CUBS FALL APART LATE, LOSE TO CARDS

7 July:

It was a good game for a while.

A killer duel between Jon Lester, who threw maybe his best game as a Cub, AND got his first major league hit after 66 tries, and John Lackey of the St Louis Cardinals.

It was a scoreless duel until the 6th, with Lester spinning a no hitter. Lackey was just as good, but that’s where the comparisons end. The Cardinals made all the plays, the Cubs didn’t, and they lost.

Rains stopped the game in the 8th, and when play resumed Edward ‘Iron Mike’ Jackson, the world’s most expensive batting machine made sure any hope was dashed with a very ugly 9th where he allowed 4 runs to score, making the final  6-0.

But it didn’t matter. It was over at 2-0.

The Cubs, a defensively challenged and unbalanced team, just does NOT match up well with a solid fundamental team like the Cardinals, in spite of arguably having more talent.

Kris Bryant’s throwing error was the difference, making both runs against Lester unearned. On the other side, Kolten Wong’s athletic double play killed the only real Cub rally. Once again proving the time honored axiom ‘ defense wins championships’.

It just does. The Cub organization better get hip to this, and fast.

They already have a black hole at shortstop, and Kris Bryant is not going to finish his career at 3rd, either. Soler is an adventure in right, Russell is out of position and learning at the major league level.

Miguel Montero can’t throw anyone out, and Jon Lester can’t keep anyone at first.

Hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but this is the situation. They can beat the mediocre clubs, and hang in with better ones with issues. The Cardinals, who have now taken 7 out of the last 8 meetings, stand in total opposition to the Cubs.

They are a colorless, unexciting bunch for the most part, with having the sole exception of fitting together virtually perfectly as a organic whole.

It’s why they’re beating everybody; it’s why San Francisco beats everyone as well.

The are TEAMS. They play baseball the way it’s meant to be played, not the way the media wants it. No overpaid sluggers swinging from the heels, no pouting stars unhappy with contracts, no posing, pointing to the stars after hitting the first homer of the year, and on.

The Cubs are still a collection of baseball players managed to the best effect they can be by a magician.

Something needs to change. Everyone can see it.

Just a matter of when…

Day/Night double header tomorrow, first game 12:20 start, WGN TV, second one 7:05 game, Dallas Beeler up from AAA gets the nod against Tyler Lyons, CSN TV, both WBBM radio

 

 

CUBS FALL APART LATE, LOSE TO CARDS