Short version: the Cubs lost. Again.
Jeff Samardzija was decent enough to win, but the Cubs’ offense was – surprise – non-existent. Reed Johnson hit a first inning home run, and then the bats headed home for the night. The Cubs had runners in scoring position for nine at bats tonight, and they didn’t get a single hit in those situations. It’s pretty hard to do that.
Rafael Dolis screwed around in the 9th inning (non-save situation), and put the game out of reach.
Also, there was this…
Brett Taylor is the lead writer at Bleacher Nation, and can also be found as Bleacher Nation on Twitter and on Facebook.
Recent Message Board Posts
22 May 2013
Also pitch count debates, Mariano Rivera's ridiculousness, increased shifting in baseball, and so much more.
(51 Comments)
22 May 2013
This, despite the fact that the Cubs knew about the injury this weekend.
(77 Comments)
22 May 2013
The $300 BN Fantasy Contest is coming in a couple days, and I'm ready to roll.
(12 Comments)
22 May 2013
Even if Garza is healthy and effective, we can't ignore the fact that, in a trade, he's a pure rental.
(77 Comments)
22 May 2013
Although last night's game was exceptional, Barney is actually putting together a great offensive stretch. Consider the possibilities ...
(47 Comments)
22 May 2013
Also, thoughts on Shawn Camp's struggles and the decision to keep/use him.
(98 Comments)
22 May 2013
"It" would be the rumor season, and that impacts the farm system. Also: Javier Baez had a good game that included a walk.
(60 Comments)
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Advanced Box Score
The Cubs were pretty good at getting hits, but were terrible at bringing runners in. 0-9 RISP which is terrible. This should have been a win with Shark pitching a gem. We need RUNS!!!!!!!! DeJesus 1-3 HBP continues to get on base, but zero runs. Johnson 2-4 HR 1K. At least we had a lead for the first 3 innings. Castro 2-4. I was actually satisfied with Castro’s plate appearances today. He saw 14 pitches over 4 ABs which a lot more than usual. Sori 0-4 K looked horrible at the plate tonight. So much for that good RISP AVE he had. Mather 2-4 1 2B is hitting well, but still needs playing time. Baker 2-4 1K had an ok outing. Barney 0-4 2K looks bad at the dish as well. Koyie Hill 0-4 1K. In one of his ABs, he chases 4 curveballs in a row. It was sad. Campana 0-1 K, LaHair 0-1. Russell looked alright out of the bullpen, but Dolis was horrid. It was another terrible night for the cubs. My shout out goes to Shark. Sorry about the run support!
Great job Zogie,
. Much appreciated.
Summed up pretty well.
Thanks Zogie…for letting me relive that.
On the East coast I often don’t get the games at all. So box scores, Brett, BN and Zogie let me me live that. Thanks, Zogie, et al.
I got good channels. Now I need some good news.
I would honestly bench Barney after that collision. I know no one called ball but still thats the RF’s ball.
I am still wondering if Barney can be a decent starter, he’s really inconsistent.
Never was never will be. B/U at Best.
Barney did exactly what he should do. You go for the catch untill you are called off. Barney did nothing wrong. Anyone who doesn’t know that doesn’t know how to play the game.
Barney should be commended for his hustle.
Totally agree. Both Barney and DeJesus both went full speed…I’ll take both of those guys on my team any day!
I think Sori is trying to make you look bad. Sorry Brett.
I was at the Iowa Cubs game today sitting right behind the on deck circle. Rizzo made two slick fielding plays to save Iowa Cubs infielders from errors. He homered to the opposite field (wind aided, though I assume it would have been out at Wrigley) and singled.
There was only one at bat where he looked beat, where he struck out on some high offspeed stuff. The rest of the time, he was smoking the ball foul or straight back to the backstop.
Anyway, it was fun to watch him play today. You can just tell that he’s playing way over his head here.
So, you are saying he isn’t ready for MLB?
I selfishly want to be able to watch him play a few more games.
Also, I wanted to note that I’m pretty sure he wears Eriq La Salle type “Coming To America” Soul Glo in his hair. He’s got some amber waves of grease.
At least the 2013 draft class looks strong
GO CUBS GO
Rose? Is that you?
Where ya been Z? miss your wrap ups.
