The only thing more pathetic than the shell-shocked look on Chicago reliever Bob Howry following last night’s 9-8 loss, were the dumb-founded faces of the Cubs baseball brain trust - Larry Rothschild, Alan Trammel and Lou Piniella - during the disastrous eighth inning.
WGN cameras panned the Cubs dugout as Chicago relievers - all three of them - allowed hit after hit and wild pitch after walk to snatch victory again from the Cub win column. And what they showed its viewing audience wasn’t pretty.
Each of the coaches and the Cubs skipper took turns with head shaking, blank stares, empty gazes and open-mouthed looks of disbelief. I didn’t know which was sadder, the pathetic pitching performances of Cubs relievers or the desperation on the faces of Piniella and staff.
Sadly enough, their looks reminded me of the caricatures of “See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil.” It was like these three baseball men were being forced to watch something that their mothers told them would eventually lead to blindness.
Amidst the desperation were the questioning looks, the search for answers that fall somewhere between the meaning of life and Google’s algorithm.
Here’s a memo boys. As cerebral of a game as baseball is, this is still just baseball. Catch, hit, throw - and if you do it well enough, you’ll likely beat your opponent.
And if the question is what’s wrong with Howry, Will Ohman and Scott Eyre - no soul searching or computer printout is needed.
The answer is simple. They suck.
Whether they’re victims of the famed Dusty Baker school of pitcher burnout, or whether they’ve just lost their mojo - the truth of the matter is if they haven’t figured it out eight weeks into the season, it’s doubtful whether the remaining 16 or so weeks will hold much promise.
No need to ponder the greater questions, Lou. On this Memorial Day holiday, have yourself a bullpen barbecue. No need to worry about over cooking. They’re already well done.
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