They Keep Going and Going and Going…

I caught a reasonable amount of Cubs games in the past week.  So what’s up with the extra innings?  Most of the time, extras come after the bullpen gives up a thin lead.

But Sunday…that was a long, long game.  I give the Cubs credit for hanging in there for the 5 plus hours it took to finally break the game open.  Despite my frustration that they shouldn’t have been in that place to start with. 

Oh well.  I’m looking for positives, and given the season so far, I think an Engerizer Bunny impersonation qualifies.  Maybe…

Lord, Hear Our Prayer

This is sort of funny. Some Pittsburgh players briefly transformed their clubhouse into the First Church of the Pirates by lighting a candle (literally) for their dearly departed Nate McLouth. Points to them for channeling their anger into a moderately clever gesture.

Honestly, I can’t blame them for being angry. McLouth sure seemed like an ideal player for this inept franchise. He is young, he was a leader for a largely directionless team, and he is locked up for several years at a hella cheap price—surely important for a team of modest means like the Pirates. Now, I realize the impulse to stockpile prospects. I really do. However, this move recalls a trade a few years back, when the Pirates pretty much gave away another player who appeared poised for a breakout year. Cubs fans know how that ended. The very next year, Aramis Ramirez crossed both the 35-homer and 100-RBI plateaus while hitting over .300, and while commanding a salary far below what that production would cost on the open market.

Obviously, Ramirez would have eventually gotten too expensive for Pittsburgh. However, in the meantime, you’d think that young, inexpensive, productive talent is just what the Pirates want. And you’d think, if/when they traded him, that they’d want something of value in return. Clearly, you’d be wrong on both counts. There is a point where prospect becomes reality, a point where cost catches up with production, a point where good timing can net you a bargain, and a point where the future is now. If you can find the sweet spot where all these intersect, then you can succeed on the cheap in baseball. That’s what the Marlins did until they went off the deep end and became a self-parody. That what the Rays did last year. The Pirates, on the other hand, seem to operate under the premise that young is not young enough and cheap is never cheap enough. That gets you nowhere fast, especially when any prospect who does pan out is immediately traded for yet more prospects.

Truthfully, I want the Pirates to do well, except when they play us. It’s gotten to the point where I feel bad for them. Plus, probably because of their perennial doormat status, they are much less hateable than every other NL Central team. So each notch they climb in the standings is a notch that someone like the Brewers or Cardinals or Astros will fall.

So it’s nice to see them approaching this throw-in-the-towel trade with a little spunk instead of their usual resignation. I hope they take that spunk and turn it into a reasonably productive season.

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

So, we are two months into baseball season.  I can’t wait for summer (I’m ready for warmer weather), but given the way things are going, I’m really looking forward to football season…

But let’s take stock of the Cubs to date.

Good:  There are a few things to like about this season.  Really.  There are.  In no particular order:
1.  Afternoon games at Wrigley.  Because there’s nothing like leaving the office to enjoy a game at Wrigley.  Even if it’s a bit chillier than expected/hoped.
2.  Starting pitching.  Randy Wells has done well, despite his record.  And in general, the starters have done their job, which is to keep the Cubs in position to win.  Lilly has battled and Dempster has hung in there. Oh, and I was at the game where Z went off on the ump.  I don’t blame him for being unhappy with the call, and that was fun to watch!
3.  AAA callups.  Bobby Scales is a great story, and Jake Fox has been a good callup, too.  Guys like that remind me that this really is a game, and there’s lots of passion there. 

Bad:  So we’ve seen some things that haven’t been so great this season, too.
1. Offense.  Note to the Cubs: The thing you hold in your hands when you go up to the plate that looks kind of like a stick?  The idea is to use that to HIT the small white object that is flying toward you.  And then run to 1st base.
2. Small ball.  Lou may not be a “small ball” manager, but all teams know that once you have men on, especially in scoring position, you need to score the run.  That’s been a huge challenge this season.  I don’t have the courage to check the stats for men left in scoring position.
3. Off-season moves.  See TheWittyOne’s comments below.  I really can’t add anything more.

Ugly: And some things have been downright painful.
1. Road games.  The Cubs just can’t seem to get it together on the road.  Case in point: No road wins between May 10 and June 3.  And that wasn’t because they played at Wrigley the whole time.
2. Injuries.  Aramis Ramirez, Rich Hardin, Milton Bradley, Aaron Miles, Carlos Zambrano, etc., etc., etc.  The list has been long.  In fact, this may be one of the most consistent areas of the team.
3. The bullpen.  It’s not reliable.  Confidence in the closer is low.  And though they have had their days, even the good ones (Marmol) seem to like to put men on base.  Especially with walks.  That hurts.

The Cubbies haven’t held my attention well so far this season, and they have to pick it up if they want to hang nera the top of the division.  And so, I’ll look forward to college footbal…