The Reason

So much for the Cubby swagger I talked about earlier today.  The Cubs played horribly tonight, losing 4-3 and now see their lead back down to 1 game after the Brewers beat the Reds. I’ve been wondering why most people I’ve been talking to just aren’t pumped up about this pennant run.  I think I figured out the reason after watching tonight’s game.  This team just seems to lack the killer instinct needed to win it all.  Yeah, we may make the playoffs, but then what.  There seems to be an issue with mental toughness, and until this team learns to kick other teams when they are down, I just don’t know if the Cubs can go all the way.  I know that it is very hard to win both games of a double header, but the Cubs had this one in the bag.

Marshall Rusty

The Cubs started off well against starter Joel Pinero, picking up where they left off last Monday.  After Alfonso Soriano struck out, Jacque Jones and Derrek Lee hit back to back singles, and Cliff Floyd walked to load the bases.  Aramis Ramirez hit a single, giving the Cubs a 1-0 lead with the bases still loaded.  Then, Mark DeRosa hit a shallow line drive to centerfield, which a charging Jim Edmonds caught, and Lee tagged up, getting thrown out at the plate, ending the inning and the threat.  Sean Marshall, who hadn’t pitched since August 31, got in all sorts of trouble in the first, but managed to escape the inning without giving up any runs.  Then in the second, Ryan Theriot hit a one out double to deep right center.  Sean Marshall then hit a line drive, and Theriot attempted to score from second, but was thrown out by So Taguchi.  That’s two base runners thrown out at the plate in two innings.  Luckily, Alfonso Soriano hit a two run shot off Pinero, giving the Cubs a 3-0 lead.  Marshall got in some more trouble in the second, but again escaped without any damage done.  Derrek Lee led off the third with a double, and moved to third on a Ramirez ground out.  The Cubs blew this scoring chance when Cliff Lee struck out and DeRosa flied out to end the threat.  Marshall finally looked to have settled down in the third inning, getting Albert Pujols to ground out for the first out.  Then, he got the next batter, Ryan Ludwick, to strike out swinging, but Jason Kendall did not catch the ball and had to make a routine throw to Lee for the out, but Kendall was late and threw it in the ground, putting Ludwick at first.  Marshall then walked Jim Edmonds, and on a 3-2 pitch, gave up a double to Yadir Molina, cutting the Cubs lead to 3-2.  The next batter, junkie Scott Spezio, hit a single, tying the game.  That was it for Marshall, as Lou took him out and put in Michael Wuertz.  Wuertz, second in the league behind teammate Carlos Marmol in preventing inherited runners from scoring, gave up a triple to former Cub Miguel Cairo, giving the Cards a 4-3 lead.

Folding

Wuertz got out of the inning without further damage, and the Cubs were only down one run with six inning to go.  Plus they had already had seven hits in the first three innings.  But Pineiro settled down, retiring 15 straight hitters after Lee’s leadoff double in the third. The Cubs didn’t have another base runner until the eighth, when Russ Springer came into the game.  Soriano reached first on an error by Spezio, and Cardinal fans thought it was all going to fall apart.  Jones hit a grounder that put Soriano, the tying run, in scoring postition with Lee and Ramirez up next and only one out.  Derrek Lee hit a pop foul to first base and Springer got Ramirez to pop up to second to end the threat.  Then, as Ramirez is standing at first, he has some words with Springer.  Why?  Don’t give these guys any fire.  They are reeling and you’re going to start a fight?  Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Killer Instinct

Except for June and July, the Cubs have lacked the killer instinct all season long.  Everytime they have a pitcher on the ropes, they never seem to deliver that knockout punch.  It happened again tonight.  I’m sorry if I sound negative, but this was really a winnable game for the Cubs, and again they give life to Milwaukee and the Cards.  Let’s see if the Cubs can bounce right back against the struggling Mark Mulder, or will they blow another opportunity.  Keep in mind, there are only 13 games left.  Jason Marquis and the Cubs offense better bring their A game with them and finish off the Cardinals once and for all.

Go Cubs!