Right and Wrong—April 28, 2008

Since the last snapshot on April 11th, the Cubs settled into a pretty good month:

Record: 16-9 (10-6 since 11Apr08)
Runs Scored: 145.  Runs Allowed:  105
Team OPS+: 120.  Team ERA+:  116.

What’s Gone Right Since Last Time:

Virtually the entire position roster (Soto, Theriot, Ramirez, Johnson, Cedeño, Fukudome, and Lee) getting or staying red hot.

The team continuing to draw walks at a jaw-dropping rate (113 in 25 games; on a pace to draw 732).

Zambrano keeping it up with game scores of 57, 65 and 68.

Much of the starting staff righting the ship (Lilly with a 43 game score, followed by 60 and 61, Marquis with a 48, followed by 62 and 55, Rich Hill with 58 and 52).

Kerry Wood settling in nicely (7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 HR in 6 appearances).

What’s Gone Wrong Since Last Time:

Not much.

Dempster coming back to earth a bit (game scores of 44, 46 and 61).

Howry giving up a lot of hits and paying for it (7 IP, 10 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 2 HR in 7 appearances).

Wuertz with some weak performances after a strong start (5 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 3 HR in 8 appearances).

If there is anything to be concerned about from the last 16 games it’s:

Virtually nothing, but the poor offensive showing in the last two games might be more indicative of what’s to come than the 15 that preceded them.

If there is anything to be excited about from the last 16 games it’s

Virtually everything, with the uncharacteristic patience at the plate suggesting that the offense might be, to a good enough extent, for real.