Archive for April 18th, 2008
April 18th, 2008
Rich Hill gave the Cubs what they needed today — five innings of one run, three-hit ball.
He struggled a bit with his control, walking three, but he did strike out four Pirates. The Cubs need all their starters to perform well or risk wearing out a bullpen that must be near the top of the league in innings pitched.
The bullpen was solid again today with Jon Lieber, Sean Marshall, Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood allowing only one run and three hits over the final four innings. Good to see Wood pitch a perfect ninth to pick up his fourth save.
Now let’s see what Jason Marquis can do tomorrow. The Cubs need to keep winning games against teams like the Pirates. The competition gets a lot tougher when the Mets come to town Monday night.
April 18th, 2008
The flack over Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman ripping “obnoxious” Cubs fans after they bombarded the field with baseballs after Adam Dunn’s home run Wednesday recalls the scene from Animal House when Delta house brothers stand up for their picked-upon nerdy pledges: “They can’t do that to our pledges.,” Boon says. “Only we can do that to our pledges,” Otter replies. Chicago sports fans have complained for years that large a portion of the crowd comes to Wrigley Field more to experience the unique fun and atmosphere there than to watch the game. But as soon as an outsider accuses the party of getting out of control, Cubs Nation gets outraged. Face it; Cubs fans have more fun at the ballpark than almost any fans in baseball, and sometimes that fun spills out of control.
April 18th, 2008
I’ve sounded this alarm before, but Rich Hill needs to have a good outing today against the Pirates.
The Cubs starting rotation was supposed to be a strength. In spring training seven guys were battling for five spots. Now, 15 games into the season, only two of the five starters have chalked up wins.
Most of us figured Carlos Zambrano would have a good year, but we didn’t expect Ryan Dempster to do as well as he has so far. The biggest disappointment has been Ted Lilly. He hasn’t been the same since he threw his glove down during the playoff game against the Diamondbacks last year. Maybe he hurt more than his psyche.
Some of us figured Jason Marquis would start well and then fade as he did the last couple of years. Maybe he’ll turn it around, or maybe it’s time to stick a fork in him. It’s early, but when five of your nine wins are from the bullpen, that’s not a good trend.
