Weekcap: a Look at the Week That Was, and the Week That Will Be

Last Week:

Record: 4-2

The Cubs opened the we in the Steel City, Pittsburgh PA, for a three game set with the Pirates.  Monday’s game was the Pirates home opener and saw a significantly bigger crowd then the next games would.  The Cubbies sent the Pirate “fans” home disappointed with a 12 inning victory over the Bucs.  Tuesday was an off day for the Cubs which was a good thing because they would play another extra inning game with the Pirates on Wednesday.  That game would go 15 innings and see Sean Marshall pick up his first save in his first career opportunity.   Ryan Dempster pitched seven strong innings and Felix Pie picked up the game winning R.B.I.. The Cubs went for the sweep on Thursday with Rich Hill getting the start.  Hill was only able to last three innings which did not bode well for a  pitching staff that had pitched 27 innings in the previous two games.  Jon Leiber, was there to save the day however with 4.1 innings of shutout baseball.

The Cubbies then took their five game win streak on to the city of Brotherly Love to play the Phillies.  Friday saw Carlos Zambrano go for his second win on the season.  Unfortunately, the Cubs suffered their first road loss of the year to Brett Myers, despite home runs from Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, and Alfonso Soriano.  The second game of the series saw Ted Lilly toe the rubber, he continued his rough start to the year as the Cubs got pounded 7-1.  The Cub offense simply could not figure out Cole Hammel’s change-up.  The Cubs finished the first road trip of the year by avoiding the sweep today, with their third extra inning game of the week.  Kerry Wood earned his first win of the season and Howry his first save.
Analysis

The Cubs bats have been, for the most part, good enough.  Sure, it would be nice to see Soriano heat up, or anyone stay back on a change up; but the Cubs put up 33 runs over six games, which is good for 5.5 runs a game.  The real problem this week (and so far this year) has been starting pitching and defense.  Cubs’ starter pitched 29 innings over the six games this week, which is an average under five innings per start.  Ryan Dempster was good for seven innings in his start Thursday and Zambrano went for six innings on Friday, but Lilly had starts of 3.2 and 4.1 innings, Hill only went three in his start, and Marquis went five today.  The Cubs’ bull pen can not be used for 33 innings a week over the course of a season or their arms will fall off.  Jon Lieber is on pace for 126 innings this year, Meanwhile Ted Lilly has only 12.2 innings in his three starts this year.

As for the Cubs defense they have made 10 errors in their 12 game so far this season, and are 23rd overall in fielding percentage.  Ramirez “leads” the way for the fielders with three errors and Mark DeRosa has pitched in with a pair of his own.  Errors, unfortunately are only part of the story.  Daryle Ward only needed one game to show why he should not play in the outfield.  While he did not make any errors, his inability to get to balls cost the Cubs in Friday’s loss.  Derrek Lee has been the team’s saving grace making a number of great plays this week.

Cub of the Week: Jon Lieber – Lieber made a pair of long relief outings on the road trip and picked up a pair of victories.  Overall he struck out three while pitching 7.1 innings of scoreless baseball.
The Week Ahead

The Cubs will welcome back former manager Dusty Baker, who now fills the same post for the Cincinnati Reds.  Baker is not the only former Cubs making a return to the Friendly Confines this week with the Reds; Corey Patterson, Paul Bako, David Weathers, and Kent Mercker, all can expect to hear plenty of “BOOs” from Cubs fans.  Patterson and Mercker especially should hear it from the Cubs fans.  Patterson, because he was a failed “can’t miss prospect” and Mercker for his terrible relief appearances and his notorious phone call to the Cubs television booth when he didn’t like what then broadcasters Steve Stone and Chip Caray were saying about him.  The Reds spent the weekend getting swept by the Cubs other opponent for next week the Pirates.

Tuesday: 7:05 P.M. – Ryan Dempster (1-0, 0.69 E.R.A.) vs. Aaron Harang (1-1, 2.14 E.R.A.)

Wednesday: 7:05 P.M. – Carlos Zambrano (1-1, 3.20) vs. Josh Fogg (1-1, 7.00)

Thursday: 1:20 P.M. -  Ted Lilly (0-2, 9.95) vs. Edinson Volquez (1-0, 0.87)

After the Reds leave town, the Pirates come to town looking to avenge last weeks sweep.  This time around the Cubs will not avoid Pirate ace Ian Snell who is slated to go on Friday against Hill.  Snell is 2-0 with a 3.93 E.R.A.   This time both teams will try to finish games in the allotted nine innings as the Cubs do not have another off day until April 28th and the Pirates play every day until May 5th.

Game 12 Recap: Cubs-6 Phillies-5 (10 innings)

The Cubs salvaged the final game of their series with the Philadelphia Phillies to finish the first road trip of the season at 4-2, 7-5 overall on the year. The Cubs’ starting pitching woes continued and another member of the bullpen faltered, but the bats picked up the slack and Carlos Marmol, Kerry Wood, and Bob Howry, closed the door for the Cubs to get another extra inning victory.

Jason Marquis pitched five innings, giving up four hits, five walks, and a pair of runs; Marquis threw 86 total pitches 46 for strikes. Marquis left with the lead thanks to a three run third for the Cubs which featured three singles which were capped off by a Derrek Lee two R.B.I. double. Mark DeRosa tacked on a controversial sixth inning home run to push the Cubs ahead 4-2 before the pen took over. DeRosa hit a home run that passed over the fowl pole which the umpire ruled a fair. Phillie left-fielder Pat Burrell and third-baseman Pedro Feliz argued the call as did manager Charlie Manuel who was ejected. The home fun stood and proved to be an important run.

Michael Wuertz came in to start the sixth inning and did not record an out surrendering four hits and three runs including a home run to, Eric Bruntlett, the first batter he faced. Sean Marshall, came in to relieve Wuertz and allowed both of his inherited runners to score, the runs were charged to Wuertz. Marmol came into get the final out of the sixth and by the time the inning ended the Cubs trailed 5-4.

The Cubs tied it in the eighth inning when Geovany Soto pitch hit and sent a broken bat single into right scoring Ronny Cedeno. Kerry Wood then came in with the score tied in the bottom of the eighth and pitched a pair of scoreless innings to get the Cubs to the tenth inning. Cedeno led off the inning with a walk and was sacrificed over to second by Ryan Theriot. Soto then walked to put runners at first and second with one out and Kerry Wood due up. Manager Lou Pinella, then chose to pitch hit Carlos Zambrano for the second time this week. Zambrano, then hit into what should have been an inning ending double play, instead Chase Utley threw the ball into the dugout and Cedeno came in to score and put the Cubs up by one. With Marmol and Wood already having pitched Pinella brought in Bob Howry to close out the game in the bottom of the tenth. Howry did get into some trouble including an Utley double and an intentional walk to Ryan Howard, but Ronny Cedeno was able to pick up a grounder off of So Taguchi’s bat and threw it to Lee to end the game.

Notes and Numbers:

W: Wood (1-0, 2 innings, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 R)

L: Seanez (0-1, 1 inning, 0 H, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 R, 0 ER)

Most Valuable Cub: Derrek Lee (3-5, 2 R.B.I., and a game saving defensive play in the bottom of the 9th)

Number of the Day: 10 – the Cubs played 10 innings today and 10 total extra innings this week.