Hopefully, this is rock bottom for the Cubs in 2009, if it isn't we are in for a long season. Diamondbacks Pitcher, Doug Davis, dominated going 7IP, 2H, 7K, all while throwing nothing over 85 mph. He was the second left-handed starter the Cubs have faced this season and the second one who has completely shut down the Cubs. Actually, as I remember, Davis has always owned the Cubs, going back to his days in Milwaukee.
Ryan Dempster got off to as bad of a start possible against a team that scores few runs. He walked the lead-off man and eventually gave up three runs in the 1st inning. Dempster was done before he knew what hit him, anytime a pitcher throws 30+ pitches in the 1st, you know they are in for a long day. Location appears to be a consistent problem for this over-paid jerk. He has been leaving his mediocre fastball and slider up in the strike-zone and hitters are making him pay for it. So much of Dempster's success last season was due to his control and lack of walks. Overall, he managed to eat some innings but did not pitch like he's being paid to pitch: 6IP, 6H, 5ER, 3BB, 4K. Dempster gave way to Carlos Marmol in the 7th. Marmol looked terrible in his first appearance since injuring his knee in St. Louis. In 0.1IP Marmol gave up 4ER, while giving up no hits, he did walk 4 batters. Hopefully, he was just rusty, not injured. Jeff Samardzija gave up a bases clearing double after relieving Marmol. Kevin Gregg pitched the 8th and retired his first 2 hitters, before walking the bases loaded, walking in a run, and almost getting ejected by the homeplate umpire.
The Cubs hitting was equally bad today. Lou Piniella had a mostly right-handed line-up out there today and he paid dearly for it. First, he sat our hottest hitter, Fukudome, to put Reed Johnson in CF. I love Johnson's hustle and clutch fielding, but as a hitter, he is worthless, and left 3 men on base today. I have not seen Johnson hit a ball hard all season, he is a liability at the plate.
Derrek Lee was back in the line-up today and as usual he was disappointing going 0-3. He did manage to hit 2 balls deep into the outfield and one even reached the warning track. Wooopee!!! Its about time that people realize that this is all he is capable of doing. Lee's power has been consistently declining for the past two seasons. He is washed up. Piniella had Lee batting cleanup today, we lost, I'm pretty sure every time Lee bats cleanup we lose! The guy can not drive in runs anymore. If his neck is really bothering him, then don't play him. Micah Hoffpauir is a better hitter at this point of their careers, its about time Lou figures this out. I understand playing Lee against the lefty, but I expect to see Hoffpauir in the line-up, at first base, in at least one game this weekend. Lee was also bad in the field today, he dropped a pop-up bunt, which helped extend the disastrous 1st inning. This is inexcusable. Lee is supposed to be a gold-glove caliber fielder, this was the one advantage he had over Hoffpauir.
Geovany Soto continued to embarrass himself today, going 0-3 2K (and he struck out looking to end the game), he also allowed to runners to steal second base, and is hitting .111 for the season. He looks completely lost on the field, he is not even close to hitting anything, and his throws seem to have lost some zip. I've been saying for a few weeks now that he looks out of shape. With Koyie Hill hitting well (which never happens) I don't feel that Lou can justify playing Soto full time any longer. At the very least Hill can throw out would-be base stealers. Soto is fat and way behind schedule, he needs to sit for awhile, I hope that his great rookie season was not a fluke.
Many other Cubs were terrible today, we managed only two hits. This team is horribly inconsistent and something needs to change. It might be time for one of Lou's clubhouse rants where he wakes the team up (think May 2007). Alfonso Soriano called the team out before yesterday's game for their lack of effort and desire to win. Lee of course downplayed this. Its time for Lee to start putting his money where his mouth is and hit the ball. I fear that unless Aramis Ramirez comes back soon, we are in for a long weekend with the Florida Marlins (who can score a lot of runs).
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