Jon Lester pitched well on a tough day to pitch, albeit against a thin lineup. The Cubs’ offense – in those same conditions – managed a just a couple homers against Jerome Williams, who had come into the game having a particularly crummy year. That is to say, I was more bothered by the offense coming into the 9th inning than I was by the run Jason Motte gave up that allowed the Phillies to tie the game.
By the time the Cubs lost in the 10th – Rafael Soriano continue to be extremely unimpressive – I felt only disgust. Rarely is it reasonable to react too strongly to a single baseball game (positively or negatively), and it probably isn’t reasonable today, either. But, given the matchup, the teams involved, the way the game played out, some of the choices made … it was absolutely unacceptable for the Cubs to lose that game. I’m sure I’ll wake up tomorrow embarrassed that I felt that way in the moment, but, boy oh boy do I feel that way.
Today’s loss is going to cost the Cubs all the goodwill they built up among casual fans with a couple exciting wins in Cincinnati (sandwiched around terrible losses, mind you), so brace yourself if you’re surrounded by those types.
I want to offer a reasoned take on the game, itself, but I don’t have it in me. Sometimes I’ve just gotta feel a little crappy. That’s part of what being a fan is, I guess.