2015 World Champ Cubs Keep Losing in 2013

I propose that the Guns and Roses beautiful power ballad, "Patience" should be the song that the players take the field to at the start of the game for the rest of 2013.  The notion must be reinforced that if we just wait a few more years, and allow our current core of players to develop, the  World Series trophy will be held high in Wrigley only 2 short years from now in 2015.  In the meantime, the Cubs have dropped their second straight game to the Pirates, while shut out for the first 17 innings of the 2 contests, until Alfonso Soriano's 7th homerun plated 2 in the bottom of the 9th, at the end of a 6-2 loss to Pittsburgh.

After sitting through Friday's 2-0 snoozefest loss, I wasn't about to pay 25$ to sit in nosebleed on Saturday, plus I was exhausted from hanging out with my fearless podcasting partner, The Lovable Lou Sears, who's boundless energy and love of bourbon usually ruins my life for a day or two after seeing him.  And good thing too!  The Cubs only had 4 hits against AJ Burnette, the Pirates tattooed ace.  Watching that woulda pissed me off.  I won't bother listing all of the Cubs players without a hit yesterday, so I'll stay positive and tell you who did hit.  DeJesus, Rizzo, Soriano, and Schierholtz each had 1.  Still, all but Rizzo lowered their batting average yesterday, and the Cubs slid further into the depths of the National League Central, ending the day only one game ahead of the lowly Milwaukee Brewers, and 11 games under .500.  But this is 2013....

But in 2015, we will have a new scoreboard, and it's continuous barking of advertisements and fan centric games by which we can follow a hidden baseball under one of 3 hats, will surely motivate our current future star players to new heights in the art of hitting.  Starlin Castro is hitting only .247 in 2013, but once the Deep Dish Chicago Style Pizza Slice races begin, in 2015, Castro will loosen up at the plate from laughing hysterically as the Lou Malnati's Pepperoni slice trips and falls on the center field warning track.  In fact, that event, which I predict will happen in July of 2015, will be credited with actually winning the division, as all of the Cubs players laugh their way to victory, watching the replay of the Pepperoni Slice falling on the left field jumbotron.  Castro will bat .357 in 2015 with 42 Homeruns.  Likewise, Soriano, signed to another 13 year contract, locking him up into his early 50's will feel rejuvenated by the new boutique Cubs hotel and farmers market located right outside the ballpark.  The organic Kale and Quinoa he buys there will give him the fortitude to hit 38 homeruns, and steal 42 bases for the first time since 2006.  Jeff Smakjfbwfbwufbwkbjks, the Cubs Ace pitcher will win 31 games, crediting the new salon in the pedestrian mall outside of Wrigley, this future genius stylist will craft Smfbrjbfskjvsjfnwef's mullet into a finely tuned pitching machine.  Smskjfbebwfljc jfwf's hair will be aerodynamically sculpted to give him .00034 mm extra break on his curve ball.  And the National League batters won't like it one bit!  Here's is an artists rendering of what Smafdnergbaev ae's hair will look like after the renovations.

Ironically, the stylist, (pictured above) just so happens to be Kyuji Fujikawa's current interpreter.  But with Kyuji Fuji out for the rest of 2013, facing Tommy John surgery, Ryo Shinkawa used his extra time in the dugout waiting for Fujikawa's return, to carefully study the effects of pitcher's mullets on the movement and velocity of the pitched ball.  His charts, graphs, and skill with styling shears pays off in 2015 when Smabdkgbkfdsv vk goes 25-1 with a 1.34 ERA, wining the Cy Young Award, along with the Prestegious "Hair-O Dynamics" prize given bi annually by SuperCuts and Aussie Hair Products.  

But alas, this is 2013, and yesterday Smardsjkbfjsbksv gave up 4 runs on 4 hits, though he did strike out 7.  Just a few more years Jeff, and you'll be the Ace you already act like you are!

So, yes...Gun's and Roses said it best, all we need is just a little patience.  Theo, Jed and Tom have this all under control.  They are rich, so they're smarter and better than us regular people.  So let's all relax, pay full price for our tickets and enjoy 2013 as the "rebuilding year" it is.  Today, Edwin Jackson 1-8 with a 6.29 ERA goes against Jeff Locke 5-1, 2.45.  The Pirates will most likely sweep us today, just as they did on the road a few weeks ago.  But don't worry!  All we need is patience.....

