Brooms were out, but Cubs can't sweep

Oh, so close!

The Cubs received a brilliant start from oft-injured Mark Prior (5 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R) and solid bullpen help, but succumbed to the Mets, 1-0 in 10 innings yesterday. The loss foiled a three-game sweep of N.L. East leading New York and handed Chicago its' 61st loss at the 100-game mark of the year.

However, the Cubs are playing better baseball as the July record of 10-11 (.476) suggests. With five games remaining this month -- four with arch-rival St. Louis beginning tonight -- Chicago has a chance for a winning month for the first time since April (14-10, .583). The month of May (7-22, .241) was so bad that it prohibited the Cubs from their seemingly annual "June Swoon", which saw Chicago post an 8-18 (.308) mark. The boys in blue lead the season series with the Cardinals, 6-3, and hopefully the Cubs will start holding serve at Wrigley Field and continue playing hard-nosed baseball to give the fans something to cheer about the rest of the summer.

Cubs Stink! Cubs Stink!

What a waste of a weekend in the nation's capital. I'm just glad I didn't venture up to Washington, D.C., on a jaunt for MLB this summer. In fact, I'm glad I haven't seen the Cubs in person this year! I know they say that TV adds 10 pounds, but the way the 2006 season has been played out, it looks like everyone of the Cubs (37-60) has been dragged down by the weight of loss after loss. How does an offense get just five hits vs. Tony Armas, Jr., and the Nats?

After blowing the first two games and allowing Washington to claim come-from-behind wins, the Nats just destroyed Chicago 7-1 this afternoon. And once again, another Cubs pitcher left the game with an injury -- this time rookie Carlos Marmol.

Well, now it's onto the Big Apple for a three-game set with the N.L. East Division leading Mets. Did you hear the statistic that Len told Bob today? The Cubs have not won a road game vs. a NL East opponent since August of last year -- a span of 10 games. Unbelievable!

However, tomorrow night is an intriguing pitching matchup of Greg Maddux (7-11, 4.56) vs. former Cub Steve Trachsel (9-4, 4.68). I don't want to see Maddux leave the Windy City, but I hope he gets the opportunity via a trade to participate in the postseason this year. His ERA is better than Trachsel's and maybe a team like San Diego, Los Angeles, or even St. Louis could use him for the stretch run.

Time to get busy Jim Hendry and change the face of this franchise in the next week! My suggestions are to keep 1B Derrek Lee, 3B Aramis Ramirez, C Michael Barrett, CF Juan Pierre, and SP Carlos Zambrano, and dangle every single other player rostered across MLB!

Finding a silver lining while losing

They say that you can find a silver lining in any situation, no matter how bad it is.

Well, I found one yesterday at the conclusion of another loss to the Nationals that dropped the Cubs to 3-5 after the All-Star Break. Scott Williamson was traded for a pair of Class A pitchers.

That's fine with me, because when I looked up Webster's Dictionary for the definition of 'bum', I saw Williamson's mugshot. Sorry to rip the guy, but he was pathetic in Chicago the past two years (2-3, +5.00 ERA) and I implore with Jim Hendry to stop signing post-Tommy John surgery reclamation projects! They are damaged goods from the outset and there is no use trying to dig for gold in that river, because chances are that 1-of-100 ever pitch decently again.

However, I commend Hendry on receiving anything more than a toaster oven for the Louisiana native, especially with the review that AllCubs.com wrote up last night. Fabian Jimenez Angulo (19) and Joel Santo (22) have been compared to Carlos Zambrano and Kyle Farnsworth, respectively, and if either contribute to the Major League team, then you would have to judge this trade a 'success' -- it is to me either way!

Cubs' bullpen implodes, Prior roughed up again

Ouch, that one hurt!

Mark Prior's start was a disaster, but Glendon Rusch (2 2/3 IP, 0 R) looked like he had saved the day when Aramis Ramirez hit his second bomb of the night to put the Cubs up 6-4 in the 7th inning. But, Chicago's most reliable relief pitcher, Bobby Howry, entered the game with one out in the bottom of the 8th and gave up three runs in a 7-6 heart-breaking loss in the nation's capital.

Offensive highlights included another stolen base by Juan Pierre (#36 on the season), who had two hits as did Michael Barrett and Ramirez, and John Mabry filled in for the injured Derrek Lee with his first home run since game two of the season.

