and register a hit, leaving men on 1st and 2nd with one out in the bottom of the 6th.

Can they do it again? Who might the hero be?

Seems a ton to ask after the late heroics last night by Fukudome and a wild Wood save.

Kiss My Ass, Mr. "Expert"

I'm breaking from the Cub banter for a moment to talk about the "expert" picks in sports. Now, there are guys that spend a ton of time and brain power crunching numbers, talking to scouts behind the bleachers and generally making a damn good attempt at sports prognostication. There are also a throng of fancy suits and former players scattered throughout the media. Some good, some bad. Most understand just how hard it is to predict sporting outcomes. You do the due diligence, but ultimately anything can and will happen.

Something that has been pissing me off lately (since the damn NCAA tournament actually) is the amount of these guys I hear utter the words "since I picked them in the beginning" or some variation thereof.

What the fuck am I babbling about? It's the mantra of the moment. When asked who will win in the NBA championship, the answer is Boston because the talking head picked the Celtics 6 weeks ago. How about you pull your fucking head out of your ass and give us a breakdown of the series, an assessment of how the teams have fared thus far and why you would (a) stay with your original pick or (b) how you have gained new insight from the last 6 fucking weeks of play. Wanting desperately to be right in your original pick isn't really a helpful analysis and it makes the audience pissy.

While I am ranting, you can all stop saying shit like "most fans don't know about this guy" and calling someone "the most underrated" or "best unknown". We know. We have internet access, DirecTV packages and friends across the land. We know. Stop talking to us like we are your sports-phobic new girlfriend. We know.

Here We Go

The Cubbies have been killing and are on a 7-game win streak. Home cooking really served them well.

Now the team is confronted with a big test. Fortunately, not the normal June test for the Cubs where we try to determine if they can be slightly better than .500 and if a good win streak can vault them back into contention for the wild card before the season becomes a total wash. No, this is a test of whether the Cubs really are what we think they are...a monster of a ballclub, with their best days ahead.

The Cubs head for a stretch of 13 of the next 16 (and 23 of the next 32) games on the road. This has been the sore spot for this club in an otherwise rosy looking season. With a road record of 10-13, the Cubs have dropped some stinkers away from the Friendly Confines. Granted, the best of the best in the NL on the road so far is Philly at only 15-13 and for MLB, the Angels are 16-11. However, watchers have seen the Cubs fall to well below their home standard this year and suffered defeat against teams they should beat.

Fortunately, the first stretch starts with San Diego. Big Z will take the mound tonight and will get another start before the teams gets back to Wrigley on June 10th. The bad news is that June will provide some tough competition:

@SD for 3
@LAD for 4
home for 3 games against the Braves
@Toronto for 3
@Tampa for 3
home vs White Sox for 3
home vs Orioles for 3 (first Baltimore visit to Wrigley field)
@White Sox for 3
@SF for 4 (Jun 30, Jul1-3)

then 3 at St. Louis before getting a 6 game home stand (3 Cincy, 3 SF) prior to the All-Star break.

Here's hoping they keep the ball rolling. They'll need to.

And if you missed it, Mark Prior has been shut down for the season. No big surprise there.