And a podcast.... http://www.sonranto.com

The Cubs Need Drugs

I got into Wrigley yesterday in the bottom of the 4th inning. Having tried to talk the scalpers down from their asking price of 40$,  (Still below face value for Terrace Reserved, but I was hoping to pay 10),  I witnessed some girls pay 30$, and even though I insisted on a 20$ price point, I relinquished to the middle, and we ended up settling at 25$.  I don't think either of us was happy with the transaction, but it was a beautiful day, and I figured, what the hell, I'm already here.  I hit the seats and the Cubs have 2 on from a couple of walks, but what proved to be a theme of this game, in which the Cubs didn't score at all, and struck out 13 times, the rally failed, and those that paid full price for their tickets were left holding their floppy Budweiser hats, which were given to the first 10000 fans, in their disappointed little hands.  At least I took this beautiful picture!

I think the most I cheered in this game, which the Cubs lost 2-0, was when a guy down the right field line got a foul ball, celebrated, and then handed the ball to an apparent stranger in a selfless act of kindness not seen since Mr. Miyagi gave Daniel San a bonsai tree in Karate Kid 2.  Even the events worth cheering for all left a distasteful tinge in my mouth.  Like when the Cubs, who had been no hit through 4, finally broke it up with a single.  What's distasteful about this?  It was the pitcher Travis Wood who broke it up with a single.  Yes, the pitchers are our best hitters.  Ugh.  But Wood was then forced out at second by "new and unimproved" leadoff hitter, Darwin Barney, who struck out 3 times in addition to this failed attempt at moving the runner into scoring position.  Wood improved his batting average to .308, while Barney, in the leadoff spot, left 3 on base, including 2, when he struck out to end the game during the Cubs fake rally in the bottom of the 9th.  He is now batting .213.  In fact, almost the entire starting lineup in yesterdays game hovers in the mid to low two's.  The only other hitter in the Cubs lineup batting over .300 is Ryan Sweeney, who had 1 of the Cubs 5 hits.  It truly is getting tough to tell whether the other pitcher is really that good, or if we just stink at hitting.  I wonder if this guy regretted sporting this rabid fan hair style after watching such an inept display of offense.

It was, however, a beautiful day at the ballpark, and after making my way over to the sunshine seats in Right field, I got myself a little nook next to the fence to watch the rest of the nothing that happened on Friday.  So what's the solution to this hitting drought?

Drugs.

I recently watched this incredible documentary, called "I'm Keith Hernandez", about his Cocaine fueled days as a Cardinal and Met, winning 2 World Championships with each team in the 80's.  Totally worth a watch.  The Cards and Mets played with an intensity that I haven't seen in a while in baseball, and now we know why.  Both teams were considered cocky, and now we know where that confidence came from.  Drugs.  In this day and age of banned substances, I realize finding a stimulant, not on the banned substances list, might prove difficult.  But with the hundreds of millions of dollars spent by the Rickett's to upgrade the team and Wrigley field in the coming years, it would be wise and prudent to at least spend some of the money on synthesizing a stimulant that's not on the banned list.  In this game of baseball, you have to stay one step ahead of the league, and that includes the drugs you're taking.  I'm sure Ricketts has friends at Eli Lily that can hook him up.  It's just a matter of changing a molecule or two in the compound.  Let's get on this Cubbies!  Because if I've even seen a team that needs some serious drugs, it's the 2013 Cubbies.  

Speaking of cool things to see on drugs, the Goodyear blimp was at the ballpark yesterday, and I took a couple of shots, only to realize that there was also a UFO in the shot!  I don't know what aliens would want with a 2-0 Cubs loss snoozefest, but check out this pic!  

Do you see the flying saucer with the purple energy field rings?  Incredible!

I actually think it was the DirectTV blimp not the Goodyear, but I can't keep my blimps straight these days.  When I was a kid, there was only the Goodyear, and the Hindenburg, which blew up and crashed.  I wonder why Michelin never got a blimp to compete with Goodyear.  Battle of the Blimps!

