CUBS BEAT BREW CREW AGAIN at Cubsquest.com

1 August:

The day was all about who came, who went and who might go.

However, a game was still played, and the Cubs, still on the edge of a possible wild card spot, won one they needed. The Milwaukee Brewers, who lost a tough one Thursday evening were going to be up for Friday"s...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BEAT BREW CREW AGAIN

CUBS DONE FOR NOW- BUT NOT DONE YET at Cubsquest.com

31 July:

The dust is starting to settle on a frenzied trade deadline day.

Some did much, some little, some nothing. But even those who did little, like the Cubs, of nothing at all, like the San Diego Padres, set up a future set of deals.

For you see, things that might not have...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS DONE FOR NOW- BUT NOT DONE YET

CUBS GET TOMMY HUNTER FROM BRAVES at Cubsquest.com

31 July:

It isn"t just Tommy Hunter, a thoroughly adequate middle innings guy.

It"s that Theo got the Orioles to bite on Junior Lake. Lake, long Cubsquest"s favorite player (not) has provided several of the lowest points ever seen in the Cub"s long history of futility.

They have been...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS GET TOMMY HUNTER FROM BRAVES

DAN HAREN A CUB; 3 TEAM DEAL CLOSE? at Cubsquest.com

31 July:

According to sources including the Chicago Sun Times, Miami Marlins starter (and almost one time Cub) Dan Haren has just been acquired.

This would be the #5 starter issue addressed.

No details are yet available, but one would suspect a low level prospect and cash considerations...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comDAN HAREN A CUB; 3 TEAM DEAL CLOSE?

RIZZO HOMER DRIVES CUBS OVER BREWERS at Cubsquest.com

31 July:

Jimmy Nelson was sailing along.

7 innings of 2 hit shut out ball. Jake Arrieta was almost as good; he went 6 only allowing a pair of runs. Down 2-0 going into 8th, Dexter Fowler and Addison Russell had singled off of Jeremy Jeffress, who was pulled for Will Smith.

Not the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comRIZZO HOMER DRIVES CUBS OVER BREWERS

CUBS, THEO SILENT- FAN BASE RESTLESS at Cubsquest.com

30 July:

Sure, there"s 24 hours left.

In the wheeler-dealer world of the trading deadline it is an eternity. To an extent. A lot of the more desirable pieces are off the board, though, with Toronto mortgaging their children and their children"s children future to nab David Price.

They...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS, THEO SILENT- FAN BASE RESTLESS

COLE HAMELS TRADED TO RANGERS, CUBS SILENT at Cubsquest.com

30 July:

So much for Cole Hamels becoming a Cub.

It was always a long shot, and your loyal Cubsquest staff never expected it, either. They are far more likely they will pursue David Price in the offseason. No guarantees there, either.

The facts are becoming apparent.

This particular...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCOLE HAMELS TRADED TO RANGERS, CUBS SILENT

CUBS BEAT ROCKIES; TAKE SERIES at Cubsquest.com

29 July:

The news out of Wrigley Field is both good, and not so good.

First of all, they won. That"s good, of course, and was necessary as well. It gives them a 2-4 home stand; not good but certainly better than 1-5.

Or 0-6.

It was the $155 million dollar man earning his keep, and...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BEAT ROCKIES; TAKE SERIES

TRADE DEADLINE APPROACHES at Cubsquest.com

29 July:

The success of the Chicago Cub season is now officially up in the air.

With just 2 more days before the August 1st non waiver trade deadline the organization stands at it"s first major crossroads. Teams with worse records than the Cubs are making franchise changing deals; the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comTRADE DEADLINE APPROACHES

CUBS PLAY POORLY, LOSE TO COLORADO at Cubsquest.com

29 July:

It"s starting to look like they Cubs were really fortunate to bail out that game Monday night.

They lose that and  it"s 5 in a row. The one thing Joe Maddon has been studiously trying to avoid. Being the seasoned veteran he is, he knows darn well that a losing streak to a young, ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS PLAY POORLY, LOSE TO COLORADO

ZOBRIST GOES TO ROYALS at Cubsquest.com

28 July:

Take another one of  the Cub "targeted" acquisitions off the board.

