Oh, Well.

by Al Yellon on Jun 4, 2006 6:02 PM CDT in Chicago Cubs Recaps

About the time the Cubs were frittering away their early lead, I hied myself over to watch Mark's Park District Mariners face the Orioles.

Beautiful day, but they lost too, 8-4. Mark had a couple of hits and threw out a runner from behind the plate.

Watch out, Michael Barrett. (Who, incidentally, allowed two more SB today.)

The stars seemed aligned today. Albert Pujols out. Jim Edmonds at 1B. Greg Maddux, who had handled the Cardinals easily twice this year, on the mound. Jason Marquis walking everyone in sight early on.

I should have known it wasn't going to happen when the Cubs drew no fewer than three first-inning walks and scored only one run and left the bases loaded. Or maybe when they stranded runners in scoring position even after scoring four runs in the third to take a 5-3 lead.

That was with Juan Pierre at bat. Read these stats carefully:

Pierre, 228 AB, five RBI.
Bronson Arroyo, 32 AB, six RBI.

Yes, I know it's not Pierre's job to drive in runs. His job is getting on base. He's not doing a very good job at that, either, with a 2005-Patterson-esque .279 OBA. And he has averaged about 45 RBI per season; he's on pace to drive in fifteen this season The record for fewest RBI in a season of at least 500 AB is twelve, set by Enzo Hernandez, who was a 22-year-old rookie shortstop for a 100-loss Padre team in 1971 when he did it.

The makeshift Cardinals lineup teed off on Maddux (nine hits) and David Aardsma (who appeared in his last couple of appearances to be settling into a pretty good groove, but today gave up three hits and three runs in throwing only eighteen pitches). Maddux was uncharacteristically wild, too -- walking two, striking out no one, and throwing 76 pitches.

That's not a lot for Maddux -- except when he does it in five innings rather than his usual seven.

Good today: thirteen hits and six walks, including one by the nearly-unwalkable Jacque Jones.

Bad today: leaving twelve of those runners on base, including eight of them in scoring position.

Good today: Carlos Marmol making a successful major league debut, throwing two scoreless innings, walking no one and striking out three. I'm still a bit mystified why he's been called up as a reliever, since he's been starting in the minors for the last three seasons. But, he could wind up replacing Glendon Rusch in the rotation anyway -- Rusch's next turn would come up on Thursday, and Marmol threw 28 pitches in his two innings.

Still. The Cubs generated some offense today. The Cardinals aren't going to hit like this for the duration of Albert Pujols' DL time, which is now said to be "indefinite".

Also, another division rival of the Cubs' took an injury hit today. Roy Oswalt, who was to start today for the Astros, was scratched just before game time with back spasms; Oswalt also left his last start with hamstring trouble. The Astros started rookie Fernando Nieve, who did all right (5 IP, 2 ER), but Houston lost in extra innings 6-4.

Yes, the Cubs could have swept the series. They still won it, and have now won two straight series, and continue on to play those Astros in Houston, who have lost four in a row and eight of their last ten; the Cubs have been quite successful in Houston since Enron Field/Minute Maid Park opened in 2000, going 30-25 there.

About the Maddux trade rumors, discussed more fully in this diary -- it's still a bit too early to be thinking that, isn't it? And further, if Maddux keeps throwing games like this one, I imagine the interest in him might wane.

And, after Mark Prior's rehab start last night went fairly well, his next one will likely be for Iowa on Thursday... and that means he could be activated for the first game of the homestand on June 13 against the Astros.

Just sayin'.

0 recs | 13 comments

Comments

If Rusch starts Thursday

He will face Arroyo NOT A GOOD THING
FYI in fairness to Rusch ( who I do like) Arroyo
went 3-3 yesterday but no homers

jessica - June 4, 2006 reply

2 out of 3

looks OK from a bar in Cabo San Lucas.
Wanted to check in after yesterday's win, but couldn't. I'll keep observing from afar. No TV, though. I'll have to rely on you guys to fill me in. Meanwhile, I'll hit the spa. (Currently @ Pueblo Bonito Pacifica -- ain't bizness fun??)

