Red Baron Lets One Slip

While watching the Cubs getting blanked by Angels pitcher John Lackey, I had to rewind the TIVO when I heard Rick Sutcliffe doing an interview with Len Kasper and Dan Pleasac. Pleasac spent the majority of the game blabbering the company line about Prior being fine and just needing to "fine tune" things, yet when he asked Sutcliffe about Prior, if he could return to his old form, Sutcliffe said something similar to this;

He will be given every opportunity to get back [to his old form], but the guy I have seen is not even close.  I hope, I pray that I am wrong, but to me, he looks like he is favoring something.  He could possibly have an injury that he’s trying to pitch through.  He’s not the same guy.  You don’t see the extension, the velocity is inconsistent.

I tried to write down his exact words, but they were close to this.  Did Sutcliffe not get the Cubs memo explaining that you are never supposed to be honest about Prior?  I wonder if the mainstream media will pick up on this.  I would like to hear Cubs’ managements explanation.

Scores can be Decieving

The Cubs lost both games this weekend, 7-3 to San Diego, and 4-0 to Anaheim.  R ich Hill gave up three runs on three hits over five innings while striking out four against San Diego, but pitched well, while Derek Lee had a monster 3 run blast.  The game was a close one until Neal Cotts and Les Walrond came into the game.  Against the Angels, Carlos Zambrano went 5 2/3 innings, surrendering nine hits and four runs while striking out four and hitting one batter. He ran into trouble in the third when he gave up three singles and a triple to Chone Figgins.  The triple was out of the reach of firstbaseman Darryl Ward.  Had Derek Lee been in the game, Carlos might have got out of that inning without giving up any runs.

Take the Walks, Don’t Give Them Any

Last year, Cub pitchers led the league in walks allowed (687) while Cub batters drew the fewest walks (395).  Under Pinella this spring training, the Cubs pitchers have walked 57 batters, while Cub batters have drawn 66.  Zambrano had 0 walks against the Angels, Hill has not had any in the ten innings he has pitched, and the Cubs have been improving throughout the spring.  They have also been much more patient at the plate, taking more pitches.  Let’s hope this trend continues.

Screwed by the White Sox?

Did the Cubs get the short end of the David Aardsma for Neal Cotts trade?  The Cubs/Sox trades have been infamously lopsided, remember when the Cubs traded George Bell for Sammy Sosa, or when the Sox got Jon Garland for Matt Karchner ?  While the jury is still out on this one, Cotts has been God Awful this spring.  Cotts has allowed eight runs in eight innings, including two Saturday against the Padres.  Fortunately, Aardsma is not doing much better, pitching in 5 games with a 9.45 ERA.  He has given up eight runs in 6.2 innings pitched.