Lou Piniella's changes to the Cubs lineup did nothing to help our all of the sudden, pathetic offense. The Cubs managed to score only one run on 7 hits and they left 6 men on base. Alfonso Soriano was 2-4 with a double. While Ryan Theriot drove in our only run. Before the game I wrote that this lineup was no good, and I was right. Derrek Lee was completely useless in the cleanup spot, going 0-4, while hitting no balls out of the infield. He did manage to reach base on an error in the 9th, when the Reds' 3rd baseman let a routine double-play ball get through his legs. Geovany Soto continued to struggle going 0-3, he should take a day off, or get into shape (he's hitting .103 on the season).
In the field, the Cubs were woeful. Micah Hoffpauir misplayed multiple balls in RF leading to a few extra runs for the Reds and likely pissing off Carlos Zambrano. Piniella said in a postgame interview that until Bradley is back he will start Reed Johnson in CF and move Fukudome to RF in order to tighten up our defense. In all fairness however, Hoffpauir is not an outfielder, he is a first-baseman, and should get at least 2 or 3 starts per week. Especially considering Lee is hitting .207 and has shown no signs of power (since 2005). I would start Hoffpauir in certain games and bring Lee in as a defensive replacement in the late innings.
On the mound Zambrano was not spectacular, but pitched well enough to win, if he had a real offense: 7IP, 7H 3ER, 7Ks. Neal Cotts pitched the 8th inning and gave up a solo-HR, but then recovered nicely to get out of the inning, and he did not issue a walk. Jeff Samardzija made his 2009 Cubs debut and he sucked 1IP, 4H, 2ER. He could not locate his pitches, everything was up, and the Reds hit him hard. For the Reds Aaron Harang was outstanding (can we trade for him?) and David Weathers continues to own us.
The Cubs fall to 4th place at 8-6 and lost their first series of the season. Next up: 3 games @St. Louis, who is in first place, and red hot offensively. Hopefully the Cubs' bats get on track (Lee better not be batting cleanup) or else they will get their heads flushed down the toilet by the Cardinals.
Jackass Call of the Day
Alfonso Soriano's decision to steal 3rd base in the bottom of the 3rd inning only to get picked off by Harang. I'm not sure what Soriano was thinking here, Theriot was in the box with two strikes, and any base hit would have scored Soriano. There was simply no need to attempt this steal. Soriano is no longer a legitimate base stealer! Not to mention Theriot, who after driving in the only Cubs run of the game, got thrown out by a mile trying to steal 2nd base in the bottom of the 6th inning. Way to kill a rally guys!
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