Piniella’s right to be cautious

Add comment September 30th, 2008

After the Cubs clinched the NL Central title on Sept. 20, some (most notably Terry Boers and Dan Bernstein from 670 Score Radio) got on Lou Piniella’s case for taking a cautious approach to the playoffs. It’s no secret that the best team during the regular season doesn’t always win the World Series. Face it, if the Florida Marlins can win two World Series in seven years, the postseason is virtually a crapshoot.

Regardless of the fact that the Cubs are the best team in the NL, Piniella had plenty of reasons to be concerned with potential NLDS opponents like the Phillies and the Mets. And now that they officially begin NLDS play against the Dodgers tomorrow, a high level of concern is still warranted.

This Dodgers playoff lineup isn’t the Dodgers lineup the Cubs faced during the regular season, where the Cubs went 5-2.

Trade deadline acquisition Manny Ramirez easily makes a case that 53 games is plenty of time shore up an NL MVP. With Manny in the lineup for the last two months, the previously 54-54 Dodgers went 30-24 (17-8 in September) on the back of his .396 batting average, 17 home runs and 53 RBIs. 

Also, don’t forget that Rafael Furcal, who missed both series against the Cubs and almost all of the 2008 season, is now healthy.

Looking ahead, if Carlos Zambrano continues to break down in game 2, the idea of Dodgers right-hander Hiroki Kuroda pitching game 3 in L.A. is very concerning. A June 6 Cubs loss at Dodger Stadium saw Kuroda pitch a complete game shutout with 11 strikeouts and zero walks.

And it doesn’t matter that Rich Harden–even with his 89 strikeouts in 71 innings for the Cubs–is Kuroda’s counterpart in game 3. Cubs bats have been notorious when it comes to giving Harden run support.

But, if there’s one reason (and there are many) the Cubs will win the series, it’s because they have the 17-win Ted Lilly waiting to pitch an “if necessary” game.

No need to fan off

Add comment August 18th, 2008

Having won his last three road appearances in dominating style, the argument that Ryan Dempster isn’t a Cy Young candidate because he can’t win away from Wrigley Field is now a moot point.

With the 14-5 Dempster having a career year, Carlos Zambrano bound to break out of his funk and Rich Harden avoiding injury (knock on wood), there is, however, a legitimate argument as to who is the Cubs’ ace.

The mystery surrounding Dempster’s new-found form this season was recently revealed in a New York Times story, in which he explains his curious glove flutter:

“I tell people I do it to fan myself, because I’m a sweater and I get hot out there.”

Canadian cruise control

1 comment July 31st, 2008

It only seems fitting for Rich Harden to get his first win as a Cub during the same series that CC Sabathia throws his worst game for the Brewers. And Harden didn’t even have his best stuff in Cubbie blue, falling one K short of his fourth consecutive 10-strikeout performance. What an awesome thing to complain about.

To make the four-game sweep that sends the Brewers back five games even better, while Ryan Dempster and Harden looked like royal Canadians, the series’ other north-of-the-border pitcher just looked like a Canada Goose.

Marquis move?

Add comment July 10th, 2008

The Brewers got C.C. Sabathia and the Cubs got Rich Harden. Now Cardinals manager Tony La Russa wants some of the action.

With Chad Gaudin added to the Cubs pitching mix, too, Jim Hendry may not be done shaking things up.  

Would the Cardinals dare re-acquire playoff black sheep Jason Marquis?

Cubs play Harden ball

Add comment July 8th, 2008

Mission accomplished. The Cubs now have the first and second best starting pitchers from British Columbia. More importantly, Jim Hendry avoided a disaster in trading for Randy Wolf, countered Milwaukee’s C.C. Sabathia addition and even added bullpen help.

Let’s just hope Harden can avoid his familiar history with injury.