TDA Bullpen - Our Writers' Blog

Saturday, July 10, 2004

Here Come The Cubs!

The Cubs have made up minus-4 games on that three game deficit to the Cards they had on the 4th. The bats have gone silent. Even in the three-game sweep against the Sox, the Cubs didn't exactly tear the cover off the ball.

It should be pointed out that this recent dry spell of the Cubs 'O' more or less corresponds with Aramis Ramirez's absence from the lineup. His groin strain has taken a little longer to heal than expected. It hasn't helped that Alou and Sosa have been silent in recent games. Derrek Lee has been the only guy really producing at a high level, continuing his torrid June pace.

In the meantime, the Cards look ready to bury the Cubs (and the rest of the NL Central) in the end zone of the Edward Jones Dome. The Cubs have only four games remaining left with the Cards, and they would be well-advised to win at least three of those if they want to retain a realistic chance at claiming the division title.

As of this writing the Cubs are down to the Cards this afternoon, 3-1 through 2 innings, which means by the 5th inning or so it should be 7-1, if my recent track record holds. Mr. Run Support himself, Matt Clement, has already walked three, and has been having control problems recently. If he starts losing the strike zone while Prior and Wood are returning to form and the Cubs bat continue to slumber, it may be a little while yet before the Cubs reverse the direction of their current charge.

Advances in Medical Research

If good pitching is contagious, Carlos Silva must have found a cure, as I found out at the Metrodome last night. The Twins' ERA in the first four games of their first half-ending homestand stood at 0.25 going into last night's action. Brad Radke, Johan Santana, and Kyle Lohse each threw shutouts at the Royals from Mon.-Wed., giving up only 13 hits, all singles. Terry Mulholland and the Twins' bullpen held the Tigers to one run in Thursday night's Twins victory.

Silva started out fine, getting the first two Tiger hitters before giving up five straight rockets. All-Star SS Carlos Guillen had a 420-foot homer in the middle of four singles, running his season RBI total to 65. Jason Smith tripled his season's homerun total in his first two at-bats, staking the Tigers to a 5-0 lead through four.

The Twins had three game-tying bids caught on the warning track in the 5th and the 9th. Joe Mauer came up with the bases loaded and one out in the 5th after the Twins had pulled to 5-1, and drove Bobby Higginson to the big baggy in right-center for a long sac. fly. Then in the bottom of the ninth, Cristian Guzman drew a one-out walk with the score 5-3, in front of some warning track-power flashed by Lew Ford and Mauer. Some nights it's just not meant to be.

I didn't arrive early enough to get an Al Newman bobblehead doll (I didn't realize this promotion was going on before heading out the door last night), but I was psyched to learn that there will be an all-mascot softball game before Sunday afternoon's game. I may have to take that in order to see what T.C. has in store for us before watching AL strikeout leader Johan Santana go to work.

posted by Tom Renbarger 11:06 AM