Ben Zobrist, who Cubsquest confidently predicted would not come to the Friendly Confines, went to the Kansas City Royals for two pitchers. The A"s have picked up FOUR good pitching prospects for Tyler Clippard and ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comZOBRIST GOES TO ROYALS

CUBS WIN ON BRYANT WALKOFF at Cubsquest.com

28 July:

This was a game they really needed.

And it didn"t look that good. Jorge De La Rosa had retired the first nine Cubs, and the Rockies had already roughed up Kyle Hendricks and had him in pitch count trouble. But the fourth inning came, and the Cubs got the break they needed.

De...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS WIN ON BRYANT WALKOFF

CUBS CLOSE TO DEAL WITH PADRES at Cubsquest.com

27 July:

According to both Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports have reported the Cubs are in "serious talks" with San Diego, and there seems to be more than two moving parts to a possible deal. ESPN"s Buster Olney claims they "aren"t in on James Shields" despite early reports that...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS CLOSE TO DEAL WITH PADRES

WILL CUBS DO ANYTHING? at Cubsquest.com

27 July:

The rest of the league is quite busy.

The Mets, who really have no more shot at the postseason than the Cubs do just acquired Tyler Clippard from the A"s, who recieved a minor league right hander named Casey Mesiner. His name is mentioned only because the Mets pitching is so deep...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comWILL CUBS DO ANYTHING?

CUBS SWEPT BY PHILS at Cubsquest.com

26 July:

The one true, and inexorable fact, of a #162 game season is that water eventually seeks it"s own level. Teams can play both above, and below their ability level for a period, even an extended period. Once in a great while a team will excel from start to finish, conversely occasionally...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS SWEPT BY PHILS

CUBS NO HIT BY COLE HAMELS at Cubsquest.com

25 July:

It"s been fifty years, give or take a month or so.

September 9th, 1965 to be exact. That was the last time the #Chicago Cubs were no hit, and it was a doozy, too. Not just no hit, but a #perfect game tossed against them by one of the greatest pitchers in history.

Sanford Braun,...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS NO HIT BY #COLE HAMELS

TRADE NEWS at Cubsquest.com

25 July:

The "Cub Dog" speaks.

Some bits from around the league:

The Cubs optioned left handed starter Clayton Richard to AAA Iowa; he could have turned it down and sought his release but didn"t contest it. He will be able to showcase his abilities there and await a future (and...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comTRADE NEWS

CUBS BLOW LATE LEAD, LOSE TO LAST PLACE PHILS at Cubsquest.com

24 July:

What is it about Friday and Cub games?

After much research #Cubsquest has not been able to find a day by day breakdown of wins and losses. So, this is based on recollection. And perhaps the memory is being a bit harsh.

That said, it is difficult to remember the last GOOD game...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BLOW LATE LEAD, LOSE TO LAST PLACE PHILS

WHO WILL THE CUBS GET? at Cubsquest.com

24 July:

The #Phillies are coming into #Chicago at a very appropriate time.

Scouts and baseball analysts both agree that Saturday"s start by #Cole Hamels is going to be a possible game changer. If he throws a masterful game he could very well be traded by Monday. He"ll cost a bunch of the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comWHO WILL THE CUBS GET?

PIRATES GET ARAMIS RAMIREZ FOR STRETCH at Cubsquest.com

23 July:

The chess pieces are beginning to move.

In what would be the equivalent of moving Queen to rook"s five, the #Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired the services of former #Cub #Aramis Ramirez from Miwaukee.

The #Brewers get a minor league pitcher and cash considerations.

The Pirates...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comPIRATES GET ARAMIS RAMIREZ FOR STRETCH

CUBS WANT #PRICE AND #HAMELS at Cubsquest.com

23   July:

The #Cubs are like kids in Holiday season.

They want some shiny toys. But the parents, which in this case would be the authoritarian #Crane Kenney are saying "sure, you can have some presents. But you have to get RID of some of the toys you have".

And the toys they are tired of ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS WANT PRICE AND HAMELS

CUBS SPLIT DAY /NIGHT AFFAIR AGAINST REDS at Cubsquest.com

23 July:

This was a big day for the Cubs.

