Game Six

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs earned their first series win of the season with a 3-2 vicotry over the Houston Astros on Sunday afternoon. Derrek Lee has officially broken out of his slump with a 2-3 day, including his third homerun in the win. Alfonso Soriano also somewhat came out of his 1-24 slump with his first home run of the season.

Carlos Zambrano pitched 7 strong innings before being taken out after 105 pitches. He gave up 2 runs on 7 hits and struck out 7 with no walks. Astros reliever Oscar Villarreal took the loss. Zambrano came out of his start on Opening Day because of forearm cramps which was due to dehydration and lack of potassium. The Cubs' training staff has fore-fed bananas to Zambrano.

As he is known for being a workhorse on the mound, Zambrano didn't feel as such after being put on his banana regimen, saying he feels more "like a monkey now."
His second start was the first game in almost a year in which he's pitched without giving up a walk. The last one being April 28, 2007 against the St. Louis Cardinals.

OPINION

The Chicago Cubs are dealing with unwanted slumps. Soriano ended his day with a .077 average. Three hits in thirty-two at-bats, six strikeouts, two walks and three RBIs including one homerun.

Aramis Ramirez is in a slump of his own. After going 2-3 on Sunday, he is batting only .211 with one RBI, a homerun. He's also struck out only twice, showing that he's hitting the ball, just not hitting the ball where there's no defense.
Ryan Theriot is hitting .200 (5-30) with one double. His speed hasn't been used, he's stolen only 3 bases.

On the other hand, the pitching is great; relative to the offense. The team ERA is 5.03 but the offense has been able to spark at the right times. The relievers have been able to hold leads, a job that was proven hard to do the last few seasons.

It's weird. The Cubs don't have boisterous numbers in any area. The only impressive numbers are really Kosuke Fukudome's numbers through his first week as Cub. A .421 average with one homerun and six RBIs. He's definitely been a keystone to the Cubs' offense.

Another big number is 17. 17 runners left on base by the Cubs in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Astros. The game wasn't based on the Cubs generating runs, it was based on the Cubs stopping the other team from generating runs. The Cubs have been winning because they've been playing defense, with average pitching.

Game Five

CHICAGO -- On the warmest day of the young season so far, Cubbies' faithful celebrated a win that was preserved by the Cubs' timely hitting and bullpen. As always, a 4-4 performance by Derrek Lee usually helps as well. Not to mention, the Cubs also scored 6 runs with 2 outs. It's always nice to squeeze in runs with 2 outs.

Kosuke Fukudome had another great day, his fifth game batting .500. "He's been our spark," said Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee, who broke out of a mini-slump with a 4-for-4 day that included his second home run. "He's been there every day for us. The crowd's feeding off it and we're feeding off it. He's great for us right now."

Jason Marquis started and went 5 1/3, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits with 2 strikeouts and a walk. Kevin Hart came in for the rest of the 6th and finished another inning and earned his first win of the season. Kerry Wood earned his second save of the season. Astros' starter Roy Oswalt took the loss.

OPINION

The Cubs are coming alive! As the thermometer readings rise, so does the Cubs offensive performance, and defensive performance. They did commit another error so they still have improvements to make, but they are definitely progressing. If the Cubs turn in a well-balanced game as they did today, they'll rise to the top of the division.

In the past, the Cubs had been spotty with their bullpen, today it gave up 2 runs but was still able to close out the game with a win. Thank you Kerry!

Now, I was going to let this one go if it showed any signs of life... but no. Alfonso Soriano--what's the deal!? He went 0-5 today and lowered his average to .045 on the season. He's been swinging at way too many pitches. It's nothing mechanical, it's everything psychological. Either he's thinking he can jack every pitch he sees out of the park, or he's just not being selective enough. I think it's the latter, Soriano has always had strikeout problems. Though he didn't strikeout at all today, he's still not getting the contact he prefers. His body language tells you that he's not in a hitting mood.

No sweat, we have so many more games to enjoy! Unless Soriano keeps forgetting his bat at the plate.

Game Four

CHICAGO -- If it isn't sloppy hitting, it's sloppy defense that blows a win for the Cubs. Mark DeRosa committed an error in the eigth inning that allowed the Houston Astros to score two runs and claim the lead for good in their 4-3 win. DeRosa did redeem himself somewhat in the ninth with a homerun, but it simply wasn't enough.

"We've got to start scoring more runs," Chicago manager Lou Piniella said. "You're not going to win too often scoring two runs. You have to put five, six runs on the board. I've said that many times. You can't make any mistakes at all when you put two runs on the board."

Derrek Lee seemed to agree, saying, "If we're going to win, we have to swing the bats better," Chicago first baseman Derrek Lee said. "[Rich Hill] held the team to two runs, and that's what you want from your starting pitcher. We need to find a better way of scoring runs."

