Padres 15-27, 5th (-11.5)
Cubs 25-16, 1st (+1.5)
POTG: SP Ryan Dempster (8.1 IP, 0R, 6 H, BB, 12 K, W [5/64], QS [7]; H, R, RBI, SH)
Runner Up: 3B A Ram (3 H, 2B), 1B D Lee (2 H, 2 RBI), LF Soriano (2 H, R), RF Fukudome (2 BB, H)
I don't believe in the Jim Edmonds signing. Time comes for everyone, and it sure looked like time came from Edmonds late last year and early this year. I find it very peculiar he could hit 175/265/233 while declining in the field and everyone in the Cubs is all "he looks like fine to me! :)" Lou noting he hasn't seen Edmonds is pretty telling.
However, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. The Cubs had a seemingly irrational faith Ryan Dempster would make a good starter this season, and I don't think any outside of the team thought he'd be any better than mediocre (and no one was really confident about even that.) Dempster's been a top 20 starter this season, and this was as good a start as you're going to get.
I think there are two things going on here
1) sometimes the team may know things other people do not
2) not everyone marches exactly on the improve/decline bell curve. There are detours along the way
The Cubs are playing well enough to take a chance to give a centerfielder some time to see if he's got anything to contribute. I just still wish they gave that time to Felix instead of Edmonds, but they've earned the right by going 25-16.
Really not a lot of offense in this game, but a little was enough. San Diego has some really good bullpen days. 11 Hits in 4 1/3 innings seems to indicate Greg Maddux needs to fix something or it's about over for him - all the Padres talk about flipping him for prospects if things go downhill might be moot if he can't contribute a little more.
PIRATES. I'm bored with facing the Pirates, especially the same starters.
FRI: Gorzelanny vs Gallagher - I dunno
SAT: Duke vs Z!!! - this looks good
SUN: Dumatrait vs Marquis - I dunno either
Recent Comments