Going in they had split the first two games, and needed to at least salvage a split or risk losing 3 out of 4 with a 13 inning nail biter the only thing preventing a four game sweep.

The Cincinnati Reds, a injury plagued team short on pitching...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS SPLIT DAY /NIGHT AFFAIR AGAINST REDS

CUBS BEAT REDS; EVEN SERIES at Cubsquest.com

22 July:

It was the new kid"s night.

Te baseball gods have been shouting from Mt Olympus all season long that the Cubs needed a left handed impact bat. NOT another starting pitcher, which the clueless local media has been pushing.

Their pitching staff, while maybe not perfect, has been...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS BEAT REDS; EVEN SERIES

CENTER FIELD: MONDAY OR DERNIER? at Cubsquest.com

16 July:

Center field is pretty thin gruel for most teams; usually a fast, good field no-hit type is inserted out there.

Occasionally you"ll get a generational player like Willie Mays, or even Jim Edmonds. Plus defense AND an amazing offense. Right now, the Dodgers Joc Pederson, who Theo...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCENTER FIELD: MONDAY OR DERNIER?

CUBS LOSE TO REDS at Cubsquest.com

21 July:

The #Cubs seem to hit a wall at 9 over .500.

They"ve been there twice; after Sunday"s win they were 8 over going into #Cincinnati to face a very beatable #Reds team. Things were looking good.

Win all three and they make that final step towards the elite. 11 games over .500. You...
Check it out at #Cubsquest.comCUBS LOSE TO REDS

WHY RIZZO AND SCHWARBER ARE HITTING at Cubsquest.com

20 July:

There is a pretty simple reason why #Anthony Rizzo is hitting, and why #Kyle Schwarber came up swinging the bat well. The inverse proportion of this is why #Kris Bryant and #Jorge Soler struggle.

It"s not bat speed, or even mental approach.

It"s bat angle.

If you do slo-mo on ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comWHY RIZZO AND SCHWARBER ARE HITTING

CUBS FINALLY CUT JACKSON; BRING UP SORIANO at Cubsquest.com

20 July:

Theo Epstein finally ate his first contract.

The Edwin Jackson charade came to an end Sunday; the team announced he has been DFA"d- designated for assignment- and new Cub reliever Rafael Soriano has been activated to take his place. The musical chair game with Jackson has run it"s...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS FINALLY CUT JACKSON; BRING UP SORIANO

ARRIETA, CUBS BEAT BRAVES at Cubsquest.com

20 July:

Nothing like having a staff with an era under ONE for the last three weeks. If you add #Pedro Stop it gets to the low 2"s.

Wonder why the Cubs are hanging in there in spite of a woeful offense and mediocre at best defense? Simple. It has the magic three ingredients you need to...
Check it out at Cubsquest.com#ARRIETA, #CUBS BEAT #BRAVES

FAN SHOT OF THE WEEK! at Cubsquest.com

CUBSQUEST WANTS YOU... to be submit the fanshot of the week. The pic can be sexy, cute, funny, clever... Just make sure it"s of a decent pixel resolution; say at least 800 x 400.  This site is for and about the discerning #CUBFAN that wants a little more than the average run of the mill ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comFAN SHOT OF THE WEEK!

LESTER NEAR PERFECT, CUBS WIN at Cubsquest.com

19 July:

The #Cubs have found a pattern in their winning success.

A great start by one of their pitchers, and whatever #Bryant and #Rizzo can do. Perhaps with a little help from a #Castro squib, or #Denorfia off the bench.

One of #Coghlan"s drives finally falls in.

Very rarely is it a...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comLESTER NEAR PERFECT, CUBS WIN

CUBS PROMOTE SCHWARBER, LOSE GAME at Cubsquest.com

18 July:

The Cubs showed all sides of themselves Friday night in #Atlanta.