Well, the game ended on the afore mentioned Darwin Barney, fake rally, strikeout, and I stuck around the ballpark to see if some drunk idiot had left his floppy hat behind, but alas, I walked up and down the stairs only to see peanut shells, beer cups, and Mormons.  

No floppy hat for me.  But this guy's pretty cool.  Not like those Morons.....I mean...Mormons....

As I was taking this photo, this family of Pirates fans was snapping selfies and when they were all done, the dad realized his bag had been lifted.  They apparently stole a sandwich.  That'll teach him to leave food laying around a bunch of obese and hungry Chicagoans!

Well, crime was rampant yesterday in Chicago, as after the game, and after playing some flying V guitars at Guitar Center on Halsted, I returned uptown, only to hear 10-15 gun shots a half block away.  I had just gotten in 5 mins earlier.  Coulda been meat.  Here's the story if you care.  This gang banger got shot in the face. 

So, a guy gets gatted, a bag gets stolen, and the Cubs get shutout, so I went to RibFest with the Lovable Lou Sears to drown my sorrows in meat!  If you go, eat the Texas stands ribs.  They were by far the best.

There's a game today, but I'm not going.  Stubhub was too rich for my blood, but I might try in the 5th again and see if I can't get in for 20$.  The Shark, Jeff Smejfekbrkwbgkrbgeng is going up against AJ Burnette, who has some sweet tats.  Should be magical....

In the meantime...look us up at http://www.sonranto.com

and check out the podcast!!!

Cubs Split Two With Fallen Angels

I can't believe the Angels stink as bad as they do, losing the last 4 of 5 to the basement of the National League Central.  That would be the Cubs and the Brewers.  (Sad Trombone Noise).  But though stacked with talent and payroll, the Angels record (26-34) is about equal to the Cubs (24-33), within a game or two anyway.   It took 10 innings, but the Cubbies, and the ever strengthening Matt Garza, beat the Halo's 8-6 yesterday with an Anthony "Fo Shizzo" Rizzo, 3 run clutch, extra inning, triple, in front of what sounded like a hometown crowd.  I know the Cubs travel well, but the Cub fans roared louder at Angel Stadium than the average Wrigley crowd this year.  Probably because the Angel fans knew when to leave in order to not spend 5 hours driving 30 miles in LA's crappy traffic.  Check out these fans celebrating this Ryan Sweeney game saving catch.

I love the Angels fan's helmet hair with the glasses.  Get a hat buddy!  What a nerd.  He makes the nerdy Cubs jersey fan look cool!

Well, the game was saved many times yesterday.  Cody Ransom tied it in the 5th with a 3 run shot. The Sweeney catch (pictured above) saved 2 runs.  There was a reversed homerun call in the 4th that went the Cubs way, and finally, the save by Kevin Gregg, who made things interesting by giving up a 10th inning homer, and letting the tying run get on base.  But alls well that ends well right?  

Not so much.  The bullpen blew another lead, this time it was James Russel in the 8th, who gave up his first homerun of the year to tie the game.  Got nothing bad to say about Russel, he's been basically great with a 1.52 ERA to show for it.  He did blow the save though.  Then, the Cubs, who had runners at first and second with nobody out twice, including the 8th, in this game, failed to score.  Incredibly, both missed opportunities were virtually identical, with the Angels relievers inducing foul pop up outs, and keeping the runners where they were.  The Cubs were an abysmal 4-18 with runners in scoring position, and should have won this game handily in 9 innings.  

Fine, we won, I should be happy right?  I am, trust me.  It woulda sucked monkey bum to go all the way to Disneyland just to lose two games.  However, the whole game felt precariously played, and I still don't like what I see out of key players like Castro who struck out twice.  He's got to be a contact guy, and he swings at garbage.  He then looks at his bat, as if it's got a hole in it.  He looks ridiculous.  He also does some weird religion prayer thing when he gets a hit, and before he bats.  Just keep your head in the game Castro!  Do you really think the creator of the universe, (cough, sniff, punch), gives a rats behind if you get a hit or not?  God is way too busy helping starving children survive without mothers, and punishing Muslim women for dancing to care about your on base percentage.  Castro did take a rare walk though and hit a double, so I'll leave a full rant on him out of this article.  Welington Castillo still is as much of a "Misser" as a "Catcher".  Dropping 3rd strikes and allowing yet another passed ball.  Schierholtz dropped a ball in the outfield too and was given an error.  But I thought it was unfair, given how the sun was likely in his eyes at the time and it wasn't an easy catch.