Also spoiled was a fine performance by Will Ohman out of the pen as he inherited a two-on and one-out situation in the sixth inning and got out of the jam.

Though the Cubs are playing better ball this month, Dusty Baker's squad is still just .500 in July at 8-8. Today's noon game vs. Washington could be a shootout as Sean Marshall (5-8, 5.00) gets the nod for the Cubs and Livan Hernandez (6 -8. 5.87) starts for the Nats.

Marmol-aid helps Cubs to 2-2 in 2nd Half

After a weekend setting up Kubdom, I had to step away from the PC Sunday night after witnessing not one, but two grand slams by the same team in the same inning. Just when you think you've seen it all, the Cubs make history once again in a drubbing by the Mets.

After an off day on Monday, Chicago bounced back behind the presence of rookie Carlos Marmol (3-3, 3.86), who picked up his third win in seven starts with a 4-2 victory vs. Houston.

As I focus on the "second half of the season, in which the Cubs are 2-2, I tracked the last 10 games in MLB and found that Chicago is one of only three teams with losing records that have been playing better than .500 baseball -- the other two teams are the Braves and Diamondbacks.

Last 10 Games
9-1 = Angels*, Braves, Yankees*
7-3 = Cardinals*, Mets*, Padres*
6-4 = CUBS, Diamondbacks, Rangers*, Red Sox*, Tigers*, Twins*

Cubs 9-2 Mets, Big Z gets Chicago to 1-1 in Second Half

Watching the game on WGN (Channel 8 in Columbia, S.C.) today, I saw the Cubs' heartbeat, Carlos Zambrano, leg out an infield single to Mets' All-Star third baseman David Wright and then still second base on another All-Star in catcher Paul LoDuca. Why can't Chicago find a guy other than 1B Derrek Lee to play the same way everyday?

Putting it quite simply, 'Big Z' is a horse and a pleasure to watch! He's worth the price of admission alone due to his precision pitching, all out hustle, questionable antics and exploits! Can someone say the 'Energizer Bunny' of Major League Baseball?

A native of Venezuela, the brawny (6-5, 255) 25-year old is an absolute beast on the mound and a menace at the plate. He's 57-38 in his young MLB career with a career ERA of under 3.30! Factor in the mark of no less than 30 starts the last four years and with the uncertainty of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood in recent past and there is no doubt in my mind that Zambrano is the Ace of this pitching staff.

Here's hoping for another great second half for Big Z -- we'll be watching!

Looking Back, Ahead

Judging the entire statistics from 2006 was just too unbearable to analyze, but I wanted to get a read on how the Cubs players have been performing the past month (June 14-July 14) which saw Chicago post an 8-18 record.

Over the last 30 days, CF Juan Pierre ranks sixth in the National League with a .352 average and RF Jacque Jones is 10th with a .344 mark. No other Cubs rank among the top 30, but 2B Todd Walker is hitting at a .292 clip, which ranks 37th. Some other notables with at least 3.1 at bats per game during this period include 3B Aramis Ramirez (#54, .268) and SS Ronny Cedeno (#95, .133).

Amongst pitching ERAs during the last 30 days, only Carlos Zambrano ranks in the Top 30 of the N.L., with a 4.09 mark, but is 3-0 during this span. Long time veteran Greg Maddux (0-4, 5.40) and rookie Carlos Marmol (1-3, 5.40) check in at #31 and #32, respectively. No one else has pitched at least an average of 1.1 innings in the last month. So, that's three guys carrying the load.

Here are the numbers and how I would set the lineup in the second half:
CF J. Pierre (105 AB, .352 AVG, 12 R, 9 RBI, 10 SB, .404 OBP)
C M. Barrett (40 AB, .400 AVG, 9 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .479 OBP)
1B D. Lee (59 AB, .254 AVG, 8 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 9 BB, .353 OBP)
3B A. Ramirez (97 AB, .268 AVG, 12 R, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 8 BB, .324 OBP)
RF J. Jones (90 AB, .344 AVG, 13 R, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 10 2B, .366 OBP)
2B T. Walker (72 AB, .292 AVG, 7 R, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 6 2B, .350 OBP)
LF M. Murton (47 AB, .319 AVG, 10 R, 7 RBI, .365 OBP)
SS N. Perez (47 AB, .362 AVG, 5 R, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .375 OBP)
Bench
C H. Blanco (50 AB, .340 AVG, 9 R, 4 HR, 11 RBI, .353 OBP)
OF A. Pagan (25 AB, .240 AVG, 4 R, 3 HR, 5 RBI, .269 OBP)
1B/OF P. Nevin (65 AB, .200 AVG, 4 R, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 9 BB, .297 OBP)
SS/2B R. Cedeno (83 AB, .133 AVG, 6 R, 4 RBI, .151 OBP)