This is what I find kind of humorous: It is pretty well known that we are in a “rebuilding/retooling process” and as fans we say and we are very well aware that “We will be bad for a few years” and we act like it is nothing, kind of like thinking we can fast-forward these bad years and get right into the good ones (I mean we would if we could), but then while we are in May of the FIRST bad season of the process, people are like screw Theo and Jed, blah, blah, blah!!1!!1!!111!!111!
All I say to terrible stretches like this is: Who Cares?
I think they’re more mad at the people he’s brought in then the man himself.
Its Not Theo Jed or the talent they have brought in. Its the bad ball that is being played.We Did not get beat by the Astros tonight. The Cubs beat themselves.
It just sucks to lose. Two weeks ago, I held out hope for 80 wins. That woulda been nice.
Good point, it’s all fun to be utterly reactionary during and right after games (see gam threads or twitter feeds), but once it’s over I can always take joy in knowing this FO will not overreact and do something stupid. I have the patience and see a bright future.
Ronald torreyes breaks out of slump 3-3 with 2 RBI and a walk and no K’s!!
I want to apologize to Allen – you’re right Soriano sucks
I knew you would come around! His first 3 at bats were exactly what i was talking about earlier. As soon as he comes up you just know he wont do shit
Your just mad Twitter cut you off..
Yeah twitter jail sucks, they are always suspending us Cub fans.
Was that based on the eyeball test, or some higher sabermeterics? All in fun gents, it keeps us on our toes.
Based on one game using my two eyeballs
I’m trying to convince Fangraph to add a MG Eyeball Metric but they keep ignoring me.
Hunter cervenka(Byrd trade ptbnl) pitched 2 innings in Peoria with no hits no runs but 3 walks and then 2 k’s
Its time to bring Rizzo up! I don’t care about it anymore. I would raise a fund to cover the expenses for the future if I have to lol jk but if I had that money…. We need Rizzo and he Is ready to prove last season was a fluke. LaHair is batting .096 against lefties anyone know if Rizzo can hit lefties good
This one’s all you, MG
Haha, well it makes no sense to lose a year just because we are frustrated over this year. That would be a unnecessary and reactionary move. Patience is needed right now. Stay on target. Don’t let this crappy year change the master plan.
If not Rizzo, then maybe some busty ball girls or something. Maybe some kittens or baby penguins.
When the most exciting thing to happen game by game is Bob Brenley’s “three steps to a successful marriage”, it’s definitely time to invest in some secondary form of entertainment.
“‘yes dear’, ‘you’re right’ and ‘I’m sorry’”
Busty ball girls. I’m in.
Edit: never mind. Not walking into that open door (keeping it G rated).
Not the birthday present that I was expecting…
In Chicago Cubs fashion if you are going to be bad at something, be the worst.
No doubt, we have the worst record in the majors but we can’t let up the Padres are right on our heels.
Watching this game, the minute the Astros took the lead I knew we were done…my friend was surprised when I suggested we leave once Dolis made it 4-1. He said I had no faith. It’s not that…you can’t have faith in a team that is incapable of scoring runs, let alone overcoming a deficit. I thought through the first 2 or 3 innings that the Cubs actually had a chance to win tonight. Alas, I thought wrong. At least the beer was good…
On another note, perhaps we are not so different than these Astros. Both have new owners and new GM’s, both are in a rebuilding phase, and both have at least one ugly contract (Soriano & Lee) that they’d like to no longer have. Maybe the Cubs are actually the Astros of last year or the year before…maybe rock bottom for us isn’t until this year or next year, as bad as we thought last year could be. The ‘Stros trot out a team of absolute no names, yet they remain competitive day in and day out. We still have a few “big names” that, honestly, aren’t worth their contract, and we can barely keep ourselves in games. I just think it’s interesting that when I leave Chicago, I end up in a city that basically has the same awful baseball team down here in Houston. The difference is that somehow, the Astros play better. Blech.
Here’s to a really shitty 2012 season in the hopes that in the next season or two, we will at least become respectable! By the way, I thought it wouldn’t be be as easy to win against the Astros as some of us thought…they’re bad, but we’re even WORSE.
But did you ware the Sorri jersey.
Lol, it was a Sosa jersey, and no, I decided not to wear it. I found something else Cubs to wear instead.
Booooooooo. Chicken.