This....

Became This.....

He probably shoulda had it....but look at those weird shadows....I'm biased.

Did I mention the Cubs won?!  Yeah!! 8-6!!!! Still feel like complaining though, must be the 58 degree June weather that's got me down.  

So now what?  Another off-day, that's what!  I'm going to celebrate by going to Target and buying toilet paper and garbage bags.  Gotta get my ducks in a row for this weekend when the Pirates come to town on Friday.  Francisco Liriano 3-2, 2.17 of the Bucs vs.  Travis "the new Kerry" Wood 5-3, 2.75.  

I really hope to go to this game in person, as I havent been to Wrigley since the Mets were in town.  Plus, if the Cubs don't win, I won't be heartbroken, as I want the Pirates to overtake the Cardinals at some point this season.  At least make it tough for them!

But, StubHub and the Cubs are price fixing.  I know it!  All the teams are. Just let me into the park for 10$ and I'll drink all the 8$ crappy beer I can until the end of the 8th.  A single ticket is 18$ now to sit in nosebleed.  You know what?  That's too much.  Wrigley is only half filled, even on the weekends.  They have got to lower prices, especially when I'm watching the Iowa Cubs after the trade deadline sell off.  

I'll end with a positive stat!  Ryan Sweeney is batting .357!  How you like dem Apples?  Actually, I'm allergic to apples....but I do like the batting average!

New podcast later today!  In the meantime...here's a soon expiring one...

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Damn Cubs!

Did Dale Sveum just forget who Albert Pujols was in relation to the Cubs?  Did he forget that sometimes, it's a good strategy to walk a great hitter when you have first base open, one out and a man on second.  When Poo-Holes strode to the plate, I said to the gentleman passing the pipe to me, well, "Walk this mook, and take your chances with Trumbo, maybe get outta the inning with a double play". And then I said, "pitching to him?  I don't like this one bit!"  Then...well...what I said next after Poo-Hole's go ahead, 2 run homer in the 8th inning, I will not print here...but it went something like this!

Yes....Damn.

And the Cubs lost 4-3....

What the hell is wrong with Sveum's brain?  Did Robin Yount take out a little of Sveum's cerebral cortex when he shot him during the off season.  It's a very simple and obvious strategy.  Walk the guy who always kills us, and take your chances with the new guy.  UGGGHHHHH!  It's maddening!!

Sorry for the hyperbole, but I've never wanted to see Sveums head on a pike more than after last night, or should I say early morning.  West Coast trips when we lose late are the freaking worst ,because you're like, "I freakin stayed up for this?!"  Sveums other brilliant move, which I've been saying he should do for two weeks now, was to move Starlin Castro to the 7 spot, and let him figure out his hitting troubles. So far, it hasn't worked, Castro continued his slide going 0-4 and leaving 4 on base.  I'll be patient with this one, because Castro is one of the main guys the Cubs are building around.  I'm not happy about this, as I believe Castro to be a relatively stupid ball player.  Or should I be nice, and say "mentally lazy".  Anyone see that play last night when he checked the runner going to third, and took his time throwing to first, only to throw late by a step.  Yeah...that was dumb....

Valbuena htting second was kinda weird too.  I don't know what the hell the order should be for these AL, DH, road games, but let me take a Dr. Gonzo Crack at it.

DeJesus

Sweeney 

Rizzo

Schierholtz 

Soriano

Valbuena

Castro

Castillo

Barney

B-T-Dubs....I like Ryan Sweeney, so lets make sure we trade him for some Tommy John surgery guy before the deadline.  That would rock!

Well....it's already getaway day in Anaheim.  Another day off, and then back to Chicago to face the Pirates.  Tonight it's Matt Garza vs. Jason Vargas.  C'mon boys.  Games at 6pm central.  

