On Tuesday, Cubs manager Lou Piniella decided to tweak the lineup and insert Kosuke Fukudome into the leadoff spot.
Fukudome promptly grounded out on the first pitch of the game.
It’s been that kind of week for the Chicago.
On Monday, the Cubs had to travel to Cooperstown, only to be rained out.
On Tuesday the Rays almost threw away the game, but survived after Evan Longoria made an impressive play to barely throw out Reed Johnson to end the game.
Now we have to watch our best pitcher get tagged four runs in the third inning and then leave the game early due to discomfort in his arm. I’d make a joke about how the only thing injured was Zambrano’s pride, but I’m not going to do that because it’s a cheap laugh and I’m better than that. Not to mention this might actually be a legit injury and I’d feel like crap if I made fun of it.
Chicago continues to be less-than-good on the road, dropping its second straight at Tampa, 5-4. At least the Rays are second place in their division. The Cubs have done worse against teams of lesser quality.
But ignore the fact that the Cubs that the Cubs turn into mere mortals on the road. We already knew that and until Chicago changes, we really can’t continue to complain. Let’s look at the team’s record without Alfonso Soriano in the lineup. Wednesday was the Cubs sixth game without the free-swingin’ centerfielder. So far they are 3-3.
Hey, I’ll even include the game he was injured, since he played just a couple of innings. That still just makes the team 4-3. It’s a small sample size but I’m just saying. This guy means a lot more to the team than folks realize. Even if he is swinging at pitches five feet above his head.
