Something happened (again) yesterday as I watched another Cubs game.I gave up.
That's right.
I gave up the moment the Cubs found themselves down TWO runs.
During other seasons, channel surfing during a Cubs game was a no-no for me. The only exceptions were 10+ run deficits, Bob Howry appearances or Top Gun.
Not so much this year. Heck, I thought about turning it off after a run scored FROM SECOND on a wild pitch. FROM SECOND! And don't even get me started on the whole second and third with no outs bed-crapping suckfest in the 8th (I feel bad for those of you who were still watching).
To make matters worse, it was the Pirates. The 36-41 Pirates (which sounds really bad until I realized the Cubs were 36-38...kill me now). To make matters even worser (yes, I'm aware that is not a word, but somehow it seems perfect for this team), Lilly was on the mound. That's Ted Lilly, your Chicago Cubs 2009 All-Star.
Maybe this is the low point. Not this game, but this road trip. Maybe Aramis will ride in on his white stallion and save the season. Maybe Smarj is the stabilizing force the bullpen needs. Maybe Soriano can remember that bat must meet ball to produce a hit. Maybe Lee can keep his hot streak going. Maybe Fontenot will slip in the shower and none of us will have to watch him bat EVER again this year.
That's a lot of maybes, I know. But when I find myself watching America's Got Talent INSTEAD of the Cubs games, that's all I've got.
Go Cubs.
Posts
Marty may hunt me down and kill me for saying this, but even AFTER he drove in the game winning RBI, I still think he's really gonna struggle this year. Why? His swing is waaaaaaaaaaay too long. All you have to do is watch one at-bat and you can see what the scouting report is on him.
Work the fastball up and in. Then go away, away, away with the breaking ball.
He can't get his swing started fast enough to touch either. Now that being said, if he can stay with pitches like the one he hit last night or if he can compact his swing to get to the inside stuff he could really succeed at the big league level. But those are two really big 'ifs." Sorry, Marty.
2. 30 LOB in 2 games
When Len mentioned this last night I nearly fell out of my chair. 30 guys? And we won both games? How in the hell does that happen? If I was a Pirates fan (shuddering) and I saw that stat, I think it would be time to put a hose on the tailpipe and close the garage door. There is no way we can continue to do that and win games. That is, unless they've changed the schedule without my knowledge and we play ONLY the Pirates for the rest of the year.
3. Those Darn Scrappy Pirates
Coming into this series, I thought of the Bucs as the SF Giants of the NL Central. I now realize that assessment was way off base and a tad mean.
They've got some solid position players and a TON of left-handed pitching (both in the rotation and in the bullpen). I swear they threw 30 consecutive lefties at us on Monday. That doesn't bode well for the season series. As everyone knows, the Cubs can't hit lefties for shit (especially the soft-tossing and the "just-called-up-to-face-the-Cubs" variety). In what now looks like a more competitive division than was previously anticipated, we HAVE to win against these guys. Mark my words...if we don't win the division, it will be because we lose a ton of games we shouldn't against the Pirates (and probably the Giants too because karma is a bitch).
Anyway, another "a win is a win is a win" type game for the Cubs. Here's hoping they can actually win one in 9 innings tonight. I'm not holding my breath.
Go Cubs.
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Go Cubs.