Constants in life - Sun, Moon, Births, Deaths, & Prior on DL

For the seventh time in five seasons (and second time this year), starting pitcher Mark Prior has been placed on the Disabled List. Stop here if you've read this before!

This time it's a strained oblique muscle. In March, the University of Southern California product began the 2006 season on the DL with a shoulder injury that sidelined him for 67 games. When he returned to the lineup in June, Prior preceded to put up a mind-numbing 7.71 ERA and 0-4 record in just 21 innings. This DL stint came after prior trips due to elbow inflammation ('05), an elbow fracture ('05), achilles tendinitis ('04), and a shoulder contusion ('03). What's next? A lobotomy?

His upside is enormous, as his bio states, "ASSETS: Not only does his fastball reach the mid-90s, but it darts all over the place and he can throw it right where he wants it. He adds a terrific curve, good changeup, and has remarkable poise and presence on the mound. FLAWS: Once he improves his endurance and stays healthy, he'll be unstoppable. Curiously, he almost needs to have a runner on to pitch his best. CAREER POTENTIAL: Limitless. If he stays healthy, he could be the best pitcher of his generation."

But, for a guy that has already made almost $20 million in salary alone from the Cubs, you would expect more than what averages out to just over 20 starts per season. The San Diego, CA native entered this season with a career 41-23 mark and 3.24 ERA in 97 starts, however, it's the inconsistency of his health that keeps popping up. I mean this is a 25-year old, not an over-the-hill 40+ something like Roger Clemens (43, 1-2, 2.82, 4 starts), Randy Johnson (42, 10-7, 5.13, 19 starts), Greg Maddux (40, 7-9, 4.89, 18 starts), or Jamie Moyer (43, 5-8, 3.50, 18 starts).

At 6-5 and 230 pounds you just don't expect a pitcher to be this fragile. From all accounts, Prior is a very competitive person, but you have to wonder about the mental strength of this young man. Sometimes you just have to suck it up!

With the departure of Maddux imminently on the horizon and a shakeup of the team undoubtedly having to happen before the end of this month, the Cubs' front office needs to seriously consider the market value of a healthy Prior in the winter months. There's really no use tying up roster space for someone that isn't reliable enough to take care of themselves.

Mark, I hope we get to see the real you sometime in 2006. Until then, we'll see you when we see you!

P.S. -- The Cubs opened the second half of the season today losing 6-3 to the Mets. Also, I made the Trib -- check it out!

Welcome, Bienvenidos, Bienvenue, Willkommen!!!

Well, as the title says, 'welcome' to Kubdom - Where Ivy Never Dies!

This blog intends to be updated on a frequent basis during the Major League Baseball season and its focus is on the Chicago Cubs.

Though living more than 800 miles away from the "Friendly Confines", I have been a Cubs fan since 1982 (see Ryne Sandberg) and have followed the organization through some ups -- three Divisional titles and one Wild Card berth -- and a heckuva lot more downs!

Consider the fact that in 25 years of watching from a far that I've witnessed 16 losing seasons and 10 fifth or sixth place divisional finishes and you have to think that better days would be ahead. But, this is the same club that traded Lou Brock to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitchers Ernie Broglio and Bobby Shantz, and outfielder Doug Clemens. For perspective, that pitching duo combined for seven wins in the Windy City and Clemens belted a whopping six home runs in 480 at bats in Chicago.

In fact, the Cubs may have never recovered from what turned out to be a monumental fiasco, because the hated Cardinals have been in postseason play nine times since '82 and includes four World Series appearances and one Championship. To top it off, my hometown is smack-dab in the middle of Atlanta Braves country -- an organization of similar stature as the Cubs in the 1980s -- but one that many now consider the top-run club in MLB. Go figure!

Anyway, I hope you'll check back often to share your opinions and comments. Talk to you soon!