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I Knew the Cubs Would Lose, But Still....

I guess Dale Sveum didn't get the memo from Rahm Emmanuel, that the people of the city of Chicago don't want to watch Carlos Marmol pitch anymore.  His 3 walk appearance in yesterday's 8-4 loss to the D'Backs, didn't decide the game, but it was a typically ugly outing for the beleaguered reliever, and the smattering of fans that braved the unseasonably cold weather at Wrigley Sunday, made clear their feelings to Mr. Marmol.  Boooooo!  They Said....Boooo!!!!  Now I've written about booing before.  I am a boo-er as well, but I reserve my booing for lack of effort, or concentration, and the players of opposing teams.  People my people.  Do you want the Cubs to win or not?  Marmol is out there trying his best.  He wants to succeed!  The last people to stand in his way should be the Cubs' fans!  The next time he pitches....oh god...please no....the fans should stand in support for Marmol.  Cheer him.  Help him to do better this time.  Just my two cents.

You ready for more bad news?  Edwin Jackson the Cubs big off season signing has been a bust so far.  Not only is he 1-8 with a 6.29 ERA, but the Cubs are paying Jackson a lot of money for the next 4 years to basically be a mediocre number 5 starter, and unfortunately, I'm not surprised.  When the Cubs signed Jackson, I looked up his stats immediately and was not impressed.  Jackson has 7 full seasons in the majors as a starter, and has a sub 4 ERA in only two of those seasons.  He's also a journeyman who has played on 8 different teams in his 10 years in and out of the majors.  It really makes you wonder about a guy when so many teams have let him go.  So what did Theo and Jed see in him?  Well, whatever they saw, it ain't there now.  Check out this chart I found on the interwebs....

Yes, this one man, who plays every 5 days takes up 12.2% of the payroll.  At least Soriano, who pretty much takes the rest of it, plays everyday.  I hope things even out for Jackson.  He seems like a nice guy.  Just one decent outing could spark things in a better direction, but so far....it's been pretty ugly.  Jackson himself said yesterday, after the game "This is probably one of the most frustrating seasons I've been through,"  We know Edwin.  We know.  Welcome to the Chicago Cubs.  Hey, at least he got a hit and an RBI yesterday, which is more than I can say for Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo, the cornerstones of the 2015 World Champion Chicago Cubs.  To be fair, Rizzo did walk twice.

I have a question.  Why are there so many damned lefty hitters on this team.  There are currently 6 on the Cubs active roster, and it seems as if we are facing a lefty opponent pitcher every third day.  Don't you think other teams look at our roster and try to make certain they face the Cubs with a lefty?  The Cubs are 23rd out of 30 teams in batting average against lefty's and 13th against righty's.  I think most of the problem stems from micro-managing the game in the first place.  Lefty hitters don't even get to practice against left handed pitchers.  If they didn't over specialize, maybe lefty hitters could learn to hit lefty pitching better.  For example, DeJesus sucks against lefty's possibly because he doesn't face them too often.  In only 28 at bats against lefty's this year, he's batting .179, but against righty's, he's .297.  So, instead, yesterday, because the Cubs don't have 3 right handed outfielders, Julio Borbon played, who's batting a slightly better .222 aginst lefty's, and he drops an easy fly ball, leading to at least 2 unearned runs.  Took a couple of screen shots of Borbon's Bor-boner.

I Got It!!

I Got It?

I lost it......

Speaking of defense.  We still have "missers" instead of "catchers".  Did you know that Welington Castillo, or "Beef Castle", as he is known to many has the most errors of any catcher in the major leagues?  Navarro, our backup doesn't look much better back there.  Dropped third strikes are his thing.  The Cubs lead the league in Wild Pitches, and are 8th in passed balls.  In general, the Cubs are the second worst fielding team in the majors.  Here's a couple of shots of Navarro taking one off the face mask yesterday.

It has not been a stellar year for the Cubs behind the plate, but at least these guys can hit!  Castillo has a higher batting average than Castro and Rizzo, and Navarro, who doesn't even play everyday, has twice as many homers as Castro, and is tied with Soriano with 6.  