A hot, muggy night with two laboring pitchers seemed to beg for a bunch of runs to be scored,  instead turned into -once again- a pitcher"s duel of sorts. Braves starter #Julio Teheran had 90 pitches in 4 2/3 innings, ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS PROMOTE #SCHWARBER, LOSE GAME

SHARP, ODUYA LATEST HAWKS TO DEPART at Cubsquest.com

Chicago, IL – Vermette back to the #Coyotes. Saad to the #Blue Jackets. Richards to the Red Wings.

Add to the list two more #Chicago Blackhawk players that will suit up in a different jersey for the 2015-2016 NHL season.

Last Friday, the #Blackhawks sent #Patrick Sharp to the #Dallas Stars along ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comSHARP, ODUYA LATEST HAWKS TO DEPART

at Cubsquest.com

Chicago, IL – Vermette back to the Coyotes. Saad to the Blue Jackets. Richards to the Red Wings.

Add to the list two more Chicago Blackhawk players that will suit up in a different jersey for the 2015-2016 NHL season.

Last Friday, the Blackhawks sent Patrick Sharp to the Dallas Stars along ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.com

MONTERO TO EXTENDED DL; SCHWARBER UP at Cubsquest.com

16 July:

How quickly the worm can turn.

Miguel Montero"s thumb injury is as severe as first thought; his thumb was wrapped and immobile the day after. Everyone who saw it thought it worse than what was being let on.

Historically the Cubs treat injuries and the disabled list with a...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comMONTERO TO EXTENDED DL; SCHWARBER UP

SECOND HALF PREVIEW at Cubsquest.com

16 July:

The Cubs have played 87 games.

That puts them really in the second half already. But seeing the #All Star break is close enough we"ll call this the halfway break. Time to take a good look.

The 2015 #Chicago Cub team came in heralded; they had all of the buzz coming out of what...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comSECOND HALF PREVIEW

NATIONALS LOSE TO AL 6-3 at Cubsquest.com

14 July:

The best players in baseball played Tuesday night and the better team won.

The AL beat the Nationals 6-3, and it was only close for a while. Tied 1-1  with a #Mike Trout homer off of #Zach Greinke leading off, they went into the 5th. There a #Prince Fielder single and #Lorenzo Cain ...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comNATIONALS LOSE TO AL 6-3

CUB BESTS: DAWSON OR SOSA IN RIGHT? at Cubsquest.com

14 July:

As we start the all-Cub team (caveat: post 1950) of all time a comparison will be offered. Starting with right field, and ending up with the two best in pitching; starters, set up, and closer.

A spirited debate will ensue, and the best will be anointed.

Of course certain...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUB BESTS: #DAWSON OR #SOSA IN RIGHT?

DON KESSINGER: THE FIRST MODERN ERA SHORTSTOP at Cubsquest.com

14 July:

Ok, with all due respect to Luis Aparicio -who would rival Kessinger in that regard- this is, after all, a Cub site. And Don Kessinger became a prototype for a certain type of shortstop to follow. The likes of Cal Ripken Jr, Robin Yount, and Derek Jeter followed the template the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comDON KESSINGER: THE FIRST MODERN ERA SHORTSTOP

RIZZO, BRYANT WATCH FRAZIER WIN DERBY at Cubsquest.com

13 July:

It was a classic entry in the Home Run Derby history.

With an inspired rule change, four minute hitting sessions with bonus time for distance, the usually slow as molasses event had drama to spare as a result.

Unfortunately for Cubs slugger Anthony Rizzo, he was the first...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comRIZZO, BRYANT WATCH FRAZIER WIN DERBY

CUBSQUEST WELCOMES NEWEST ADDITION at Cubsquest.com

13 July:

Cubsquest is proud to welcome our new writer Trevor Block.

Currently finishing his degree in Journalism at Illinois State University, Trevor, who hails from the Chicago area, found his love for sports early. Particularly hockey and basketball, which he played until like the rest...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBSQUEST WELCOMES NEWEST ADDITION

HOME RUN DERBY TONIGHT at Cubsquest.com

13 July:

This is new territory for Cub fans.

It has been a LONG time since a Cub player has participated; namely Sammy Sosa in 2005. To many current Cub fans that is such a distant memory that it"s either a distant recollection, a story you"ve heard, or wasn"t Sammy Sosa a "roids guy?...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comHOME RUN DERBY TONIGHT

ARRIETA MAKES A STAND, CUBS GET A WIN at Cubsquest.com

13 July:

It was a complete command performance.

