A Look at Randy Wells

I've died down greatly in my enthusiasm with the Cubs, but I just thought we should take a minute to really look at and appreciate Wells season thus far. Let's start with he's 9-6 with a 2.84 ERA after last night. Now a look at those 6 losses: 7 innings 3 ER, 7 innings, 2 ER, 3.2 innings 4ER, 7 innings 4 ER, 5.1 innings 5 ER, and last night 6.2 innings, 0 ER. I think it's very logical he should be 12-3 there. Now his no decisions: 5 innings 0 ER, 6 innings 0 ER, 7 innings 1 ER, 6.2 innings 2 ER. Wow! Let's just give him 3 of those 4. He'd be 15-3! Let's all give a big thank you to rookie of the year candidate, Randy Wells, and hope his 2nd year is better than last year's rookie of the year!

Taking The High Road...

Okay, I'm done belly-aching and getting mad...for now. Let's look on the bright side: We all know we have played terrible baseball, underachieved, and had so many injuries it seems like a joke. The thing is we're still not out of it. 4-5 games is getting serious, but Lilly is due back Monday. Big Z should be back soon. Reed Johnson is due back in about 2 weeks or so. Gorzelanny should be back soon. Although Bradley is out today, he's been on fire! Soto isn't hitting much, but you have to believe he'll get better now that he's healthy. Baker is on fire. Now look at our upcoming schedule: 3 games vs. Pittsburgh(46-68), 3 games @ San Diego(49-67), then LA, but then the Nationals. And I thought, why not bring back the picture of the #1 Cub fan?

I like this lineup vs. lefties:

SS-Theriot

RF-Bradley

1B-Lee

3B-Ramirez

LF-Soriano

C-Soto

2B-Baker

CF-Fukudome(until Johnson is back)

*With Fox giving Ramirez more days off than usual. Maybe some spot starts to rest Lee, Soriano, and Bradley.

and this one vs. righties:

SS-Theriot

CF-Fukudome

RF-Bradley

3B-Ramirez

1B-Lee

LF-Soriano

C-Soto

2B-Fontenot

*With Fox giving Ramirez more days off than usual. Maybe some spot starts to rest Lee, Soriano, and Bradley.

When all the pitchers are healthy-go with a 6 pitcher rotation until one of them gets hurt again(because you know they will). Zambrano, Wells, Harden, Lilly, Dempster, and Gorzelanny. Wow! That should be deadly. Then although they have all been shaky, Grabow, Marmol, Gregg, Marshall, and Guzman should be sufficient in the bullpen.

Odds and Ends

Needless to say I haven't been as excited to post lately...Ramirez is out again, maybe to return Friday for the Pittsburgh series if we're lucky. Zambrano hurt again and will miss atleast another start. Lilly started a rehab assignment and should be back in a week or less. Gorzelanny is now hurt and will be out a week or so...where does it end? Samardzija has been terrible and is now sent down. We had to resort to calling up a guy with a 4.15 ERA and a 5-10 record! The only bright side-Milton Bradley has finally started hitting. That and a fairly week schedule coming up, but I feel it slipping away. Here's a look at the Pirates series that we better sweep!

vs. Charlie Morton(R)

SS-Theriot(0-1)

RF-Bradley

1B-Lee(1-2)

3B-Ramirez(1-2)

LF-Soriano(0-2)

C-Soto(1-1)

2B-Fontenot

CF-Fukudome(0-2)

vs. Zach Duke(L)

SS-Theriot(.375, HR)
RF-Bradley(5-10)
1B-Fox(2-3)
3B-Ramirez(.314, HR)
LF-Soriano(.455, 2 HR)
2B-Baker(2-6, HR)
C-Hill

CF-Fuld

vs. Ross Ohlendorf(R)

SS-Theriot(0-2)
RF-Bradley
1B-Lee(1-3)
3B-Ramirez
LF-Soriano(0-2)

C-Soto(2-3)
2B-Fontenot(1-3)
CF-Fukudome(0-3)

vs. SD-Kevin Correia(R)

SS-Theriot(3-6)
RF-Bradley(1-2)
1B-Lee(3-7)
3B-Fox
LF-Soriano(1-4)
C-Soto(2-5)
2B-Baker(2-5, HR)
CF-Fukudome(2-7)

