4-2. Oh the dizzying heights....

So that's what a good week looks like. Let's not pretend it means anything, but it's refreshing to see the cubs actually playing decently. I suppose its the same relief you get when a prison rape is over. (You can simulate this by taking a really big dump, but I didn't tell you this, and no, I don't know from experience. Just guessing.) Actually some hitting and pitching, until the wheels fell off maddux today. oh that's right, he's 42!!!! Keep that in mind. I think this what you'll get all season. One or two good starts followed by something that resembles Dresden. And let's face it, beathing the Cardinals in St. Louis is always fucking sweet.

For those who need hope, here's what you could believe. A ball rolling through Scott Rolen's legs to tie a game in the 9th has to be indicative of something. That's the best 3rd baseman we'll ever see doing that. And some balls are actually starting to drop. And the central sucks, every team is moving backwards. And all our games are against them the next little while. And the cards without pujols are a stationary target. And lee's back soon, as is Prior. So there, go with that. I won't, but you can.

Back up the truck

So I can't remember the last time I left the Cubs for dead by Memorial Day, maybe 2002? 2000? Somewhere in there. It used to be a regluar occurence when I was younger. Well, like Pearl Jam, I'm returning to my roots. This doesn't have much to do with last night's loss, except for one aspect of it. They found a way to lose a game, instead of finding a way to win. For the past three seasons now, they have done just enough to lose more than they should. Frankly, this team doesn't play correct enough to reel off 15 of 17 or 20 of 25, which it would take at some point to get back into things. They don't walk, they walk hitters too much, they make far too many mental mistakes, they're fragile mentally anyway, there will be errors, and missed cutoff men, and runners not moved over, and plenty of poorly times K's and double plays. Sure, they may get one, even two great turns through the rotation. But instead of winning 9 or all 10 of those games, they'll win 6 or 7 and biff the rest.

What's more disturbing than that is that there doesn't seem to be anyone in charge who's going to change that. If it's the hitting and/or pitching coach, Dusty won't touch his guys. If it's Dusty himself, he has Hendry in his pocket. So he can't get fired or have any of his staff dismissed. You're stuck with this. Hendry just got an extension, and though I used to love him, for two straight seasons he has left this team with crippling holes. Crippling. Last year it was the pen, who blew far too many games. This year he fixed the pen, and left gaping holes in the rotation. We all knew Wood wouldn't be back until May, and frankly you're kidding yourselves if you thought they didn't know Prior was hurt. And Hendry greatly miscalculated Guzman or Hill being ready to fill the breach. He's taken far too many fliers on players to feel gaping needs. this season it was Rusch and Jerome Williams, who we all knew were inconsistent at best. Last season it was the guy coming off arm surgery who blew his arm out on the mound again, and now I can't remember his name. there's enough blame for everyone here.

If you need something positive about this, well, it shouldn't be hard to turn things around next season around Murton, Cedeno, Pie, Lee, Ramirez, Barrett, Z, eyre, howry, and Dempster. A healthy pitching staff, be it Wood and Prior or someone capable of filling in for them consistently would probably be a pretty good team. This isn't a huge reclemation project, but until the right decision makers are in place, this organization will be spinning it's wheels.

Grown ups

Shockingly, good things happen when you play baseball like a grown-up. If only we had a manager who would enforce that policy all the time. But seriously, big kudos to Michael Barrett, who after acting like a child stood up after the game yesterday and admitted as much. Then today, in the 8th inning, team down, 0-2, 35,000 baying for him to strikeout, comes up with one of the biggest hits of the season. That's being adult, that's being a tough ball player. Opposite field as well. That's a leader you can follow, which is saying something after his pathetic display yesterday. Good thing we'll lose him for at least 5 games then.

Of course, the last thing I probably needed was a Cub win that you could view as a springboard. Nuts.

20 pitches

That's what it took Jose Contreras to get through 3 innings. But I'm sure Gene Clines is working hard too, dude...

also point out

It's been said a lot recently that we should follow the example of the 2003 Marlins and the 2004 Astros who fired a manager mid season and went on to the playoffs. It should also be pointed out the past two world Series champions also pulled a this-isn't-working-let's-change-this-now manuever. The Red Sox in 2004 punted icon Nomar Garciaparra, to us, and decided they needed to overhaul their defense. Though they did it in the off-season, the White Sox traded Carlos Lee for Podsednik to make it clear they were no longer going to be a bash and crash team. Time here too....