Jake Arrieta came out firing, striking out the side in the first inning. He had six more the rest of the day, and better yet ZERO walks, in a masterful complete game.

And after the Cubs spotted him to a couple of runs; a solid single by...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comARRIETA MAKES A STAND, CUBS GET A WIN

CUBS NOTES AND RUMORS 12 JULY at Cubsquest.com

12 July:

#Miguel Montero isn"t going on the disable list yet.

They will monitor his condition day to day, and in the meantime #David Ross has been activated off of the concussion list. #Michael Baxter has been optioned to #Iowa to make room.

#Taylor Teagarden, who has played well in Ross"...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS NOTES AND RUMORS 12 JULY

CUB OFFENSE IN HIDING; LOSE TO SOX AGAIN at Cubsquest.com

12 July:

If one wants to take a positive spin out of yesterday"s loss to the #White Sox you could say it was at least better than Friday"s performance.

They did score a run. They only struck out 11 times instead of 12, and only hit into 1 double play rather than 3. You could also say Jon...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUB OFFENSE IN HIDING; LOSE TO SOX AGAIN

CUBS SHUT OUT BY SOX at Cubsquest.com

10 July:

The #Cubs turned in one of their poorer efforts of the year Friday afternoon.

The numbers tell the tale:

12 strikeouts and 4 double plays. #Castro, the black hole of the lineup, hit into 2, #Bryant one and the other was a "strike "em out, throw "em out" one. To say that the...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCUBS SHUT OUT BY SOX

CITY SERIES PREVIEW at Cubsquest.com

10 July:

The last series of the first half is upon the Cubs, and it couldn"t be more appropriate.

Their nominal rivals from 35th and Shields, the Chicago White Sox. It is a series that means both much and little, and it serves as a nice fence post to begin the evaluation of this...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comCITY SERIES PREVIEW

BLACKHAWKS WHEELING AND DEALING TO STAY UNDER CAP at Cubsquest.com

TREVOR BLOCK on the HAWKS

Chicago, IL – The NHL offseason rages on and the Blackhawks’ salary dumping is in full swing.

The offseason began with a bang with the blockbuster Brandon Saad trade, and since the Chicago Blackhawks have not let up. The primary item on the front offices’ agenda is...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comBLACKHAWKS WHEELING AND DEALING TO STAY UNDER CAP

HALFWAY POINT: WHAT LESSONS ARE LEARNED? at Cubsquest.com

9 July:

The Cubs have what is probably a much needed day off.

The White Sox series will be followed by the four day All Star break. This, too, will allow some of the little "owies" and just plain exhaustion, both physical and mental, to subside.

It"s also a time for...
Check it out at Cubsquest.comHALFWAY POINT: WHAT LESSONS ARE LEARNED?

CUBS, STROP COUGH UP LOSS TO CARDS

8 July:

Somebody famous once said ‘doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results’ – a paraphrase, for sure.

But it always did ring true. BTW, it was, indeed, Alfred Einstein. You all knew that one.

Joe Maddon is not a physicist. He’s an scientist performing ART. An alchemist in the truest sense of the word.

Merlin the magician, born in 1136 although most likely a composite, would heartily accept one Joseph John Maddon, an Aquarius from Hazleton, Pa.

They would have gotten along just fine.

However, when you mix and make magical potions for a living things can go, invariably, wrong.

The Cub Cardinal game tonight comes front and center in this deep story rife with talismans. The potion would be three parts Jason Hammel to two parts Rizzo, a sizeable pinch of Bryant, and hoping the bench guys (Denorfia, Coghlan) can pick up for the non-producers.

Starlin Castro.

If ever a player as hit his dead end in this city it’s him.

Even the local media has tossed him overboard, pretty much unceremoniously, about a month ago.

You won’t read an article out there that doesn’t exalt a struggling Addison Russell over the possessor of over 1,00o hits at 26 out there.

BIG change.

