Last night, the Cubs avoided getting swept by the hated Brewers and then celebrated like they’d won game 7 of the World Series.
CHICAGO — Jonathan Lucroy hit a grand slam and drove in seven runs for Milwaukee, but Alfonso Soriano’s RBI single capped a three-run comeback in the ninth inning Thursday that lifted the Chicago Cubs over the Brewers 12-11.In a seesaw game featuring a combined 15 extra-base hits, the Cubs led 3-0, trailed 9-3 and were still down 11-9 going into the ninth.Starlin Castro hit an RBI single against Francisco Rodriguez (2-7), Anthony Rizzo tied it with his second double of the afternoon and Soriano won the game with his one-out drive off the center-field wall.
No wonder Soriano doesn’t want to go to San Francisco. He has everything he needs right here!
Ah, but the warm and fuzzy feelings didn’t last, because I woke up this morning to this:
CHICAGO — When Josh Vitters was promoted from Triple-A Iowa to the Cubs on Aug. 5, the plan was to give him the majority of playing time at third base. That plan has changed.
Luis Valbuena started at third base on Thursday, and may be getting more playing time in the final month than Vitters, who was the Cubs’ No. 1 Draft pick in 2007. Vitters, 23, was batting .093 (5-for-54) with 19 strikeouts, and hitless in his last four games.
“I’ll still mix and match,” Cubs manager Dale Sveum said Thursday. “You might see Valbuena in there a little bit more. We’re just giving Vitters some time to kick back here now and see what happens. You’re trying to evaluate, but you’re trying to win ballgames at the same time. We’re having trouble scoring runs, period, so the at-bats — Valbuena is getting on base, he’s swinging the bat well, playing good defense.”
Sveum admitted it’s a change from earlier.
“I have shifted gears a little that way, because we’re not getting anything out of that position,” Sveum said. “A guy who hasn’t struck out much is striking out quite a bit and not making contact. We’re just going to evaluate and keep plugging along to determine what do we have and moving forward and evaluating these guys in situations that hopefully they’re going to succeed.”
Dale, how can I put this?
ARE YOU SIMPLE?
Look, it doesn’t matter if you win games. It doesn’t matter if you don’t win another game all year. Not winning another game all season would be a GOOD THING, because it would help the team get a better draft spot. You have one job, and one job alone for the rest of this season, and that is to develop the kids. PUT VITTERS IN.
The Cubs welcome the San Francisco Giants to Wrigley this afternoon, with Chris Volstad (seriously? again? already?) taking on Madison Bumgarner (14-8, 2.93) today at 1:20 pm CT. Lineups to come.
Don’t forget that Wrigley Talk Friday comes your way today at 1:00 pm CT on Blog Talk Radio.
Does Dale not understand that since July, the Cubs have been playing for their draft spot?? The season has be over for a LOOOONG time. Now, he needs to focus on player development and observation to see what craptastic team he can put on the field next season. Let it go, Dale. Let it go. He should be trying to convince Sori to go to San Fran in the “best interest of the organization.” Anyway, GO CUBS GO!!
Nope. He definitely does not understand that.
Another lost season in a long line of lost seasons…I am really beginning to believe the Cubs will never see another WS while I am alive…I’ve been waiting over half of century now with nothing to show for all our futility & the cry of wait till next year rings kind of hollow……
Vitters isn’t hitting BECAUSE HE CAN’T HIT.
He was over-matched at AAA and isn’t even hitting what the pitchers are hitting up here.
The talent just is NOT there.
2 words: HE SUCKS.
Let it out!!! Your statement alone reinforces that fact we have been done with this season. It has been a total bust.
Finding out what does NOT work is progress. I am all for sorting out the kids.
Vitters has been sorted.
Jackson has impressed me a bit of late in that he has shown the talent to make adjustments quickly. LaHair, Rizzy and Barney need to learn how to do this.
We knew coming into the season what to expect out of Barney, a shabby bat and a good glove. I believe we got that plus a little extra on the defensive side.
LaHair can’t catch a break. Kills in AAA, finally gets his shot, rakes for a month or two, then begins to hear the footsteps of the “first baseman of the futre,” then falls apart. He never got comfortable in his position on the team. Hopefully, he will get traded to a team where he can plan one position everyday.
Rizz has done what was expected, he has become human.
Can’t really expect much from a team with low expectations.
He was actually having a pretty good season at AAA.
And he’s only 23.
Rizzo wasn’t much better last season. By your definition, Rizzo should have been shipped to Siberia to be never heard from again.
I’m not saying Vitters is going to be great or anything, but it is way way too early to just say he’s not good and it is insane to say he’s not talented. In fact, it is downright naive to after less than a month that he sucks.
He’s just “letting it out”.
With the team losing so much, I think it’s hard for anyone not to be tight and wound up, which can lead to questionable play especially at batting which is the real difficult part of the game.
And players feed off the other’s performances.
Which leads to greater struggles by many.
Which leads to losses.
Which……….
The one that doesn’t seem to be affected is Slacker… er…I mean,Soriano and I can’t believe I said that.
oh, there’s a game on
and Soriano just hit a home run to the street
Cubs lead 5-0 top of 4th.
Holy Cow!!!
Campana, Dave Sappelt and Cardenas to join Cubs Saturday.
Campana and Sappelt? That’s some serious speed right there. Too bad we can’t get any guys on base so these two could pinch run.
It figures that I benched both Soriano and Castro today.
Also Rusin
Socolovich on Sunday. Recker and Dolis to follow.
now you’re just making up names
I have Dr. Who season premier on the brain, so he will now be Rafael Dalek
also, that is a compliment
Haaa
Im happy the Cubs are winning and hope they do win.But I HATE giving any help to the dodgers.Have to hope that skanky-ass team loses.(Man! That team can bring the worse outta me.)
Cubs win and Jeff Baker gets a DFA from the Tigers.
Does it get any better then this?
Don’t tell the cubs, or they might want him back…
Yes. The dodgers losing.
Bite your tongue Sloan
Volstad is going to win 34 straight. Calling it.
Go to oneatbat.com and sign the petition.
I’m not sure why I’m watching the White Sox (other than boredom), but wow, the difference between their team and ours is staggering. They do everything right.
Or at least we better than we do.
Cubs fans are stupid for watching their team play.
Sox fans are stupid for not watching their team play.
When did Chicago get so stupid?
Well I moved away 12 years ago.
So, before that.
I know you all are about tired of me and my Nationals, but I’m sure you can thumbs up this: I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Washington beat the crap out of the Cardinals the last couple games.
Gio had a shutout last night!
Watching the Notre Dame game,to see what normal weather looks like. Now understand why over 33% of LA County retirees move to Ireland…