Tough one yesterday. Bad luck on Fox's ground rule double, terrible call at 2nd base, and some untimely bad hitting had that one looking ridiculous early. On top of that it looked like the Cards were going to lose and they pulled it out. Two back now, and we play Philly while they play Cincy. Not good. On the bright side, Bradley's starting to hit the ball. Gorzelanny gets his 2nd start tonight and Samardzija is getting Big Z's start. Got a couple lefties coming up. Sure wish we had Johnson as an option. Gotta get Fox AB's. BTW-A little shout out to my boy Hoffpauir who was sent down to AAA Iowa. He'll be back up soon! Here's a look at tonight and the only 2 pitchers they have listed for the next series so far:

vs. Jorge De La Rosa(L)

SS-Theriot
RF-Bradley(0-2)
1B-Lee(0-2)
3B-Ramirez(1-2)
LF-Soriano(2-3, HR)
C-Soto(1-1)
2B-Baker(1-3)
CF-Fukudome(0-1)

vs. Cliff Lee(L)

SS-Theriot(0-4)
RF-Bradley(3-13, HR)
1B-Lee(2-3, HR)
3B-Ramirez(1-3, HR)
LF-Soriano(3-11, HR)
C-Soto(0-1)
2B-Miles(1-4)
CF-Fukudome

vs. Joe Blanton(R)

SS-Theriot(1-5)
RF-Bradley(3-6)
1B-Lee(1-5)
3B-Ramirez(1-6)
LF-Soriano(5-14)
C-Hill(1-3)
2B-Fontenot(0-3)
CF-Fukudome(1-5)

Lefties Rule!

Gorzelanny debuts with 7+ innings, 6 K's 1 BB, and 1 run. Let's not forget his RBI single either! Add Grabow and Marshall, and the report is that B.J. Ryan is yet to allow a hit in 4.2 innings. 3 K's and 4 BB worry you a little, but when we get Lilly back I'd say we are more than set with lefties! Now let's see if Marmol, Gregg, and Guzman can get it together! I think we're all excited to get Soto back Friday. He has to be more of a threat than Hill's .200 average and 2HRs! We send out Harden, Zambrano, Dempster, and Wells in the next 4. Here's a look at tonight's Reds finale(which I expect to win) and the upcoming CO series:

vs. Justin Lehr(R)
CF-Fukudome
SS-Theriot
1B-Lee
3B-Ramirez
RF-Bradley
LF-Soriano
2B-Fontenot
C-Hill-I've given up hope that Fox will start!
vs. Ubaldo Jimenez(R)
CF-Fukudome
SS-Theriot
1B-Lee
3B-Ramirez
RF-Bradley
LF-Soriano
2B-Fontenot
C-Soto
vs. Jason Marquis(R)
CF-Fukudome
SS-Theriot
1B-Lee
3B-Ramirez
RF-Fox
LF-Soriano
2B-Fontenot
C-Soto
vs. Jason Hammel(R)
CF-Fukudome
SS-Theriot
1B-Lee
3B-Ramirez
RF-Bradley
LF-Soriano
2B-Fontenot
C-Hill

Always Exciting

Well, Marmol can't make anything easy, but I love going into today in a 1st place tie. We'll see how Gorzelanny does in his first Cub start. Our numbers are pretty good vs. Cueto. Sounds like Lilly isn't as far away as I had thought, and we plan to have Soto back by Friday. I know he was off to a terrible start, but I think he has laid off the pipe, and it has to be looked at as a huge upgrade at the plate over Hill, so in a way it's like a trade? I also love that they are talking about making Fox a 2B during the offseason! Wow! Would that be awesome? Here's a look at the next few days:

vs. Johnny Cueto(R)

CF-Fukudome(.267)
SS-Theriot(.421)
1B-Lee(.421)
3B-Ramirez(3-12, 2HR)
RF-Hoffpauir(0-4)
LF-Soriano(.467, 3HR)
2B-Fontenot(0-6)
C-Hill(0-2)-I've given up hope that Fox will start!

vs. Justin Lehr(R)

CF-Fukudome
SS-Theriot
1B-Lee
3B-Ramirez
RF-Bradley
LF-Soriano
2B-Fontenot
C-Hill-I've given up hope that Fox will start!