Just when the Cubs look like they’re going to break out, they go on a mini-skid. And this is a tough one because they lose 1-0 on Sunday and then they get blown apart on Monday by the Padres. That Saturday game was a fun one to watch though with the brawl and everything although you wonder if it was worth the five game vacation that Derek Lee received.
Still, the Cubs are just six games back of the Brewers in the loss column and while a losing streak could push them all the way down into fifth place, a winning streak could push them into immediate contention. It’d be nice if, by the All Star Break, they could push the team’s behind them down a couple of games and maybe pull to within three or four games of the Brewers. Wishful thinking but it’s definitely realistic.
Speaking of the All Star Game, I wonder who the Cubs representative will be. Derek Lee is one choice as a reserve but there’s quite a bit of traffic at first base. For now Alfonso Soriano is entrenched as the third outfielder and there’s a pretty good chance he could be the only Cub heading to San Francisco. At least that’s what I’d put my money on if I were into sports betting.
One encouraging thing about the Cubs is that Carlos Zambrano is coming around. He’s had three great starts in a row and he looks like the Zambrano of old. Now we just have to get through the Aramis Ramirez injury and if he comes back and we’ve made up some ground, it’s all the better.
The Cubs start a three game series against one of the worst teams in baseball, the Rangers, this week so this might be a nice time for the Cubs to get back to their winning ways. Tonight it’ll be the impressive (so far) Sean Marshall going up against Robinson Tejada and his 6.49 ERA.
