May 16, 2008...5:57 pm
Game 42
- Friday May 16th – Wrigley Field
- Cubs 7 – Pirates 4
- Record (26-16) – 1st place in the NL Central
- Season-high 10-game homestand – (7-1)
The skinny: What a beautiful spring afternoon in Chicago, 70-degrees, blue skies and sunny. Unfortunately, I spent the majority of the morning inside the Randolph Center trying to renew my driver’s license.
You know you’re screwed at the DMV when they hand you a ticket reading F-661, the call numbers begin at A-100. Of course, there’s nothing I could do except to try another day, but I’ve already done that once this month.
So, I took my lottery ticket and sat down with a few hundred people in the waiting area. Everyone there appeared miserable impatient, like the way Cubs fans felt when Kyle Farnsworth entered a game.
Eventually my number was called and I made it from point A to point B in a timely three hours, no exaggeration.
Meanwhile, the Cubs were off to another fast start thanks to Soriano’s two home runs in two innings against Tom Gorzelanny (6 IP, 7-R, 7-H, 2-BB, 3-k and 4-HR) this afternoon. Seriously, the conversation about Alfonso moving down in the order should end.
During this homestand alone Soriano has ledoff with a dinger in three of the last four games. And for the month of May he’s right at .350 with 6 HR and 17 RBIs.
Plus, his ability to give the Cubs’ starting pitchers early leads in invaluable. Face it, the guy is comfortable in the one hole…leave him there!!!
Apparently, the same can be said about Geovany Soto in the fifth slot. The second year catcher leads the team in OBP (.430) and RBIs (30).
And while Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, and Fukudome have all shared some ups and downs, Soto (2-for-3, 1 RBI) is consistently linear in getting on base and driving in runs.
Hats off to Sean Gallagher this afternoon (6 IP, 1-R, 4-H, 3-BB and 3-K), who earned his first big league win. The right-handed followed Ryan Dempter’s lead of pitching ahead in the count and keeping the ball down.
Obviously, the walks are a little high for a guy who isn’t going to strikeout a lot of batters, but Gallagher only allowed one run.
Weeks ago I suggested the Cubs place Bob Howry on the DL, something isn’t right with the big right-hander: (0-2) 6.53 ERA.
Today he turned a comforting six-run lead into a high-wire act allowing two bombs and three runs total in two innings.
We’ve heard every excuse to this point with Howry: he’s a notorious slow starter, the cold weather, and the warmer weather, not enough work…whatever.
Bob is a very important bridge from the starter-to-Marmol-to-Wood. He’s got to get right and soon, we’re already one quarter of the way into the season!
Chad Fox, Jon Lieber and Michael Wuertz are not ideal set-up men. Neither is left-handed specialist Scott Eyre. A move needs to be made, Howry is not right on the mound and Marmol can’t be relied upon for two plus innings every ballgame.
Besides, today was the first time this year Woody has thrown in three consecutive games, and you definitely don’t want to overwork the closer either.
I don’t think it’s too early for the Cubs to start working the phones inquiring about trades for a set-up man. Remember, it’s better to fix the pitching too early than too late.
W: Gallagher (1-0) – Wood (9)
L: Gorzelanny (3-4)
- Notes: Soriano’s leadoff blast is the 47th of his career and his third this week.
- Chicago has a perfect 7-0 record against Pittsburgh this year, they’ve also won 10 straight vs. the Peg Legs.
- The Cubs’ bullpen has allowed just four runs during this homestand, none came during the first five games.
- Chicago starters have made quality outings (20) in nearly half of all the games played (42).
- The attendance at this afternoon’s game pushed the Cubs total attendance past the one million mark this year, it’s also the fastest Chicago has reached this level in club history.
- St. Louis closer Jason Isringhausen pulled his best Kyle Farnsworth and is now on the DL.
- Carlos Zambrano and Jim Edmonds kissed and made-up on Wednesday, yeah!
Leave a Reply