Look at it THIS way:

Would any other team have given a player with his demonstrable weaknesses SUCH an opportunity?

Luis Valbuena is another prime example. A minimally skilled player, was given a shot at driving the baseball, and he became a .226 hitter who can hit 16 homers in 520 at  bats.

He’s got 19 homers in the amusement park in Houston while hitting .203.

With only THIRTY SIX rbi’s. Lot’s of solo homers there. And very little contact. Castro is just a better version; more talent, less game. But essentially fringe players.

Castro will never see another All Star game. Why is all of this important?

Because no matter HOW good a magician, he needs to have the right mix of potions. And, once again, the weak spots in a crucial situation were the aforementioned shortstop and Pedro Strop.

How many epic fails by these guys do you really need to see?

Strop can be demoted back to the 6th and 7th, where he can just mow people when he has a lead.

Castro is just a black hole in the middle of a team desperate to win. He makes a little contact tonight and Strop is an afterthought.

The rest of the team played GREAT.

That’s the most agonizing thing about it…

Off day tomorrow. The White Sox throw stud draft pick Carlos Rondon against Kyle Hendricks; 3:05 start, CSN TV, WBBM radio

CUBS, STROP COUGH UP LOSS TO CARDS

CHRIS DENORFIA: JUST HOW IMPORTANT IS HE?

7 July:

He had a nice spring, although once again shortened by nagging leg issues. Started the season hot, and then pulled the hamstring yet again. Landed him on the DL, and he wasn’t very happy about it. You see, guys like Denorfia think they’ve died and gone to puppy heaven getting to play at Wrigley.

Having played for the Reds, A’s and Padres he’s used to a sparser crowd, for instance.

Not to mention the peripherals of being here. The media presence, the national nature of the franchise and such.

Yep, he was damn happy to be offered that one year, $2.6 million with $400 k in incentives. He also knew how good they are going to be. Already he’s become one of the most valuable guys on the team.

His .330/.364/.784 ops sure helps.

So, too does his defensive flexibility; he’s a better outfielder than Coghlan (and Soler as well) and gives you slightly above average play at the corners and average at center.

His swing is what he calls ‘low maintenance swing’. He hits a lot with his hands, and off of his front foot. But he keeps his hip rotation tight and can explode when given a center cut meatball. He has more power than you think but is quite pleased to put a lot of spin, both top and back on balls depending on the situation.

He keeps it on the ground but jerked a walkoff sacrifice fly when tasked to.

The Wheaton College grad hails from ESPN’s backyard in Bristol, Connecticut. The 34 year old knows the time is now to make a grab at the golden ring both for himself and the team, and is taking it all with a fervor.

The Cubs have a lot of rookies, and some of them either playing out of position, or learning one on the fly. They needed a couple of skilled role players, and added Dexter Fowler.

But they might have grabbed their biggest steal right here…

CHRIS DENORFIA: JUST HOW IMPORTANT IS HE?

CUBS WIN FIRST GAME; SECOND ONE ABOUT TO START

7 July:

On an unseasonably cool but still beautiful July afternoon Jake Arrieta sailed briskly through the batting order of the St Louis Cardinals. Striking out four and scattering seven hits over 6 2/3 strong, he left with a precarious 3-1 lead and runners on.

Through no fault of his own.

Home plate umpire missed a two strike pitch right on the black; perfect execution by Arrieta but he didn’t get the call. Tony Cruz ended up getting their  third straight hit, all of the ‘scratch’ variety.

It knocked the Cub ace and winner (9-5, 2.80 and no All Star bid- yet) out. But for once, the Cub offense rose up and made as statement.

A four run 8th, capped by a two run shot(16) off of Anthony Rizzo, his third hit off of a left hander on the afternoon. This sent the delighted crowd of 34,368 into the local watering holes and such quite happy.

Not the Cub team, however.

They have another game in a couple hours. Take a nap, stretch and get ready for a nightcap against a team they desperately need to beat twice in a row…

CUBS WIN FIRST GAME; SECOND ONE ABOUT TO START

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

JULY 3, 2015

3 July:

The #New York Mets are certainly glad the Chicago Cubs are done with them.

