Yesterday MLB kicked off the 2010 season and the Cubbies and new outfielder Marlon Byrd set the game off with a bang hitting a 3 run dinger in his first at bat of the season. Resulting in a flurry of tweets welcoming Marlon to Chicago, watch the video below.
However promising Marlon’s home run felt to us “lovable losers” that feeling quickly left our hearts as Carlos Zambrano got to the mound in the first and quickly lost all control and we lost all hopes of a promising day. Big Z struggled to say the least in 1 and 1/3 innings before getting pulled. In his short debut Zambrano gave up 8 earned runs on 8 hits, 2 of which where home runs, and 2 walks giving him an ERA of over 50 to start off the season.
But Carlos wasn’t the only player struggling, the always struggling Jeff Smardzija gave up 6 runs, 4 earned, in about a 1/3 of an inning, and then Berg gave up another 2 earned in one more inning. So if this is any indication of how are pitching is going to be this year then our bats are definitely going to need to pick up the slack. And although the Cubs scored 5 yesterday their bats definitely weren’t on fire.
With three of those runs coming from one swing by Byrd it isn’t hard to see that 2 runs over the next 9 innings isn’t going to be enough and when you look at the box score you will notice that the offense was piss poor. After Byrd’s homer he didn’t get another hit, which was the trend of the day as 6 of the other starters went 0 for on the day. In fact the only offense the cubs received at all was from Ramirez who went 2 for 4 and Fukudome who went 2 for 3 with a walk.
Hopefully on Wednesday we will be flying the W as the Cubs recover for their dismal performance on opening day. Go Cubs Go!
I realize it’s only one game but cubbie blue nation is in for a long year, sorry fellas!
The Big “Z”ero once again proved what I have been saying for the past several years. He is a big waste of overpriced talent. It’s deals like his, Bradley’s, Soriano’s and numerous others over his reign that make GM Jim Hendry the worst in the majors.
Even with an aging but still capable Derek Lee & Mulder (Ramirez is always just a slide away from a season ending injury) & the promise of a young pitcher in Hart (if the organization doesn’t blow out his arm) the Cubs are going nowhere this year. 80 wins at the most, I say a below 500 team in a weak central division.
Hendry has basically had carte blanche with ownerships wallets since he’s been there and this is the best team he can put out out on the field?
2 moldy old pitchers, 1 pitcher that blows his cool at the drop of a pin, 2 “superstars” that spend half the season on the dl, a handful of journey men and one aging ball player that they expect to carry them to the promised land.
Hendry should of been let go back in the Prior/Wood era and they might have been able to have built a team by now.
Dave,
I am not going to disagree on all points that Hendry is a bum and has made some major mistakes over his career. But the team isn’t nearly as bad as you make it out to be.
I don’t see the Cubs winning any championships this year, but at the very least I see a playoff birth.
I think Dempster and Wells are going to be 17 game winners this year. But I think Lilly is going to struggle upon his return, I am tired of Zambrano, but won’t count him out, and our bullpen is unpredictable at best.
But during the spring the team hit very well with the help of the new batting coach and I think our bats can carry us through what you called a weak central division.
And you can’t quiet the riot and Owen predicts that Theriot is going to perform like a rock star.
1st, I had all the names wrong. It’s Byrd not Mulder, Wells, not Hart, sorry but I only pay attention to the Cubs and their names because they are a Chicago team. Evidently not paying close enough attention to the names.
2nd. The Cubs were horrible last year and the moves Hendry made in the off season digressed them greatly. They are not a better team than last year. Their roster is worse.
Seriously, Font a not! Nady! Fukadumy! Tracy, Baker & Colvin! Give me a break. Aside from Lee & I will give you “The Riot” (good ballplayer). The Cubs have no offense! Ramirez & Soriano will be on the dl before June.
The Dumpster aint winnin 17 games (no offense or defense behind him), The Big “Z”ero might win 10, 12. Wells is a very good young pitcher and may get you 15 w’s. And Lilly pad could be a solid performer, maybe 10, 12 wins. Silva could always come around too but is way to iffy and inconsistant. IF, he comes around that would be a BIG plus for the Cubbies!
Marmol has good stuff but implodes like the Z, the rest of the bullpen is young & unproven. Someone will need to step up. That’s a lot to count on right there.
No, sorry cubbie fans, this is a lousy team. The Cardinals win it big and that’s the only team coming out of the central to make the playoffs. The Cubs, Reds, Pirates & Brewers are all fighting to stay out of last place.
Like I said, Hendry is absolutely horrible. The money he has spent and the teams he has put on the field just don’t add up. This guy should not be left alone anywhere near a baseball franchise. He’s a good check writer but a terrible talent evaluator! With the money this guy has spent during his rein as Cubs GM they should have at least 2,3 World Series rings!