Cubs Not Dead Yet
Now Slightly Better Than AverageEven though Mark "The Franchise" Prior landed on the DL, the Cubs have finally figured things out. They've won five straight and eight of their last ten. Derrek Lee continues to sizzle; his .363-16-46 season leads the Triple Crown race.
Three reasons explain their current rise, in increasing order of importance:
1. Better hitting.
Last 5 games: .309 BA, 11.2 hits/game, 6.6 runs/game
Before: .261, 8.9, 4.2
The Cubs have unlocked the secret loophole to baseball: whichever team scores more runs at the end of nine innings automatically wins. They never had a huge problem with the pitching side, but the hitting has been frustrating. Granted, these robust numbers have been against the woeful Rockies and the sinking Dodgers, but you have to start somewhere.
2. Good karma.
You can give me billy goats, black cats, and Steve Bartman, but if the Cubs had a curse, its name was LaTroy Hawkins. Even when he pitched somewhat well, he lost. The Cubs invented ways to blow the game with two outs in the 9th with Hawkins on the hill. Last week the Cubs shipped him to San Francisco for two starters. Although I have no personal animosity towards Hawkins, the Cubs got a steal; I would have traded him for Barry Bonds' rookie card and a large pepperoni pizza.
3. Heavy threats.
Ignore both of the above. The real reason for the Cubs' recent success? Management said that if they lose again, they'll bring back Jeff Gordon to sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame." Man, that was awful. (cheesehead salute: The Catholic Packer Fan)
UPDATE: Make that six straight victories, after the 9-5 win tonight polished off the three-game sweep of the Dodgers. Triple Crown leader Derrek Lee went 5-5 with a key late-inning three-run homer to keep the Cubs up for good.
Oh, and LaTroy Hawkins loaded the bases in the 8th inning while pitching for San Francisco against the Phillies; he then gave up a pinch-hit grand slam to Chase Utley. The Phillies won, 10-6.
Jeff Gordon is said to be in-studio working on an album with William Hung. -- MJM 6/2 3:05 AM
UPDATE II: The winning streak ended on Friday night, but the Cubs won the two weekenders to finish their West Coast road swing a robust 6-1. In their last ten games, they had more than 10 hits nine times, and won all of those games. Interleague matchups return this week, with a who-cares series with Toronto preceding the Red Sox-Cubs Curse-A-Palooza over the weekend. All billy goats get in for half-price. -- MJM 6/6 4:05 PM
posted by Marsh @ 4:48 PM
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