I think its time to take starlin castro off the 3rd spot, Does anyone else agree , yess ? yess ? Good
Absolutely back to the two or even leadoff until he develops some real
Power.
Or 7th. Just to piss him off.
Agree with you MG and rcleven
Star’s a 2 or 5, but we have no one else for 3. That was supposed to be Byrd 1 more year, but we’ve all seen how that worked out. I’m trying to stay positive, but may need to be silent to do that. I do like out first 4 starters, and Russell looks to be a very good reliever, but that’s about it. We’re not even at the halfway mark, and it’s already a frustrating year. On to Pittsburgh.
There is a pretty obvious (to me) top three batting order that should work better than what is happening:
Campana – Castro – DeJesus…? Sure there is no power production at 3, but there’s none anywhere anyway.
I’ll respond. Yes, yes and yes. Castro should not be a 3rd spot hitter. Bat him 2nd where he makes great contact for hit and run. Needs to learn a little more discipline.
my only incentive to watch is hoping that the trade deadline does not pass without a complete and absolute overhaul. everybody over 30 should no longer be wearing a cub jersey come august 1st. guys like barney (cannot stand this poor mans theriot)and his silly smirk who have relatively zero value should also be gone. i once thought castro should be untouchable but if he can bring in a kings ransom, i say see ya. way too much soriano in him. stewart, soto,, baker….c’mon let some kids play..it cannot be any worse and at least we’d see a change towards the future
Barney will not be back next season as a starter.
Change for change sake is not always for the good.
Bring the kids up in Sept. and see where the chips fall.
I would like to see Junior Lake at 2B, but it would be a shame to put the good arm to waste,
If he can hit ML pitching I don’t care if he catches.
Thanks for the Sori markup.. that made me laugh. Nice to be able to laugh after yet another loss. I just keep reminding myself that like doing loads of homework, it is all worth it in the end.
Moo.
Let me ask those of you that want to rush Rizzo up, now I know you aren’t completely serious but. I mean what do you want that for? It’s certainly not going to save the season. The extra year is and draft picks are WAY more important to our future than to be reactionary and want to see rizzo when it’s only about a month away anyway. I’m just curious, why the impatience? We knew this year would suck, just stop watching Cubs games. I don’t really watch them but when Rizzo is up I probably will watch more of them.
Saying that Shark pitched decent enough to win, to me, isn’t fair. I thought he was very good. If he give the team one more inning, it’s a great start. Either he, or Garza, is going to slip up in a post game interview, and really lay into the bullpen, or the offense.Or, they will just develop a bad attitude…if that’s not already brewing.
It was a good start. 6 innings of two run ball equals a quality start.
I complimented his start. It was good, not great. Where did I go wrong?
Alright, Brett. I got a proposal to make.
If we lose 15 straight games, the next day’s bullets are “The Cubs Suck and other bullets”. And you re-follow me on twitter.
If not…well you can figure out some embarrassing retribution for me. And good for them Cubbies. I know they want that #1 draft pick but, whoah.
The reason why i think starlin is strugling in the 3rd spot is because he trying to hit for power and he doesn have much power yet but has great contact thats why i think he should be put in leadoff or on the second spot,Anybody Agree ? ?
The Cubs are losing their way to a pretty high pick next summer. That’s really the only nice thing I can say. Effin Astros/Sox/Phillies/etc. Didn’t this streak start on a game that Brett was at?
Solid point. Brett?
Nope – started the game before I went to two games (started with the Yadier Molina walk-off).
Brett, I feel you’ve been over-cautious. Its the she-view tearing us down. TWO burritos. Make it happen.
Don’t know why but I took burritos as a reference to the penis.
Yeah, we definitely don’t need any “burritos” in the she-views.
where are the reed johnson haters
the best thing about today is that the cubs dont play!
I’ll keep coming back Brett yr too good not too, hopefully you can keep us cub fans off the ledge. and btw what’s the magic number to lock the 1st draft pick lol
Thanks, Curt. The magic number’s still quite large (which is either good or bad news).
anybody know the record for most series being swept in a row?
I just don’t want to lose 100 games or more. That should never happen at this level.
hate to say it and it isnt just the pessimist but the realist in me, this team will lose at least 105.
Another day another loss. I really hope Sveum decides to shake things up a lot. Whatever he is doing now isn’t working. He is sounding a lot like Quade from last year. I wonder if they will find a way to lose today.