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Cubs lose to the Dodgers 7-2, hope is not lost
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I've been doing a lot of sighing today.
I woke up this morning and had approximately 60 emails in my inbox about the Cubs loss last night, virtually every one of them asking "what happened?" and also "what next?".
Truthfully, I'm not sure. But I do have some ideas on how to answer both questions which I'll share, and also the generally feeling that this is not over. This team is too good, too determined, and too proud to let one loss ruin their chances at playoff success. I just don't see this season ending this way. It just can't. I think the players on this ball club feel that too. That for all this would mean to them, for all this season already has, it cannot end at the hands of the very mediocre Dodgers. It can't.
But back to last night...
- What was going on with the fans at Wrigley? I was louder, more into the game, and had more energy sitting in my corner bar in BALTIMORE (the lone Cubs fan for miles) than the fans in the stands last night. They were quiet when things were going well (DeRosa’s homer, Ethier’s 3-2, 2-out, bases loaded strike out in the 3rd) and SILENT when things were going poorly. Frankly, I find this unacceptable. This is a playoff game. I’m not sure if this is because fans there have already succumbed to threats of repeated postseason failure or because the “real” fans were priced out of attending these playoff games, but the half-assed support I saw last night needs to stop immediately. What an embarrassment.
- If the Cubs have any shot at winning this series, someone’s going to have to step up and start hitting. Try to find the leader on the team in this mess: Soriano: 0-5, Fukudome: 0-4, Lee: 1-3, Ramirez: 1-4, Soto: 0-3. Soriano and Ramirez in particular are going to have to start putting the bat on the ball if we’re gonna win any of these game. Theriot and DeRosa were both 2-4 and Fontenot was 1-1 pinch hitting, but this will not be enough to overcome a Dodgers lineup of Furcal, Kent, Kemp, Ethier and, oh right, Manny.
- Zambrano must have a strong, antic-free start tonight. This can ALL be turned around with a win tonight. The Cubs are great on the road and perfectly capable of taking games 3 and 4 in LA with Harden and Lilly pitching. But. But. Zambrano needs a win tonight. And he needs to do it without bat snapping and water cooler throwing or pouting and fighting. He must show up, bring his best stuff, and get the win quietly. I think it’s very possible, probable even. Big Z is due a good start.
- If Piniella has a bullpen full of guys capable of long relief, why isn’t he using them? Seriously, with both Marquis and Marshall on the bench (both regular season starters or potential starters) why wouldn’t you bring them in earlier (say before Ethier’s walk to load the bases for Loney’s grand slam in the 5th?) when it was clear that Dempster was terrible last night? And then to let Marshall face Manny in the 7th… I couldn’t tell if Lou and I were watching the same game at times last night.
- This is not over. This is not 1989 or 1998 or 2003 or 2007. This is a new year and new opportunity to make things happen in October. This is a five-game series, of which we’ve lost one. Our ace is pitching tonight. We have the best team in the National League. This is all still well within reach.
- Chin up.
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