What’s that Lassie, The Cubs got stock in a Well?
Sorry, but I had too.
Last night the Cubs lost their 3rd straight game after Randy Wells took the mound with an absolutely terrible outing. Wells who came into the game 3-0 with a ERA around 3.50 and had been the guiding light in what has been a stormy season so far for the Chicago Cubs. Wells only lasted two innings in last nights outing against the Pirates giving up 7 runs, 6 of which were earned, on 5 hits and 3 walks.
Now it would have been unreasonable to believe that Wells, only a sophomore in the league, was going to be able to continue his season pitching with the way it had started out. I know that he is going to have more outings like this one, but I still expect great things from him this season so I have very few worries about his performance last night. He will recover without a doubt and sometimes pitchers are just going to have off days.
My real concern with the Cubs is their offense. Now roughly 30 games into the season the Cubs offense continues to struggle to have any kind of consistency. If you look at their overall ranking for runs scored this year, they really aren’t in bad shape sitting somewhere in 5th or 6th in the National League. The problem is that most of those runs have come in a couple of big games rather than consistently throughout the season.
For example the last 3 games in which they were swept by the Pirates the Cubs were outscored 17 – 5. 5 Runs in 3 games isn’t going to win you anything even with stellar outings from your starting rotation. Hell, 5 runs in 1 game isn’t going to guarantee you a win with they way many ball clubs seem to be scoring.
So what the Cubs need is consistency. I think Lou needs to stop tweaking the lineup for a couple of weeks. Get your hitters in a position where they can become comfortable again and let them work out some of the rust that is obviously in their swings. If you can’t work that out some real changes need to be made, and moving Ramirez to 3rd from 5th isn’t a real change. With Castro tearing up the minors batting something like .370 with 18 RBI’s he may be just what the Cubs need to stir up a dead lineup and a team full of “stars” that aren’t producing.
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IMO Lee and Ramirez have been the major problems at the plate. These two guys alone could have made the difference in at least 5 or 6 games if they hit like they have in the past. I too am anxious to see Castro, but short and second have been producing at the plate for the most part. I think Lou may be burning out. I’ve read a few comments from players that seem to indicate they may be getting tired of him. It’s still early but something better happen quick or there will be have to be changes made.
Yeah, saw that stuff about Lou also. I think its crap, they should shut up and start playing and then Lou wouldnt be all over them. its his job to produce a winning team. He not the one getting paid millions and playing like crap!