Lilly, Zambrano Lead Cubs Past Brewers To Set The Pace

Coming into this important divisional series against the Milwaukee Brewers, the media didn't seem to give the Cubs much of a chance. The Cubs had been reeling during the second half of the season, while the Brewers have gotten red hot and erased a 6 game deficit in the standings.

Ted Lilly and Carlos Zambrano matched CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets pitch for pitch, leading the Cubs to victories in the first two games of a four game series. Now, after the first two games of the series (against Sabathia and Sheets) the Cubs have built a three game lead in the standings, with Dempster and Hardin still to pitch in this "playoff like atmosphere" divisional series matchup. Order Cubs Merchandise, Apparel, and Jerseys before they make their push for the playoffs!


Kosuke Fukudome seems to be coming out of a month long slump, getting key hits, and overall looking much more comfortable at the plate. The Cubs lineup tends to follow Fukudome's plate discipline. Early in the season, when Fukudome was getting on base at a .450 OBA clip, the entire lineup seemed to take more pitches and ultimately get better pitches to hit. When Fukudome began to lunge at pitches out of his zone, the other players in the Cubs lineup seemed to follow suit. The last few games, Fukudome seems to have his batting eye back, and coincidentally the rest of the lineup is beginning to hit again. Coincidence?

Cubs Return Home After Rough Road Trip

The Chicago Cubs eagerly return home to face the Arizona Diamondbacks. Eratic pitching, lackluster offense, and fielding woes all contributed to the Cubs poor road trip.

The Cubs have lost 8 of their last 10 and hope to turn it around tomorrow at 1:20 pm against one of the best teams in the National League, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ted Lilly faces Dan Haren in what should be a hard fought battle. Ted Lilly hopes to continue his stretch of solid outings after a few very poor starts to open the season.

Alphonso Soriano continues to struggle at the top of the order, and Lou Piniella has to be feeling the pressure to move him down in the lineup and to move Kosuke Fukudome closer to the top of the order. I really don't know what the delay is. Soriano has let it be known that he will hit anywhere that Lou puts him in the lineup. His high power and low on base percentage is better suited for the #6 spot in the lineup.

Kerry Wood continues to mystify me. He follows one superb outing, to get a blown save in the next, only to pitch "lights out" a few days later. I really hope that Wood pitches with more consistency soon, or Lou will be forced to move Carlos Marmol into the closers role, even though he has been excelling in his role as the set up man.

Ted Lilly - Pitching Woes Continue

So far in 2008 Ted Lilly has been far from impressive. His velocity is down, is not locating his pitches, and hasn't shown the ability to get out of jams. The Cubs need him to be a solid middle of the rotation pitcher, and so far thats not the case. Buy A Ted Lilly Cubs Jersey


Other than Carlos Zambrano, the Cubs starting staff has been shaky at best. Purchase A Carlos Zambrano Jersey!


To overtake the Brewers and the Cardinals, the Cubs need to find somebody that can give the Cubs some consistent quality starts. Luckily for the Cubs, their offense has been swinging the bats and has kept them in some games that could of gotten ugly.

Is Jon Lieber the answer? It is a nice option to have him in long relief for whenever one of our "shaky" starters can't get through the early innings. I'd like to hear what some of the readers think about this? Bring somebody up from the minors? Sean Gallagher? Just sit and wait, and hope the starters return to form?