Chicago Cubs Baseball

Every Sunday during the Chicago Cubs baseball season I’ll try to issue a report card, assessing the week that was from a long distance point of view.Here’s the report card for the week of April 23 to April 29:

Weekly Record: 3-2
Season Record: 10-13

Chicago Cubs baseball enjoyed its best week of April, winning a series against the St. Louis and heading into the final day of the month with a three-game winning streak. The series win was only the second for the Cubs this season, while the three-game win streak was the longest dating back to last September.

April’s slow start forced Cubs’ manager Lou Piniella’s hand in making some roster changes this week - both on and off the field. The “center” experiment with Alfonso Soriano ended Monday when Piniella moved him back to more familiar terrain in left field.

The Cubs put ineffective starter Wade Miller on the 15-day disabled list with “back spasms,” but it was more of Piniella injecting a fresh arm into an overworked Chicago bullpen. Angel Guzman, who was sent down to Triple A Des Moines when Felix Pie was brought up, will eventually be given a shot to replace Miller as the fifth starter.

Rocky Cherry, who turned in an impressive spring in Mesa, was called up on Monday, and promptly was introduced to the Big Leagues. The 27-year-old right-hander served up the game-winning home run in an extra inning loss to Milwaukee.

The Cubs also were revisited by a familiar ghost - the loss of Mark Prior for the remainder of the season. Prior underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair some damage on his right shoulder Tuesday. He’s expected to be able to resume his career - whether it’s with the Cubs remains doubtful.

Sadly, the week ended on a tragic note for major league baseball when St. Louis reliever Josh Hancock was killed in a car accident Sunday morning. Hancock was instrumental in the Cardinals’ World Series run last year. As a result, the scheduled game between the Cubs and Cardinals was postponed.

Weekly Grade: B-
Season Grade: C+

Starting Pitching:
By and large, Chicago’s starting pitching has been the backbone of any Cub success this season. This past week was no exception.

Ted Lilly, Jason Marquis and Carlos Zambrano each registered wins this week. As good as performances turned in by Lilly and Zambrano, it was Marquis who stole the show. The right-hander pitched the Cubs over the Cardinals twice in a six-day span, and then picked up his World Series ring from his former team on Saturday.

Oddly enough, it was dependable lefty Rich Hill who turned in his first un-Hill-like effort of the season. Hill picked up his first loss of the year. Despite some minor struggles on Tuesday, he still pitched well enough to win. And the Cubs will take his ERA of 1.92 any day.

Weekly Grade: B
Season Grade: B-

Relief Pitching:
The formula for success seems to come down to keeping the ball out of Scott Eyre’s paw and Bob Howry away from barbecue grills. Eyre, the hefty lefty, continues to blow leads in record time, while Howry sidelined himself while attempting to move a barbecue grill at home.

Cherry seems to have settled down after giving up the game-winner against Prince Fielder and Milwaukee’s Brew Crew. The right-hander has had two successful appearances since and has dropped his ERA to a very respectable 2.70. More importantly the rookie is keeping the ball in play, having yet to yield a walk.

Ryan Dempster continues to surprise in the closer’s role. After last year I was doubtful whether Dempster was made of “closing” stuff. He picked up his fourth save on Friday against the Cardinals. Still… there’s a lot of baseball yet to be played.

Weekly: Grade: C
Season Grade: C-

Hitting:
Who would have thought that Alfonso Soriano would be entering the last day of the first month of the season without a home run? Granted, Soriano missed a few games with the hamstring strain … still.

On the up side, the move to left may be the catalyst Soriano needs to begin unloading the lumber. Piniella moved Soriano from center to left last Monday, and although he remains homerless, Soriano is second on the team with nine doubles and he boosted his OBP to over .300.

While the Cubs’ new left fielder is still searching for his first dinger, Chicago first baseman got off the homer snide for 2007 with his first home run of the season. It’s starting to look like 2005 again for Lee as ends April with 16 RBI and a scorching .391 batting average.

The Cubs’ “other outfielders,” Jacque Jones, Felix Pie and Cliff Floyd continue to share outfield spots and plate appearances. Pie connected for the first home run of his major league career this past week, while Jones became the Cubs chief Cardinal clubber with a double, triple and four driven in on Saturday.

If this past week is any indication, Piniella was right - the warm weather is heating the Cubs’ bats up.

Weekly Grade: B

Season Grade: C+

Base Running:

Outside of a couple of base-running mental lapses on Saturday, it was a pretty fair week for the Cubs.

With the bats beginning to sizzle, there’s no doubt Piniella will begin to take a few more chances on the base paths. The Cubs have a good, not spectacular, assortment of speedy players. Look for more hit-and-runs and more steal attempts, particularly as Soriano heals and becomes more comfortable.

Weekly Grade: C
Season Grade: C

Defense:
In Piniella’s continuing search for a winning combination, the Cubs’ skipper turned to the defense this past week. The changes had an immediate and positive impact.

First, Pinella moved Soriano to back to his more familiar left field position, whree he helped preserve a Cub win with two assists against the Cardinals on Friday. Piniella also replaced former Gold Glover Cesar Izturus at shortstop as Izturus continues to struggle at the plate.

Ryan Theriot took over defensively at short, and despite an error, seems like a catalyst on the field and at the plate.

Piniella also continues his quest to keep his overloaded outfield happy, starting Jones in center and Floyd in right. As a late-inning replacement, Piniella brings Pie to center and moves Jones to his more customary position in right.

Whatever magic Lou is using, the story is in the record.

Weekly Grade: B
Season Grade: B-

Managing:
Piniella is a winner. And he’s going to make the Cubs winners as well. Whether it’s this season or next, the Cubs at least look like a team with a purpose. And that’s miles ahead of where they were at this time last season.

Weekly Grade: B+
Season Grade: B+