Cubs Diaries

This series with the Cardinals has not been pleasant to watch. The Cubs got swept for the first time this year, and boy, was it ugly. And, to add insult to injury, the series was boring. A total of 10 runs were scored, with the Cubs only scoring 2.

In the simplest terms possible (for all you blog skimmers): Cubs score 2 runs in 3 games, Cardinals play extremely good baseball.

Now for the important question, what does this all mean? Well, I don't know for sure, but here are few thoughts, broken down into pros and cons.

Pros:

1) Cubs Pitching. On the blog thus far we have been harping on the Cubs pitching, especially the bullpen. One of the few pros from this series is that the Cubs staff only gave up 8 total runs. I'll take that over any three-game stretch. Also, Guzman pitched great in relief tonight. He seems like he could add to the bullpen in a productive way.

2) Fukudome. He was the only Cubs player to hit decently this series, continuing on his extremely hot start. Right now it is as if the baseballs he sees are the size of beach balls. He is making it look real easy. Fukudome, you are officially back in my good graces after last year's second-half meltdown. Just promise you won't do it again.

3) For once, the bullpen is not to blame. In this season that has been marred by inconsistency thus far, the bullpen was always an easy scapegoat. Now we have the offense to blame! This is especially good for the casual Cubs fan. When talking about this series around the water cooler, instead of having to remember the name of Neil Cotts or Marmol, you can talk about Soriano-- you know, that guy with the big smile that you always see on TV.



Cons:

1) Cubs Offense. Well, this is pretty obvious. Only scoring 2 runs in 3 games means that there is a problem with your offense. Maybe it is just because I was a psychology major in college, but I really feel like many of the hitting woes this series can be combatted utilizing psychology. The entire team needs to approach every at-bat as if they are going to get a hit. They have lost their confidence. This is why hitting slumps are vicious -- you need confidence to hit, but you only gain confidence from hitting. It is the same thing as the guy who can't get a girlfriend because of his lack of confidence, but cruelly, they only thing that will give him the confidence he needs to be attractive is some success with girls.

How do we fix this problem (the Cubs' hitting problem, not the girlfriend-less guys confidence problem)? Piniella needs to tell his team to focus on what they can control. For example: Getting a good at-bat each time they go to the plate.

2) The Cardinals are better than anyone expected. Yes, even better than that drunk German guy at that bar in St. Louis who thought they may give the Cubs a run. Honestly, after watching this series, if they pitch this well through the rest of the year, I have no idea who will beat them. This does not bode well for the Cubs winning the NL Central, but then again, the Cardinals can't pitch this well in every series. I hope.

The Cubs need to get out of this funk. More than anything, they need to get away from Chicago media who are talking about this team as if they are the biggest disappointment in Cubs history. After 101 years of losing, you think they would lay off a little. How about some positive reinforcement? But then again, it's easier to be heard in the sports media world when you are yelling and angry. This is known as the Jim Rome approach, and he has his own TV show. I do not.

The good news is that the Padres are under .500 and may be the perfect confidence boost, and the weather in San Diego is beautiful this time of year. The Cubs need a vacation, and a three-game series against the Padres in May might be just that.

Funny thing I thought about during the game tonight:

What if Adam Wainwright and Rufus Wainwright were related?



--- Daniel.