Game 50: Marlins 9 – Cubs 4

Cubs 22-28 Marlins 25-27 POTG: PH/SS Ryan Theriot (2R HR) Runner Up: 1B D Lee (HR, 2B, 2 RBI – but 3 pitch K to end game), LF Alfonso Soriano (2 H, R), RP Carlos Marmol (2 IP, H, BB, 4 K, 0 $) Misadventure to the park: – got half way there, realized I … Continue reading “Game 50: Marlins 9 – Cubs 4”

Cubs 22-28
Marlins 25-27

POTG: PH/SS Ryan Theriot (2R HR)
Runner Up: 1B D Lee (HR, 2B, 2 RBI – but 3 pitch K to end game), LF Alfonso Soriano (2 H, R), RP Carlos Marmol (2 IP, H, BB, 4 K, 0 $)

Misadventure to the park:
– got half way there, realized I left my cell phone in my charger, at home
– got to the parking lot, realized my ticket was not in my car (it was on a table, at home)
– it was 6:50ish when I finally gave up looking for the ticket and got on the bus to go to the park
– knew one of the people I was with had an extra unused ticket, but was probably already in the park
– I could call him, but I didn’t have my phone. And I couldn’t remember the number, because it was on my phone
– BUS SPRINGS A GAS LEAK AND COMES TO A HALT SHORT OF THE STADIUM

Let me tell you, at the time, I did not realize that I had passed the threshold of general personal dumbness to a series of wacky mishaps. (It was more “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” thoughts, to tell the truth.) But I did end up getting to my seat and saw all but the first batter and stayed the whole time, so it ended well.

This isn’t a great Marquis line, but he was hurt by his defense into a long inning in the 4th, when DeRosa really should’ve made a better play on the ball, and put right back into a stress situation to start the 5th when Ram threw the ball into the stands. You like to see guys pitch better, but I’d give Jason a pass on this one.

I know Wuertz has been one of the better guys, but I couldn’t believe Pinella didn’t have someone warming up in the bullpen as soon as he walked the first two batters. I mean, that’s a pretty obvious bad sign, and for the second straight game, Pinella stuck with a visibly struggling reliever as he turned a close game into a blow out (and wasting a decent shot at coming back in the 9th, once again.) It seems like Lou has a much quicker trigger earlier in the season, and now he’s just kinda given up on making switches.

I don’t know what the deal is with that, and I don’t know what the deal with Barrett getting caught making bad base running plays twice in three games. It hurt them later in the game, where Barrett and DeRosa both should’ve moved up on a wild pitch, but now are so completely gun shy that they don’t want to risk being throw out (and Olivo still has a gun, so they might have not been complete fools.)

If this season continues it’s death spiral, I think there will be a lot of thinking about what to do with Barrett, since he’s a free agent at the end of the season. He’s going to end up hitting better than most catchers and I think he genuinely is thrilled to play for the Cubs (though, after the Expos, I think anyone would be thrilled to have a slightly louder crowd), but everyone’s had issues with his defense from day 1, and his pitch calling has come into question. I think he works it at, but…if Z’s all the sudden super with Blanco, and if Jake Fox can move up from AA (where he’s hitting 339/369/577 right now) and do well at AAA, Barrett starts to become very expandable.

At this point, though, I’m mentally trading everyone, so I don’t know if this actually would make sense.

That 9th was such a tease. Bases loaded, 1 out, and Floyd and Lee go down swinging on 8 pitches combined. I have a friend who picked up Kevin Gregg and is so completely thrilled with how this series is going. Good that someone is.

Cesar Izturis saw only 11 pitches over 4 at bats. That’s kinda amazing when you think about it. If he bats second again, I may keel over.