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Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Chicago Tribune: Cubs bats still snoozing in Arizona

The Cubs were on their way to a 9-2 loss to the Diamondbacks, their fifth in six games. Their National League Central lead, which was 5 1/2 games on July 12, is down to one over the Milwaukee Brewers, whom they will play four times next week in Milwaukee.
...
Alfonso Soriano, who has missed six weeks with a broken bone in his left hand, is expected to be activated after a two-game rehabilitation assignment. Soriano played five innings in left field for Triple-A Iowa Tuesday night in Tucson, going 1-for-3 with an infield single.

“He probably needs more at-bats than what we’re giving him,’’ Piniella said. “It’s been a long time. But what do we do? Leave him here?’‘
...
Asked if his hitters are pressing, Piniella said, “I don’t know why they should be; it’s only July. I don’t see why you should be pressing. We’re just not hitting with men on base. When the middle of your lineup is not driving in runs it becomes a little bit of a scuffle.”

Piniella, who said Jim Edmonds left the game with a sore knee, went out of his way to praise the recent hitting of Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot (who drove in a run with a fourth-inning triple off Petit) but left no doubt that Soriano has been badly missed.

Chicago Sun-Times: On road to oblivion?

NTNgod Posted: July 23, 2008 at 05:58 AM | 9 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: arizona, cubs, game recaps

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1. The Kids Are Enright (1k5v3L)

Posted: July 23, 2008 at 06:09 AM (#2869202)

Thou shall fear Livo V.2!

The Cubs hitters have been a bit unlucky the last couple of nights. And tonight, when they got on base, Petit managed to snake out of trouble. And encouragingly for the Dbacks, their defense has been very good over the last few games. I think Conor Jackson might be just fine in left field...

Here's hoping the Cubs bats remain ice cold tomorrow. The Dbacks could use any help they can get

2. NTNgod Posted: July 23, 2008 at 06:09 AM (#2869203)

While the Tribune focused on the hitting slump, the Sun-Times' storyline was the 2007-Brewer-style home/road issue:

Early in the season it was easily explained away by weather or the rigors of an unusual schedule, or simply the fact that it was early in the season.

But as the Cubs' massive home-road offensive disparity reaches four months -- creating more than a .340 difference in winning percentage home and away -- it is becoming a worrisome trend for a team with World Series aspirations.

"I don't know how long it can last, or how long it's going to last," shortstop Ryan Theriot said Tuesday... "because I don't know the reason."
...
But, said manager Lou Piniella, "You would think for a veteran team you would play better [on the road]."
...
"Maybe we like our own beds. Maybe the food's better at home, I don't know,'' said Theriot. ''Maybe the lighting's better. Maybe we just so happen to play worse on the road than we do at home."

Chicago Sun-Times

3. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: July 23, 2008 at 06:41 AM (#2869214)

I noted in the game chatter I'm taking a brief hiatus from the team. Even the good teams will slump a couple times during the season, but the last two weeks or so have just been more stress than I care to have in my life right now. I agree with the first post that the Cubs have hit into some bad luck the last two nights. Their walks in game two were encouraging, but until they can parlay those into some runs, it's just a silver lining.

Soto needs more rest and Ramirez should be fine. But I'm concerned about Derrek Lee.

4. shoewizard Posted: July 23, 2008 at 06:42 AM (#2869216)

Not that I don't understand....Cub fans have been through a lot. But it took me two and a half months of lousy baseball to crack. It only took you two weeks.

5. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: July 23, 2008 at 06:44 AM (#2869217)

At this point, it looks pretty likely that both the Cubs and Brewers will make the playoffs, in which ever order.

6. The Kids Are Enright (1k5v3L)

Posted: July 23, 2008 at 06:52 AM (#2869222)

It only took you two weeks.

Two weeks and 100 years

7. Andere Richtingen

Posted: July 23, 2008 at 02:52 PM (#2869377)

The 2008 Cubs maxed out at 20 games over .500 (.642) on June 15. Me and my big mouth. They then were swept by Tampa Bay, which started a 13-17 stretch.

The 1984 Cubs were 26-16 (.619) on May 24th. They were then swept by Cincinnati, which started a 13-17 stretch.

These things happen to good teams. Obviously, the Cubs will have to turn it around, and do so soon in a competitive division. Hopefully no one really expected this to be a cakewalk.

The 1984 Cubs snapped out of it on their West Coast swing, of all places. Who knows what's coming?

8. phredbird

Posted: July 23, 2008 at 05:23 PM (#2869498)

NOW they start losing. just when we can't seem to get our bats going against the brewers and our bullpen implodes. this has become a nailbiter of a season. i know the cards are thinking if they can just get wainwright and carpenter back in the next month they have a real chance, but i agree with some other cards blogs i've read that say we also need another bat. i say sign barry and to hell with the rest of baseball. it's getting so i can't bear to log on to mlb.tv or pick up the newspaper.

9. Cooperstown Schtick Posted: July 23, 2008 at 05:31 PM (#2869508)

Dear Cubs fans:

Check that you might be overselling your plight.

Sincerely,
Rays fans

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Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Chicago Tribune: Cubs bats still snoozing in Arizona

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