6/26/08 vs Orioles; L 4-11; (49-30)

They just can’t get to 21 games over .500 can they? The Orioles routed the Cubs today, knocking around Jason Marquis in the process. They also became only the second team this year to take a series at Wrigley Field. Milwaukee has done it twice so far this year.

I am in Vegas as I write this, so I’ll keep it brief.

The Cubs managed ten hits, but not much run production. Theriot, Fontenot, and Daryle Ward each notched two hits. Eric Patterson only had one hit but drove in two runs. Ronny Cedeno, Mark DeRosa, and Henry Blanco each hit safely once.

See the problem?! While I like that our bench players can produce when needed, Lee, Ramirez, Edmonds, and Soto played. But they didn’t hit. Theriot and DeRosa are the only two regulars who got hits. A couple here or there by the other starters and we may have a ball game.

I have been reading Moneyball by Michael Lewis. In it he told how the 2002 Oakland A’s thought they needed 95 wins to make the playoffs. They built their team around getting that done. The realization after a loss was, if they win 95, they will lose 67. That particular game was one of those 67. Under that logic, this is one we chalk up. We are still on pace for 100 wins…how great would that be, 100 wins on the 100th anniversary of the World Series….which means we have to lose 62.

Marquis got roughed up today. Seven earned in four innings isn’t going to get it done. Remember his last start, against the White Sox? We won the game and he earned the victory, but gave up five earned in seven innings. That is a 9.82 ERA in his last two starts.

At least we have the good news that Big Z is ready to throw off a mound and expects to pitch next Friday against St. Louis. Kosuke on the other hand missed his second straight game.

White Sox this weekend, this time at their place. Let’s get all three again and get to 22 games over!