Cubs Update

The last couple of days I have been swamped, but I have been keeping up with the Cubs. The Cubs have gone 1-2 since the last update. Losing in the Wednesday’s game to the Padres 13-8. In that game Rusch did not have the start he probably was hoping for. In 3 inning he gave up 5 hits and 5 runs (3 earned), though John Mabry’s fielding did not help him any. Also Michael Wuertz was awful in the ninth inning only getting 2 outs, but sourrendering 3 hits (1 hr) and 3 walks. John Koronka who appeared on the Cubs last year pitched a perfect inning in the 7^th with a strikeout. The rest of the Cubs pitchers that appeared in the game are all bound for the minors, Wells, Pignatiello, Aardsma, and Marmol. Murton hit his first home run of the spring, while Grissom and Restovich both went 0-2. Pierre had 2 hits, but was thrown out stealing in his only attempt. Jake Fox went 2-3 and has shown that he might be turning into a semi-decent catching prospect.

On Thursday the Cubs defeated the Anaheim Angels (I refuse to call them anything else) 6-5. Rich Hill started the game and went 2 innings giving up 4 hits (2 hr’s) and 4 runs, while getting 4 k’s. Todd Wellemeyer pitched 2 innings also giving up 4 hits, 1 run, 1 Hit-batsman and a run. His stats just don’t show that he is getting the hitters out this spring and I would think his time is running out. Bryan Corey got the win, but was less impressive out on the mound giving up two hits and a walk in 1 inning. Koronka made an appearance for the 2^nd day in a row and pitched his 2^nd perfect inning. Former first-round pick Bobby Brownlie pitched an inning walking one and striking out one. It was nice to see Scott Eyre pitch and get the save, since he has been bothered with a stiff neck this spring training. Grissom started in LF and went 1-2 with a walk, while Restovich came in later to replace him and went 0-1. Angel Pagan, who has caught the eye early of the Cubs, replaced Juan Pierre and went 0-2.

Friday the Cubs lost to the Rockies 6-2. Jerome Williams pitched 3 innings and gave up 8 hits and all 6 runs while striking out none. The only positive sign for Williams was that he didn’t walk any batters, but he did hit one. Bobby Howry pitched one perfect inning relieving Williams. Scott Williamson pitched an inning, though he gave up no runs he was less than spectacular, giving up 2 hits and 2 walks and striking out none. Jae-Kuk Ryu pitched a perfect inning while showing off great reaction skills on a ball hit back up the middle. Brian Boehringer also made an appearance for an inning giving up a hit, but I don’t think he has much chance of making the team. Angel Pagan made an appearance in RF going 0-1. Restovich pinch hit for John Mabry and got an RBI single. Besides that the Cubs offense was pretty abysmal.