Since Donbedouin is gone to Mexico he has asked me to do the state of the Cubs for him for this week and I have gladly accepted so here you go everybody.
57-38 first place 4.5 games up on the Cardinals, 5 up on the Brewers, and owners of the best record in baseball at the break.
The week that was:
Well what a week it was as the Cubs headed home after a long 10 game road trip that featured a bad beginning, but a great ending in winning 2 out of 3 from our closet followers. The Cubs where back at home to play three against the Reds and three against the Giants. However before any games where to take place some big news would occur. It all started on Sunday when the Brewers completed a trade to bring CC Sabathia to Milwaukee a move that prompted many Brewers fans mainly to now favor the Brewers. However Jim Hendry didn’t wait long on Tuesday afternoon it was announced that he completed a trade to bring the Cubs another ace of there own in Rich Harden and also reliever Chad Gaudin. You can read my thoughts on the this trade on my blog here it is the latest entry after this one.
Now let’s get on to the week’s analysis as it was a big week.
Game 1- On Tuesday night the Cubs played the opener of the brief home stand. A game that featured a pitching match up of Aaron Harang for the Reds and Cub all star Ryan Dempster. The Cubs got on the board early with a pair of sac flies in the 2nd and the 3rd innings. After the Reds scored one back in the 4th the Cubs where able to drive Harang from the game with a pair of 2 run homers by Geovany Soto and Mike Fontenot in the 4th and 5th. After all that Ryan Dempster went on cruise control as he went on to pitch 7 innings giving up only 2 hits, 4 walks and allowing the 1 run while striking out 5. Cotts and Marmol combined for a scoreless 8th. Howry had a few problems in the 9th, but was eventually able to finish the game and preserve a Cubs 7-3 win.
Game 2- Wednesday saw game 2 as the Cubs had Carlos Zambrano going against the Reds Johnny Cueto in what would turn out be one of Carlos Zambrano’s best pitching performances ever. Carlos gave up 1 hit which happened to be a home run by Adam Dunn, walked nobody, and striked out 5 in 8 innings. Carlos could have easily pitched the 9th inning however Lou opted for Carlos Marmol with the Cubs holding a 5-1 lead. Marmol got a couple of quick outs, but thanks to a pair of walks and an infield hit he loaded the bases and forced Lou to bring in Kerry Wood. Kerry was able to get Brandon Phillips to pop out to Derek Lee to end the game and save a Cubs win.
Game 3- Thursday afternoon the Cubs took the field looking for the sweep of the Reds. It was the Cubs Ted Lilly facing the Reds Bronson Arroyo. In the first couple of innings things looked good for the Cubs as they took a 1-0 lead and then extended that lead to 3-1 after 2 innings. However it was just not the Cubs day as Ted Lilly gave up 3 runs in the third and would not make it out of that inning. Thi
State Of The Cubs: Week 15
Posted on: July 14, 2008 7:49 pm
Edited on: July 14, 2008 7:50 pm