Rock Bottom

It's bad enough that we are playing horribly and for the first time being OUTCLASSED by the White Sox, but now this. I'm sure there are some who will say that Barrett is just trying to fire the team up or show that he cares, but the actions today can only be described as bush league. If for no other reason than he's probably our best pure hitter at the moment, and we simply cannot lose him for the 10 days we are going to now. That being said, I suppose if I had a free shot at A.J., I probably would have taken it too. But at least lose with some dignity. Oh, and we've plummetted Rich Hill's trade value into the toilet. 4A pitcher. He doesn't throw nearly hard enough to keep throwing the ball as high as he does. And he doesn't throw strikes. Which is strange, because he was in Triple A. he gets here and all of the sudden he's afraid of contact? And he's 26. Good vision guys.

Clearly something's not working here. A firing, a trade, SOMETHING has to happen this week, or we'll know the cubs have given up on the season. 10.5 back is about as far as you can afford to be.

Go Oilers....

flacid

Another limp dick performance. Let's forget the fact that it was against the white sox. And let's even forget it was against Mark Beurhle, who's real good. Why don't we as cub fans aim for something that seems reasonable instead of something that's not, i.e. Dusty being fired. Face it, it won't happen. But why does Gene Clines keep his job? Or rosthchild? I'm sitting here seeing every guy try and pull everything that comes within a zip code of the plate, why can't Clines? Fair enough, maybe you can't make an aggressive hitter a patient one. But why can't they be aggressive while hitting the ball the opposite way? And why can none of our pitchers throw a strike?

Maybe it's time to see if Abreu-for Tampon Prior can be revisited.

Two more days of this....

Unique Torture

So I haven't read what Jake will say about this series, but I have never, ever, enjoyed a cubs-white sox game. Ever. i've been to many, some of which the Cubs have won, but I don't enjoy them. They are torture. And I don't even really hate the White Sox. I leave that for them. I'm more indifferent. I even understand the inferiority complex they have, or used to have. If I rooted for a team that got absolutely no attention in my own city I'd probably be pretty pissed. But I hate, hate being surrounded by Sox fans. Or even amongst a few of them. It's like going into a frat bar. you can taste the redneck testosterone. Let's not forget that is members amongst this group that attacked an opposing first base coach ON THE FIELD. Don't forget that. So I hate losing to them. And we'll probably do plenty of that this weekend. Just what they need, added arrogance. Even when the cubs win, the feeling is more relief than joy. Maybe, maybe if we take all 6 I might actually enjoy it, but clearly that won't happen.

Though it is interesting to think that this used to be the only 6 games the Sox took seriously. Something fed down from their fan base that these were the must win games, not the ones against the Twins, and then they'd get pollaxed by the Twins when it counted. Now that that's changed, let's see what happens.

back again

So I've been absent, but I thought I'd sit out the whole sky-is-falling-let's-commit-sepuku thing that's been going around here the past couple weeks. It's May 18th, let's try and remember that. Yes, a 2 game winning streak over a Nationals team that is Baddy McBadd doesn't not signal a turn around. But let's keep in mind that with Wood back today we now have 4 solid starters, and not everyone can keep hitting this badly. Murton's finally in the 2-hole!

Speaking of Wood, it's that time again. That time where we all hope that this, finally, is where he puts it all together and becomes the pitcher we hope, only to be shatteringly dissapointed. But look, if Reece Witherspoon can finally put it all together, so can Kerry. My father has a theory that no pitcher who's any good before 30 will be so after, and any pitcher who's good after he's 30 probably wasn't before. the only two i can think of who disprove this are Maddux and Clemens, and they're Hall of Famers. But Unit and Schilling didn't figure it out until now. Not that Kerry will ever be them, but if he doesn't become the camera chaser that Schilling is I'll accept that. Pedro started getting hurt right after he turned 30. Mussina wasn't any good until around then. So maybe, as he approaches 29, we will get what we deserve. But that salary's gonna have to come down a bit...

Spiraling....

Note to Hendry: (or whoever might be the GM next year if this continues. Don't think your contract extention can't get you fired.)

When you discover a player who had an off year, DO NOT be under the impression Dusty and Gene Clines can turn him around. It's clear they simply don't have a clue. Juan Pierre sucks right now. Like real bad.

You don't bunt with your 3 hitter if your 4 hitter is Jacque Jones who has already struck out 3 times, and is dying to do it for a fourth.

This is sad. That's all you can say. Sad....