The Cubs took all seven contests this year; finishing with a decisive 6-1 getaway day game Thursday. Jake Arrieta (W, 8-5) out dueled Jacob deGrom (L, 8-6) in a game that was a little closer than the score reflected.

Nursing a fairly precarious 4-1 lead, the #Cubs broke it open with a 2 run shot off of Miguel Montero’s bat in the 9th. That matched Jonathan Herrera’s first of the year earlier, with Mike Baxter aboard.

The Mets just flat out can’t hit. The baseball gods punished the New York organization; it’s one thing to have a boatload of good pitchers but another to have Dan Murphy (.284/4/29) as your best guy.

You HAVE to score a run every now or then.

The #Cubs are a little- not a lot, but enough- more balanced, they have good enough pitching and a little more hitting. They had the snake bit Met club right where they wanted them; on their heels and reactive.

Arrieta went 8 strong; giving up only one run while striking out 7 and walking none.

Meanwhile, the #Chicago #White Sox, owner’s of the worst record in the AL, took on the St Louis Cardinals, with not only the best record in the NL but the best home record in the game and beat them in a pair of contests.

The Cubs picked up 2 1/2 games in the process.

That’s the gods speaking yet again; the lesson there is that NO team is that good (the Cards) nor is any team that bad (White Sox), and the Cards did their part by playing a horrible game Wednesday night.

They looked just awful out there; Kolten Wong kicking double play balls, a left handed reliever hitting both left handers he faced, a throw clanking off of Matt Carpenter’s mitt, and so on.

Welcome to the real world, St Louis. This is what happens to mere mortal teams.

Their lofty record will come back to earth, although maybe not enough for anyone to catch them. They could pretty much play .480 ball the rest of the way out and win 92 games.

Still, it was good to see. #Chris Sale mowing them on Tuesday was fun to watch.

The other lesson is that the Cubs are only out of this IF they choose to be. This league is closer than anyone thinks, and good teams stay close and move if they get hot.

Organizations like the Cards, San Francisco and Atlanta come to mind. You won’t win every year, but if you have a professional club who can hang in there you just MIGHT catch some lightning.

Theo has that choice coming up. Make a bold move or stand pat.

The All Star break is coming in a few weeks. We’ll all know a lot more by then…

#Jason Hammel takes on T#om Koehler (6-4, 3.66) Friday; 1:20 start, CSN TV, ESPN2, WBBM radio

Cardinal attack over the weekend, the elevated AAA lineup the Mets threw out there was easy cheese for the Cub staff.

1 July:

The good news is the #Cubs broke their streak. It was bound to happen; the team is solid enough to avoid the extended losing streak. You get out of them by tossing a shutout.

Which they did. #Kyle Hendricks went six, and three relievers went an inning each to earn the victory.

#Matt Szczur drove in Kris Bryant with the sole run; enough to beat the punchless #NY Met team. After facing the relentless 

#Jon Niese (L, 3-8) took the loss. He was being scouted by the Cub hierarchy as a possible rotation candidate via trade, and threw reasonably well. His stuff is ‘Travis Wood like'; average stuff with good command and location.

He’s certainly no #Jacob deGrom, who the #Cubs could have had but is now pretty much off the table. The rumors were deGrom for either Castro or Baez and another prospect or two; #Dan Voglebach was mentioned as a possibility.

However, the 27 year old rookie of the year is now one of the top hurlers in the NL. He will be expensive to obtain if the Mets are even disposed as to trade him, which is doubtful.

Then again, the Mets are the most pitiful offense out there; they are currently dead last in the NL with a .233 team average. They made the Cub pitching staff look really good.

The same one the Cards were able to take advantage of at will.

The lesson the baseball gods want everyone to take?

1) You can develop all the pitching you can, ignore the offense and lose a lot of 1-0, 2-1 games, and 2) Hendricks was better than Niese, who the Cubs were scouting.

They will need more than what he brings if they want to compete. He’s a little better than Wada (just about any major league left handed starter is) but not a winning component. The Cubs need an impact bat at LEAST as much as a pitcher and maybe more.

The baseball gods are telling BOTH teams something.