The Road Trip From Hell

The Cubbies are finally back in Chicago after a horrible 2-5 road trip and will play 17 of their next 23 games in the friendly confines. Thankfully, the Brewers stunk it up as well and the Cubs only lost one half game in the standings. The road trip came at the tail end of a 20 games in 20 days stretch in which the Cubs went 9-11 but managed to make a game and a half on the Brewers.

Anyway, the Cubs nearly stole one tonight, in fact, they fell just inches short of winning the game on as Mike Fontenot hit a ball to the right field wall that looked like it was going out but was caught to the end the game. Matt Murton hit a rocket to left earlier in the 9th but the ball was also caught at the wall. Being SO Close to a winning game we had no right to win with the way Zambrano pitched coupled with the Brewers loss to St. Louis makes the loss a little easier to take but this is getting ridiculous.

Now is the time to make a run, Big Z needs to get his head straight after two horrible starts, including tonight's 7 innings, 13 hits and 6 runs allowed, zero strikeout effort against Cincinnati. when Z is going good, the Cubs win, when he's not, neither are the Cubs. He sort of sets the tone for the rest of the team.

The Lovable Ones finally rediscovered their power stroke, hitting three homers--by D-Lee, Aramis, and the one formally known as "the struggling" Jacque Jones. If we are going to make a run deep into the postseason it's going to be because Zambrano and the sluggers.

In the reshuffled bullpen, Bob Howry was perfect in the 9th and Carlos Marmol did a great job after loading the bases in the 8th, striking out Jeff Keppinger and Ken Griffey Jr., and getting Brandon Phillips to pop out to end the threat and keep the Reds lead at 6-4. D-Lee followed that by hitting two out RBI single to make the score 6-5 and Aramis had a great at bat and drew a walk. Darryl Ward couldn't come through as he popped out to end the 8th. Ryan Dempster did not pitch but warmed up in the 8th. It is going to be interesting to see what Lou does with his new nasty boys. I want Demp in the 7th, Howry in the 8th, and Marmol in the 9th, assuming we ever get another save opportunity.

Let's get 'em tomorrow Cubbies.