Section 524 - Chicago Cubs Blog

It’s Tuesday, so it’s time for “MLB At A Glance”.

• Ben Sheets takes the hill for the Brewers tonight, Carlos Zambrano for the Cubs.  They might as well be playing each other as the teams battle for first place.
• Yovanni Gallardo has extended his scoreless innings streak to 21 with 8 scoreless innings for the Brewers last night.
• The Indians broke ground on a new training facility in Arizona.
• The Detroit Tigers are leading early over the Cleveland Indians, who they trail by 5 and a half games.

I missed getting this feature up on Tuesday, so here it is a day late.

• The Cubs can tie the Brewers for first place in the National League Central with a win tonight. Rich Hill takes the mound against the Astros.
• Derrick Turnbow blew the game today for the Brewers after they tied it in the top of the 8th in Pittsburgh.
• 48,000 have signed up for the Brewers playoff lottery.
• Cleveland Indians pitcher Paul Byrd is apparently writing a book. It’s about his life in baseball, involving porn and atheists. He calls it a “spiritual journal”. Everyone else calls him crazy.

MLB at a Glance is a new feature that will run every Tuesday on this site along with the MLB sites that are part of the Fresh Coast Sports network.

• The Milwaukee Brewers picked up a convincing win (9-0) Monday night versus the hottest team in the National League. The Brewers have been the worst team in the NL since the break.
• Jeff Conine is now a New York Met. Goodbye Cincinnati.
• Chris Capuano is done as a Brewers starter for this season. He’ll be in the bullpen.
• After tonight’s Brewers game - The Brewers and Cubs are tied for first place in the National League. This sets up a Fresh Coast showdown as the teams battle it out down the stretch.
• Cubs fans are feeling a little wet after all the rain this weekend.
• They’re also feeling a little bit poorer, they did after all just give Carlos Zambrano 90+ million dollars.

ESPN is reporting that Carlos Zambrano has inked a 5-year deal worth a reported $90 million.  News of a possible deal have been rumored since spring training but the sale of the Tribune Company put the deal at risk.

While 90 Million is nothing to sneeze at, it does seem like Zambrano gave the Cubs a bit of a home team discount.  Given the money that BArry Zito got last off season, reports were out there that Zambrano might get a $140-150 million deal, especially if the Yanks and Mets got involved.

But, nonetheless, it’s great to have Zambrano under contract for 5 more years.  Thew Cubs now have a pretty good (and expensive) core of players tied up for the next few years.  Lee, Ramirez, Zambrano, Soriano and Lilly give the Cubs a solid foundation to build around.

Alright, I’m out of my funk.  I’ve spent the last 3 days curled up in a corner wishing that the past weekend was a dream.  If it weren’t for Ted Lilly, my head might have exploded this weekend.

Talk about a kick to the nuts.  Watching Alfonso Soriano pull up lame rounding second base was every cub fans worst nightmare.   I know everybody points to the Zambrano-Barrett fight as the turning point in the season.  But what redeally started the turn around was Soriano starting to hit.  Don’t forget he had a horrible April and May.  It wasn’t until he started to hit, that the Cubs went on their run. 

I realize his numbers are not what they were last year, but his importance to the team cannot be overstated.  He has turned into a premier defensive outfielder and is the catalyst for the Cubs offense.   I have confidence in Ryan Theriot in the leadoff spot, but they have to find a number 2 hitter to get on base before Lee and Ramirez. 

Right now the best hope sfor the Cubs ly in the fact that the Brewers are also scuffling.  It may take Piniella a week to find the right lineup combination and as long as they don’t lose too much ground they should be OK

Woke up this morning to some potentially great Cub news.  Kerry Wood is back!!!  Now, I don’t think Wood is a savior for this team, or will he have more then a cursory impact on the pennant race.  But as a Cub fan, it’s nice to see Kerry back.  He’s been a loyal Cub and since Mark Grace left, probably the face and conscience of the organization. 

Plus he’s supplied Cub fans with some great memories over the years.  I don’t need to delve into the 20 strikeout game, but his home in game 7 of the NLCS might have been the rocking-est moment ever in Wrigley history.  I swear I thought section 524 was going to drop onto the field that night.

So, here’ hoping Kerry has some more big moments this year.  We’re certainly not counting on it, but we’ll keep our fingers crossed, nonetheless.

This weekend’s series against the Mets could be a (dare I say it) preview of the NL playoffs.  The Mets come in playing good baseball, having take 3 of 4 in Milwaukee.  The Cubs do get to run out Zambrano, who’s been filthy for almost 2 months, Lilly and Marquis, however, and that might give them a slight edge in the series.  Sunday’s national TV matchup does, however, see Tom Glavine going for win 300.  Here in section 524 we wish Glavine the best on getting to that milestone next Friday.