Well, today's an off day.  Thank god.  It might sound crazy, stupid, or both, but the Cubs are off to Anaheim to play two games against the Angels, have another off day on Thursday, only to return home to Wrigley on Friday to play the Pirates.  What the hell kind of scheduling is that?  

New podcast coming soon.  In the meantime....check out my awesome Sveum video!

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Cubs Lose the Old Fashioned Way

Well, that was ugly, but also quite familiar.  Carlos Marmol walked 3 and gave up a Grand Slam in the 8th inning and the Cubs lost.  Marmol, who sucked in equal fashion earlier in the season, had actually been pretty decent lately.  His ERA had gotten to under 4, he started striking out opposing hitters again, and the boo birds were leaving him alone.  But what's that mathy theory that about reversion to the mean?   I was always the new kid in school because we moved a lot, and  I tried to hang with the cool kids, and it would work for a day or two, but I always ended up hanging with the nerds again.  Well, Marmol, you're sitting back at the nerdy lunch table again.  You are who you are.  I've noticed the pitches much better when the Cubs are losing and he doesn't have a tie or a lead to hold.  Also, I think even little leaguers could hit his fastball, and he can't throw his formerly wicked slider for strikes.  If I were Sveum or Theo, I'd have gotten rid of him long ago, but he's making almost 10 million this year, so I bet we are stuck watching him all year.  Cubs brass has already written off this season anyway, and the lack of fans in the stands shows that most of us feel the same way.  Think it's just time to resign ourselves to the fact that Marmol will be really terrible sometime, and we just have to watch it.  Slow motion train wreck.

Speaking of train wrecks.  I am in NYC right now finalizing my divorce and playing gigs with my band Bad Teenage Moustache, but I was free last night and went to watch this ball game at Kelly's sports Bar on 1st and A in the East Village.  If you Google Cubs Bar NYC, Kelly's comes up first in the search results, and I've gone there on and off for 3 or 4 years when I lived here.  So, with the delayed start, and the hockey game on, I sat drinking 3 dollar PBR's and shots of well whiskey, waiting for the game to start.  It never did.  The Yankees/ Red Sox and Fox preempted the Cubs game, and except for some illegal internet feeds, there was no way to watch this game.  MLB, your blackouts suck.  I should be able to pay to watch a Cubs game on my Ipad or Iphone while I'm in Chicago.  And Fox should allow the other games they aren't showing in the region to be viewed on another Channel.  There are 99999999 channels, and you can't put the game on one of them?! I'm trying to watch your program Fox!  And you won't even let me!  Ridiculous!  Like many things in this country, it makes no sense and is likely the result of greedy bastards.  At least I didn't have to watch the loss live....

On a final note, Dale Sveum's an idiot.  He was ejected in the second inning last night over a blown call at first base.  Why does anyone argue these safe/out calls and get themselves ejected?  Never once have I seen an umpire overturn his call.  NEVER!!! So what's the point Dale?  Were you just ready for a beer after that long rain delay? I've often hypothesized that managers go out and argue in order to light a fire under the team. Manufactured Drama.  But it doesn't work. And Dale Sveums bad at it.  He barely looked angry at all when Joe west threw him out.  So Sveum must have said something bad about Wests mom or his tuna breath.   The way West threw him out was hilarious too.  That tight black Umpire jacket and chest protector doesn't allow West to lift his arms very high so he kinda looked like an Oompah Loompah as he threw Sveum out.

But seriously Sveum, all you accomplished was not being the manager for the evening.  If you're gonna argue, go out there and pull a Piniella and throw a base or something.  Kick dirt on an umpires shoe.  Let's see some theater!  Arguing is pointlessly futile.

In case anyone cares, the Cubs ended up losing 12-4 yesterday, and the twitterverse hashtag of bullpenisterrible was in effect.  Love it!  Bull penis terrible.  Hilare...... Marmol and Zach Putnam, the new mullet in the Cubs pen, each gave up 4 in what was through 7, a close and winnable game.

Well, we still have a chance to win this series today, but it's not bloody likely, because lefty phenom Patrick Corbin 8-0, 1.71 goes up against Edwin Jackson 1-7, 6.11.  Um yeah....not bloody likely....

