One game over .500 doesn’t sound like much, but when you look at where this team’s been at in the first half, it isn’t all bad. Still, the Cubs have their work cut out for them. They have league leading Brewers four ahead of them in the loss column and then the Cubs lead their hated rivals and 2006 World Champion Cardinals by just two games in the loss column. There’s still a lot that can go wrong, but the Cubs have played some good ball of late and they just have to build on that.
It’s hard to pick an MVP for this team. Aramis Ramirez still leads the team in a lot of the power categories despite the injury and Derek Lee has been the best “hitter.” Alfonso Soriano has done his job although he has just 33 RBIs despite having 15 homers. And then you can make a case for Mike Fontenot for the spark he’s provided. I’ll give it to Derek Lee though just based on OPS and the fact that he’s been there the whole season.
Ted Lilly, for all of the hype surrounding how bad his contract was, has put together an impressive season and I give him a slot nod over the surging Carlos Zambrano. He has two fewer wins then Carlos but Lilly’s ERA is about a half point lower and he’s right up there with Zambrano in strikeouts. Rich Hill also has to be given some props despite the fact he hasn’t picked up a win in, like, forever.
The Cubs first opponent after the break is the almost in last place Houston Astros. Carlos Zambrano throws against Jason Jennings in the opener and I like that matchup. Ted Lilly versus Roy Oswalt I don’t like as much so the series could come down to the rubber game. In the meantime, the Brewers take on Rockies. It’d be nice to just keep pace this weekend.
