Dude, maybe you should get some pointers from Maholm.
Today’s game contained exactly zero surprises, unless you want to count the fact that Matt Kemp again failed to hit a home run. Chris Volstad had two implode-y innings, handing five runs over to the Dodgers. The Cubs managed all of five hits off of Dodger pitching, and lost, 5-1.
Volstad was pretty good everywhere except the second and fifth innings, where he let LA string a few too many hits together. Particularly galling was a two-run double by pitcher Chris Capuano in the second inning that gave the Dodgers a 3-0 lead.
The Cubs made a token show of a rally when Ian Stewart drove in Starlin Castro with two outs in the ninth, but Darwin Barney grounded out to end it.
Points of interest: Lendy Castillo is not, in fact, dead or in hiding. He pitched the sixth and seventh and gave up only a single to Mark Ellis. Recently-shunned Carlos Marmol got an inning of work today as well, and the change of pace hasn’t done him any good; he issued a walk and launched a wild pitch.
We also saw Marlon-Byrd-compensation Michael Bowden in the ninth, where he was perfect. (Bowden for Closer 2012!)
The Cubs committed two errors in quick succession today. Volstad flubbed a pickoff throw, sending Mark Ellis to second. Starlin Castro (sigh) followed that up by bobbling an Andre Ethier grounder, allowing him to reach base. Neither runner would score. Castro did balance out the error with a three-hit day, making him 60% of Chicago’s offensive production.
I neglected to mention yesterday that Dale Sveum earned his first ejection of the year for arguing balls and strikes. The umpiring crew evened up the score today when they ejected Ted Lilly from the Dodgers’ dugout for doing the same thing. Is it just me, or have the MLB umpires had more issues than usual lately?
Tomorrow’s matchup will be Aaron Harang against Matt Garza – tentatively, anyway, as long as Matty gets over his tummy bug. Otherwise, we’re likely to see Travis Wood, who is in Chicago as a backup. Correction: Matty is still sick. Travis Wood will start. It goes down at 1:20 pm CT on WGN.
And now, if you’ll excuse me, it is Derby Day. I’m going to go put on an extremely fancy hat and sip some bourbon. Good day.
I’ve thought the slagging of Volstad over his first few starts was overblown, but he definitely didn’t have it today.
Well I missed 75% of the game while running errands and the good news is I missed the Dodger announcers and the probable garbage they came out with. But then again, the Cubs didn’t do much to shut them up. Tomorrow I have more errands-depending on the time of the game I might get to miss the Dodgers creeps again…
that photo of volstad is gong to give me nightmares
Also, man.. i dont want to bitch about one of the few productive players on the team, but I see this as a practice season. And being a practice season, shouldn’t Castro practice patience? almost 30 games in and he has 3 walks? Ugh.