What about DeRosa's critical eigth-inning defensive mishap? "I just botched it, period," DeRosa said. "I overcharged a baseball I probably shouldn't have. I probably should've stayed back and realized who was running. Dealing with a new infield -- no excuses, though. That's a normal hop and a play I should make nine times out of 10."

A drainage system was installed during the off-season and the Major League's last crown infield was removed, lowering the field by 17 inches and leveling it. New infield grass is shorter than the former infield, notoriously longer and thicker.

Rich Hill took the start for the Cubs, going 6 innings and giving up 2 runs on 4 hits--including a 2-run homer, while striking out 4 and walking 3. Wesley Wright earned the win for the Astros.

OPINION

The Cubs are making progress, but clearly have a ways to go. The hitting was a bit more apparent, and the pitching was strong as it has been all season. The only problem that held the Cubs down in Friday's loss was defensive mishaps during the later innings.

Don't panic, the weather hasn't even been 50 degrees for any game, don't expect a hot streak so early, yet hope the Cubs won't slide into bad habits. The Cubs' starting pitching has turned out a couple quality starts, the rest of the attack will soon follow.

When they can all start hitting around or above .300, combined with the strong pitching and a defense used to the new Wrigley bounces, the sky is the limit for the '08 Cubbies.

Game Three

CHICAGO -- Ryan Dempster earned the win against the Milwaukee Brewers in his first start since May 4, 2005, which was also against the Brewers. The Cubs earned their first win of the season with a solid 6-3 victory over their NL Central rival. A sparking offense along with strong pitching allowed the Cubs to claim 4 runs in the middle innings.

Aramis Ramirez gained his first hit in the season's third game and new closer Kerry Wood earned his first career save. Wood was modest about his acheivement, saying, "It doesn't mean anything," he said. "It's a good win for us. We needed to get a 'W' under our belts. It's nice to get the first one out of the way."

The Cubs' offense has still been in winter hibernation, the highest average owned by Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome--batting .500. Nobody else on the team is even above .275, the closest being the 8-spot hitter Felix Pie with a .273 average. It's been a mix of sloppy swinging and strong pitching that's allowed the Cubs to maintain close games so far this season. Nobody in the lineup got more than one hit in the game.

Dempster was the Cubs' closer the last three seasons. He struck out 5 and gave up 2 runs (one earned) on 3 hits and 2 walks. Dave Bush took the loss for the Brewers in his first start of the season, going 5 1/3 innings and giving up 6 runs on 6 hits and walking 5 while striking out 1.

OPINION

I don't like having reasons to criticize the Cubs, but as long as they're still playing a bit sloppy I'll point out some things to watch for.

To spark the offense for Thursday's game, Cubs' manager Lou Piniella switched Theriot and Alfonso Soriano in the lineup. Not a big switch as only the leadoff and second-spot hitters were switched, but the big reason Soriano was moved elsewhere in the line up was because of his free-swinging--high strikeout numbers. It's hard to start a rally when you're leadoff hitter is killing it to begin, right? Maybe it's what's needed though, Soriano is batting .077 to start off the new season. That's a pitcher's average!

However, if Soriano can get on base then the Cubs have a strong lineup through the time if they come to life, though with not as many big names such as the Tigers. But hey, at least it's not dreadfully embarassing.

Game Two

CHICAGO -- Ted Lilly took the mound for the first time this season against the Milwaukee Brewers and gave up a home run to his first batter. He consequently took the loss as well with no offense to support him. After going 4 2/3 innings, Lilly struck out 4, gave up 4 runs on 5 hits including a homer by Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks.

"Obviously, that's not the way you want to get the game going," Lilly said. "It was just a matter of not being able to locate the other pitches well. As a starting pitcher, it's up to me to get the momentum going and set the tone of the game early."

Cubs' second-year manager Lou Piniella agreed, remarking that Lilly's fastball was missing and crediting the Brewers as a good hitting team.

Lilly's counterpart, Jeff Suppan, also started his first game on the mound and earned the win. Suppan gave up 6 hits and 2 runs in 6 1/3 innings.

The Cubs offense was improved from Monday's season-opener, going 8-33 rather than 5-34 on Monday. The two runs came from solo homers by Derrek Lee in the 4th inning and Geovany Soto in the 7th.

OPINION

The Cubs better get used to the weather quickly, the temperature gametime on Monday was 44 degrees while Tuesday was 41 degrees. If the Cubs cannot acclimate to the cold and drizzly Aprils in Chicago, they will probably lead to a mediocre home record as they have in the past. It's either that, or the Cubs' offense could stumble through April and lag behind in the weak NL Central. Isn't this supposed to be the year?