So far this year, Lou Piniella has pulled all the right strings.  He’s pinch hit when he’s needed to, made the right defensive adjustments and leaned on the right guy at the right time.  But here in Section524 we’re having a little debate about whether Lou made the right move in Monday’s loss.

Situation:  Cubs down 4-0.  Matt Mutron leads off the bottom of the 5th with a walk and goes to 2nd on Pagan’s groundout.  Kendall draws a walk (cause lord knows he can’t hit).  Piniella then takes down Lilly for a pinch hitter, Ronny Cedeno, who proceeds to pop up the 1st pitch on the infield.  Soriano then strikes out to end the inning.

The Problem:  Was letting Cedeno hit away the right move, or should Piniella have had someone lay down a bunt to put runners on 2nd and 3rd for Soriano.

Down 4-0, Piniella was looking for the big inning and in that situation didn’t want to give up the out.   I was with Piniella in this situation.  The Cubs weren’t doing much va. Hamels and the possibility for a big inning were there.  Of course, it would have been nice in Cedeno hadn’t swung at the first pitch after Hamels walks two guys in front of him.

But the argument for having Cedeno or Lilly bunt is a compelling one.  Basically, you put runners on 2nd and 3rd with two outs and have essentially a 30 percent chance of Soriano driving in them both.  You also put a little pressure on the Phils as to whether or not they want to pitch to Soriano, or walk him and load the bases for Theriot.

A story on the Chicago Tribune’s website says that the Cubs are considering dealing top prospect Felix Pie for Ran Mahay…Ron Mahay?  Here in section 524 we can’t be more disappointed by this news. 

Have they not learned anything from the guys they have brought up so far this year?  The adjustment to the big leagues isn’t an easy one.  Not everybody is Albert Pujols and can make the leap form single A to the majors.  Pie has had less then 2 months to prove himself and even in the short stint he showed that he was no worse then an exceptional defensive outfielder. 

 This unfortunately is a typical Cub move.  And unless they can land a real difference maker  (left hander power hitter or front line closer) then they would be better served to hold onto Pie.

Again, just to let this sink in Pie for Ron Mahay???????

It was another productive weekend from the Cubbies.  Not only did they take 2 of 3 from the Reds, but the Brewers lost 3 of 4 vs. the Cardinals.  The Cubs now are the closest they have been to 1st place since opening day…just .05 games back.

 Notes:  Kerry Wood’s return now looks to be on a fast track back to the Bigs.  He is scheduled to pitch on Tuesday night for class AA Tennessee, and if all goes well he could join the Cubs by Thursday when the Mets come to town.

Don’t expect any big moves at the trade deadline.  Addding Wood seems to be the biggest thing the Cubs will do.  They, however, could make a bigger move at the end of August when more teams are eliminated from the races.

Carlos Zambrano continues to be lights out (he’s making himself millions with every appearance now) on the mound and at the plate.  Big Z’s 3 for 4 yesterday raised his batting average to .291.  It was also his 2nd 3-hit game this season.

It’s hard to find something positive in last night’s beat down.  D-Lee did hit a homer, I guess…. I suppose, the best hope is that maybe the Cards can build on their win and keep their momentum going when they host the Brew Crew this weekend. maybe? Please?

 Soooo… anyway, we just won’t make mention of that game ever again. 

And honestly, the Cubs don’t have much time to lick their wounds, as they start a 3 game set vs. the Reds tonight in Cincy.  The pitching matchups look so-so for the Cubs.  Tonight’s series opener sees Rich Hill (6-6, 3.58) vs. Bronson Arroryo (4-11, 4.58).  Hill has been tough his last couple of starts and needs to maintain that after a rough stretch in June.  Arroryo owned the Cubs last year with his arm and bat, but the Cubs got to him earlier this year and need to get to him early tonight and not let him get into a groove.

Satrurday’s matchup sees Sean “No run support” Marshall (4-4, 3.25) against Red’s ace Aaron Harang (10-2, 3.45).  Harang is the real deal, on a contending team he would be a Cy Young contender.  The Cubs best hope is that he’s tired after going 10 innings in a win over the Brewers in his last outing.

The series finale ends with Big Z (13-7, 3.65) looking to add to his league leading win total.  Reds pitcher Matt Belisle (5-7, 5.28) has his work cut out for him and is going to need a stellar outing to best Zambrano.

A sweep will be a tough task, but the Cubs need to keep winning series and take 2-of-3 this weekend. Anything less then that will be a letdown.  Then its back to Chicago to face the recently depleted Phillies, who lost All-Star Chase Utley to a broken hand. Fate…maybe….on the Cubs side…I’m not gonna touch that yet.