If the last two games are any indication, the Cubs are back to normal. Losing two of three to the Astros is, well, inexcusable. On Tuesday night, they took a certain win into the bottom of the ninth and came out losers after a walk-off grand slam. It seems clear that Marmol is not the same pitcher he was last year. I don't know why managers don't get somebody up when their closer just doesn't have it, but it is really time for a change of strategy here. This train wreck took a long time to develop, and Marmol was in long counts throughout the inning, not at all sharp. He had to work hard to lose the game, coming in with a three run lead.
Today's game proves two things. One is that Coleman is a work in progress, which means the Cubs are going to have to work pretty hard to replace Zambrano and the innings he ate up at his best. The other is that this is a seriously flawed lineup that does not and cannot score runs and doesn't produce when there are men on base. What was it, 0 for 13 with RISP, three innings with runners at third and no outs, no runs? This is par for the course for this team, far more the norm than the brief spurt of the past two weeks.
On that note, it was reported that Reed Johnson was claimed on waivers and withdrawn. What's up with that? I mean, what conceivable purpose is served by retaining a player who, while a productive bench player and spot starter, has no conceivable purpose on a losing team and might, if desired, be easily re-signed in the off season.
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