Smooth Jazz Man San Diego - June 4, 2006 reply

Tough life, apparently!

They have computers in Cabo?

;)

Al Yellon - June 4, 2006 reply

I thought Edmonds

was going on the DL.

Miraculous recovery?

cubbiejulie - June 4, 2006 reply

The most Impressive Line of the Afternoon

2.0 IP 1 hit 3 Ks..

It belongs to Carlos Marmol who was called up from AA West Tennessee yesterday with the Williamson injury.

If Marmol can pitch like this we might have another back of the rotation guy to throw in the mix down the stretch at least until Prior and Wood can go without an extra day of rest.

cubsfan2883 - June 4, 2006 reply

injuries

It seems like everyone in the division has been hit with a big injury this year. The only team not hurt yet I think is Cincinnati. That said, the June schedule, which looked like murderer's row in May has lost some of its teeth. Now it seems that the interleague games are the only real problems the rest of the month.

I think they should let Prior get his velocity back before bringing him up, unless he usually tops out at 89-90.

jrm78 - June 4, 2006 reply

too early?

I'm not in the trade Maddux camp anyway, I don't see him bringing much more than bad PR anyway, too spotty so far. But I don't understand why its a little too early to start talking about trades, we're 6 weeks from the all star break, doesn't hurt to start thinking. Hell, maybe we should even apply this sort of "looking ahead" to the offseasons! (maybe start looking for leadoff hitters)

mike bornemann @ Bleed Cubbie Blue - June 5, 2006 reply

Aardsma

I felt like Aardsma actually had some decent stuff, but wasn't getting much of a break on balls that were actually put in play. This ump's zone was a little weird; lots of inconsistently called low strikes and balls.

false cognate - June 5, 2006 reply

Where we sit now.

I did not like the umps zone very much, and I don't mean that he had an anti-cubs bias or anything like that. He just was not consistent.

Marmol really did look great. Let's hope the kid feels comfortable in the bigs. He sure seemed it today.

I like the comments from Cabo! My bro is playing on a cruise boat up and down the coast of Mexico. I feel like hearing the Cubbies took two from St. Louis would be encouraging. I agree. They need to take the Houston and Cincinnati series as well. I do not think that is too greedy, right?

I cannot wait to see Lee back in the lineup.

Let's go CUBS!

coopergillan - June 5, 2006 reply

15 consecutive losses on WGN TV

Last win televised by WGN was April 23 vs STL.

Since then, the Cubs are 12-11 on other networks.

Richie Hebner 18 - June 5, 2006 reply

Onward and well, onward...

There still could be a market for maddux because of his performance over time and commitment to the game, but not likely to result in even a mid-level propsect. Still, I think the season is basically done so we might as well start preparing for the future. We took 2/3 from St. Louis and that's always a great feeling, still 12.5 out--ouch! Haven't even played above .500 in our last 10...

I haven't looked at the stats lately but it is my general impression that the team has had way too many 4 inning or less starts from some of its starters, the bullpen will begin to show this workload...

I see that Williamson went on the DL recently and some meat was brought up from AA. Glad that the meat pitched well, but it's not a good sign for Hill, Guzman, and Williams (and anyone else at AAA), they may find themselves jettisoned after the season...This alkso tells me that the Cubs coaching staff must be seeing a very tired bullpen...

Oh well, the Astors are not great, but they play well at home, should be a good series if Aramis keeps hitting, i.e., we should stoop looking so pathetic if guys start playing upo to their capabilities (the starters I mean as the bench has no capability).

DudeVf1 - June 5, 2006 reply

Baker on the importance of the bench

This was ina June 4 article in the Tribune by Sullivan, quoting Dusty Baker and discussion of Cards and Cubs injuries and the bench:

"It's a test of really who has the most depth," Baker said. "That's what it boils down to--who has the best bench, who has the best secondary players that can play in a primary role for a period of time."

Yes, that's right Dusty, so please tell us what reality you are from where Nefis and Bynums, Pagans, and Maias' and Womacks are considered quality players?