Big Doings for July

I have to say that the Marlins series made me really uneasy and I found it terribly hard to watch. Went over to Wrigley on Friday (take that, boss!). It was a beautiful day and I was enjoying it (and a few beers) rather than what I should have been doing. Nevertheless, when Dempster started the second inning by plunking Uggla, it felt like it was going to be a long day.

Dempster scrapped through six innings, but gave up a run (Uggla was doubled in after that HBP) and walked six during a hot day game. Soto tied it up in the second with a solo shot and Johnson put the Cubs ahead with another solo homer in the fifth, but otherwise, the bats looked listless.

I thought Jeff Samardzija pitched well in his first action, but he still managed to give up the tying run. When Howry gave up a pinch-hit, leadoff homer in the top of the ninth, it was deflating as a fan. There was a tiny disturbance in the force.

Saturday was no better. The Cubs may have staved off the loss until the 12th inning, but once again, weak run production let good pitching go to waste. The Marlins struck out 20 times (10 in Harden's 5 innings of work-1 ER, 2 hits, 3 BB, 1 HR) and still won the game. The Cubs lost for the fourth time all year after leading in the 7th, but it was the second such loss in 2 days. Sweet Lou managed to get tossed for a seemingly minor confrontation and it was another shitty loss for the Cubs.

When I tuned in late to Sunday's game, I saw one Jason Marquis pitch before turning it off in disgust. That pitch resulted in a 3-run dinger and a 3-0 Marlin lead. When I found out this morning that the Cubs won, I was astonished. Perhaps this team is different. After all is said and done, they managed to split the series with the Marlins and, miraculously, remain 1-game ahead of the Brewers, who are tearing it up while the Cubs flounder.

And so....here we are. Late July in Milwaukee and there's a lot on the line. The team will tell you there are over 50 games to play and this series isn't as big as media and fans will make it out to be. However, the outcome of these games could be pivotal as the two teams stand poised to reverse their fates from one year ago. The Cubs need to show some grit on the road and get the bats heated up for an August run. The Brewers need to keep their hot play going against the team they are chasing.

Lilly vs Sabathia. Big Z vs Sheets. Dempster vs Parra. Harden vs Bush.

Let's get it awwn!