5/2/08 @ Cardinals; L 3-5; (17-12)

I don't care if he hit a home run in the ninth to tie the game. If he could catch a fly ball then that would have been the game winner, but he can't. He should have done a rehab assignment. I don't care that he makes $15 million a year and you think you have to get your money's worth. We were playing better without him.

If cost is a concern, we can save money by letting him share a ride with Rich Hill who also needs some time away from the major leagues. He faced six hitters and he only threw ten strikes. It isn't like he had a strong showing in his first few appearances. We need to try someone new in this spot.

Back to Soriano...we're still in this game at 2-1 in the seventh inning. Bob Howry comes in to pitch. D Lee makes an error on Ankiel's grounder to start the inning. Then Pujols pops up and Theriot and Soriano point fingers at each other while letting the ball drop. Howry manages to get the next two outs, which should have ended the inning if either of the first two plays are made. Then Yadier Molina hits a fly ball that Soriano inexplicably breaks in on. Then, instead of busting his ass to make up for hit, he casually runs after it while it bounces into the stands for a ground rule double. Hey, you make a mistake and get the wrong jump, fine. BUT MAKE UP FOR IT! You know he can run faster than he did. Absolutely ridiculous inning.

Howry had to end up facing six hitters that inning. He got one ground ball, three pop ups, and struck out two. Good thing he struck out two, who knows what other defensive gaffs the Cubbies could have succumbed to. He came back in the next inning and got us another three outs. Props to him for a solid outing.

My question for Lou Piniella is...why take him out? Why bring in Woody in a tie game when you know you are going to need another inning because you didn't score in your half? Is Howry only good for two innings? I don't profess to be an expert in the management of the bullpen, but I think he could go more than 29 pitches. It might be a moot point. If he goes another inning, Woody goes one inning, then Fox is still in for the eleventh.

I know we had already been through quite a bit of the bullpen because of Hill's ridiculous outing, and I know we have to rest Marmol once in a while, but couldn't Marshall have thrown the ninth or tenth? Again, without the Cubs scoring in extra innings, I don't know when you ever get to the point you bring in Kerry.

I do give Lou credit for pinch hitting Big Z. With the early exit of Hill, and the number of projected pinch hitters he was going to need to use as he worked through his bullpen, that was a great way to save a position player. Turned out to be well worth it both because he got a hit, and because we needed to take Aramis out of the game.

His condition is my biggest concern coming out of this game. I am sure glad that Len or Bob mentioned earlier how neither he or D Lee had missed a start yet. Nice announcer jinx guys.

We have to get things turned around soon. 3 and 6 over the last nine games is our worst stretch of the year. Winning the last two at St. Louis is vital at this point.