Chicago Cubs Baseball

Thankfully to a case of food poisoning I’ve found something more nauseating than chronicling the Chicago Cubs collapse of 2007. But with the aid of Cipro, Dicyclomine and some Immodium AD I’m back upright. If only it was that easy to correct the events of this Cubs’ season.

A little late, but with the best of intentions here is the weekly Chicago Cubs baseball report card for the week of May 21 to May 27:

Starting Pitching:
It’s hard to find fault with the efforts of the Cubs starting pitching staff despite the up-down performances of Rich Hill and Carlos Zambrano. Not to mention that two months into the season and Chicago has yet to pick up a win from a fifth starter - all three of them.

Yet, the Cubs have the ninth-best ERA among major league pitching staffs - taking into account the balloon like ERAs of relievers Scott Eyre, Bob Howry and the departed Neal Cotts.

Still, take away last Friday’s slugfest and the Cubs’ pitching staff gave up a grand total of 12 runs in five games. To spoil that kind of pitching is shameful.

Relief Pitching:
When is enough enough when it comes to the Chicago Cubs bullpen? Two months into the season and the problems that plagued the club in April appears to following the team straight into June - and likely beyond.

Of the seven arms in the bullpen there are two semi-reliable performers - Michael Wuertz and closer Ryan Dempster. Even more remarkable is that I never thought I would find myself conceding to that notion.

Despite Lou Piniella’s trust factor in Scott Eyre, facts are facts. The left-hander is done. Of the Cubs 10 blown saves this year, Eyre has accounted for four.

And let’s not forget his set-up mate from a year ago, Bob Howry. At least Howry shows occasional flashes of form from a year ago. But please, Lou, do not use him two games in a row.

Hitting:
While the Cubs bullpen can certainly shoulder much of the blame for this most recent collapse, they do have an accomplice with the Chicago hitters, Again, minus the 9-8 loss last Friday, and the Cubs scored a grand total of 10 runs in five games.

It’s difficult to win under those circumstances. Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of it is that the Cubs are getting chances. The Cubs are currently tied with Philadelphia for ninth overall team batting average at .268.

While numbers don’t lie, they do skew the truth. In last week’s six-game road trip, Chicago batters stranded 41 runners. And when Cub hitters were failing to come up with the timely hit, base running gaffes quelled at least a couple of rallies.

Base Running:
When Michael Barret tries to steal third in a tight ballgame, you know there’s base running problems. With two outs and Cesar Izturis at the plate, Barrett broke for third where he was easily thrown out by Dodger catcher Russell Martin. Barrett later explained he thought he had stolen the catcher’s signal - thinking a curveball was on its way instead of the fastball that was thrown.

”Bottom line was I overthought the whole process,” Barrett said. ”I should have just let Lou [Piniella] make those decisions and not try to do too much.”

Couple that with Derrek Lee getting picked off second in Friday night’s contest and it only confirms this club is anything but a well-oiled machine.

The only thing more disturbing than Lee getting caught off second, was WGN’s Len Kasper explaining how it may have been a good thing as Chicago went on to bunch seven straight hits and score seven runs.

Len, we know you’re the consummate Cubs’ apologist, but, “Huh?”

Defense:
At least the Cubs can catch the ball. Pretty much. Kind of.

The lack of defensive prowess by catcher Barrett was evident again when the Dodgers Ramon Martinez strayed off second and slipped trying to get back. Instead of running at Martinez, forcing him to commit to a base, Barrett throws to second and Martinez ends up at third.

One question. Where was Barrett when the Dodgers were picking off Lee?

Managing:
Bewildered. Befuddled. Baffled. I saw everyone of those looks and more on Piniella’s face during the course of the Dodger series.

I’ve been a strong supporter of Piniella thus far this season, but like the starting pitching staff, the cracks in the armor are beginning to show. I saw him leave Marshall in for one pitch too many, and go to unreliable relievers Eyre and Howry when unnecessary.

Winning, of course, changes opinions. But constant lineup changes, erratic handling of his pitching staff, base running gaffes and more lead to me to believe I’ve been mistaken.

And that’s not the food poisoning talking.