A Pretty Good Series

The Cubs had a pretty good series against the Reds this weekend. It would have been a great series had they not completely imploded, especially on defense, in the last two innings of Sunday's game. I can see why, if Alan Trammell is responsible for coaching the infield, he is not being considered for the managerial job. Soto and Fukudome got charged with throwing errors, but in Soto's case, Castro made a mistake in not just conceding the stolen base and catching the throw and Baker should have been backing up the play; in Fukudome's case, Ramirez made virtually no effort to stop the ball which was just a little off line.

Castro is a work in progress defensively, but the Cubs need to do something to inspire Ramirez to actually try to play a decent third base. They are stuck with him for at least another season - and really they have no replacement - and he is a key offensively when he is healthy, but he seems to have gone the wrong way since his shoulder injury. When he was a Pirate, he was considered a defensive liability, but in his years with the Cubs he had made himself a serviceable infielder. But, as I noted above, things have gone south since his injury last year. Needless to say, Baker should never ever play 2B, just as he should never ever bat against a right-handed pitcher.

Friday's game was a joke because Gorzelanny just did not have it. Lots of people like Gorzelanny, but to me the jury is still out. He has pitched some good games, but in all honesty he is a 5th starter despite his achievements this season. He throws too many balls and, as a consequence, he puts men on base too often and usually can't get past the 6th inning. Good enough for a #5 on a dominant staff, but I could see him going in the off-season if the Cubs think they have a younger gun to replace him.

Wells pitched very well on Saturday night in the best played game of the series. Wells has had a bit of a sophomore slump, but I see him as a pretty good #3 or #4 starter who should rebound next year closer to his freshman form.

Coleman pitched a gutsy game to keep them in it. He throws strikes, but he doesn't seem to have really dominant stuff. Maybe he can become another guy like Wells in time, but I wonder if he is up here too soon and would not benefit from more seasoning, especially if he is thought to be a potential starter. I can see him doing OK in long relief as well.

I have been criticized for harping on the good qualities of Kosuke Fukudome, among others, but I have to call it as I see it. Fukudome hit a two-run homer on Saturday night that gave the Cubs the win, and he hit a two-run homer Sunday (against a lefty, perish the thought) to tie the game and give the Cubs a chance to win. He is very hot these days and maybe his work with Jaramillo is paying off or maybe he has finally made the adjustments to American baseball that he has needed to make.

Several sports guys have read into the comments of some players the idea that whatever his skills Quade seems more involved in the game and the team seems looser. Cashner and Russell have both been quoted as saying Quade has helped them just by sitting down and talking about game situations and restoring their confidence.

The implication in all of these observations is that Piniella did just the opposite, and I have to say I have always thought that to be the case, and that the demeanor of the club under Lou was very tight and dour. The Cubs are thought not to be looking for a celebrity manager and I think they are right in this respect. One mistake they should not make, whether their choice is Quade or Sandberg or whoever, is to go with a four year deal. Two years is enough. You can always extend. Baker and Piniella were both successful in their first and second seasons and poison thereafter.