Check out these pics from Kelly's Sports Bar!  Place is mad cool!  And the soonly expiring podcast!

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Slams, Shams, and Sveums!

Do you know what the best thing about the 2 Grand Slams hit by the Chicago Cubs in the last 2 days is?  They were hit by both a platoon outfielder and a pitcher.  Did I mention that the back up catcher had a 3 homer day the day before?  Depth depth depth, is what you need to win a Championship.  Injuries and slumps take their toll on every team throughout the year, and you've got to have a backup plan.  Look at the Yankees who's entire starting lineup is a back up plan.  They are in second place.  The Cubs backup plan guys are now sparking the team, and hitting the cover off the ball.  But what of our original plan guys?  Ummmm...not so much.....

Sorry to bring up the negative while we are on a 5 game winning streak, but winning these games so decisively, with such incredible displays of hitting prowess, has me asking "who in the hell are these guys?!"  Castro and Rizzo, the cornerstones of this organization have struggled consistently this year.  Rizzo with a painfully slow start, including 45 strikeouts.  And Castro with a batting average of .264, far below what many of us expected from him.  Soriano is also playing below potential with only 6 homeruns.  And Darwin Barney, though a fielding phenom, is hovering precariously just above the Mendoza line at .209.  The Cubs in general are 7 games under .500, even though they have scored more runs than their opponents.  The only team to find themselves with this unlikely predicament of a stat in the majors.  They rank 6th in starting pitcher ERA, (9th overall), and they just don't hit on the road.

Wondering out loud.....Why did Sveum sit Navarro the day after his 3 homer game?  Why do the Cubs have 40 errors?  Half by the Pitchers and Catchers?  Why are we 7 games under .500 when an ancient greek philosopher named Pythagorus says we should be 2 games over.  Why?  Maybe it's because baseball isn't a "math problem" and wasn't invented in ancient Greece.  It's an American game, and as a people, Americans hate Math.  There is a place for stats as far as making decisions in this game.  Managers need to find the right matchups.  Lefty righty, double switches.  Defensive replacements.  There certainly are many factors to consider, but then there's just good old fashioned heart and gumption.  The intangibles like when a guy gets on a hot streak, or the converse, when you just know the starting pitcher doesn't have his stuff, but you try and get 5 innings anyway.  The innovations that sabermetrics has brought to the game of baseball are interesting at best.  The run expectancy charts in certain situations.   How a player hits against a specific pitcher.  Or how many strikeouts can be expected on a Tuesday, when it's partly cloudy, and the home plate umpire has explosive diarrhea.  But in my opinion, most of it is total BS.  Statistics don't play games, people do.  People with emotions, interpersonal chemistry, and good days and bad days.  Just like everyone on the planet.  I'm not calling Pythagorus a sham, I'm sure his theories are one of the reasons I'm even typing on a computer right now, but I don't think it applies to baseball as much as people involved in the front office, especially those who crave understanding and control of all things, want it to.  It's just a sham for baseball.  Better to be lucky than smart.

Speaking of smart!  Dale Sveum, our fearless bullet magnet of a manager, has come out and said he believes the team to be playing under their potential.  Well....duh...Dale were you also aware that the sun rises in the east, sets in the west, and puts two scoops of raisins in every box of Kellogs Raisin Bran?  I'm asking questions too here Dale.  Questions like why do the Cubs have an inexperienced manager, managing inexperienced players?  Was Brent Lillibridge really a leprechaun?  Should I get a 2013 World Champion Chicago Cubs tattoo?  I've been hard on Sveum in the past.  It's easy to criticize, and be a Monday morning quarterback, but seriously, I really hope, if the Cubs sell off the team that's currently winning ballgames, that he's part of the sell off too.  If they are truly thinking of Sveum, along with Rizzo, Castro, Jackson and Smardwjfbbferfbwhj as the core of this team, we might be 3/5 short of a core.  However, if we keep winning with Grand Slams by utility players and pitchers, I'll just shut up and take the wins, and quit complaining.  Son Ranto quit complaining?!  That'll be the day....

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