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Game of the Weak
Bad D + Bad Bats = Close Loss
Barbara Johnston/US PRESSWIRE
Here's the scene: Cubs vs. Rangers. The DH is on. Soriano, Byrd, and hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo are back in Texas. The Rangers have Josh "feel-good story" Hamilton and Vlad "human limp" Guerrero. Soriano's back in the cleanup spot. It's 80 degrees out. Sounds like a recipe for offensive fireworks, doesn't it? Well, we also thought signing Milton Bradley was a good idea, so.... The feeble Cubs' offense went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and a solid Ted Lilly outing went for naught. End result: Cubs lose yet another close one, 2-1.
ESPN Chicago: Lewis labors but Rangers still escape Cubs [+ video]
Chicago Tribune: Cubs waste strong effort from Lilly
Chicago Sun-Times: Designated missers
Daily Herald: Same old, same old for Cubs in interleague play
MLB: Lack of clutch hitting plagues Cubs in loss
Old Man Pitcher
Not-Exactly-Young Bob Howry Is Back
It's no secret that the Cubs biggest problem this season has been the bullpen — and that's not even counting the whole Carlos Zambrano debacle. Their Angel (Guzman) lost its wings, their John (Grabow) got hosed, and Esmailin (Caridad) got Esmoked. So even with all the great starting pitching, the Cubs still find themselves below .500. What's a GM to do? How about signing a veteran who pitched really well out of the 'pen for the Cubs...in 2007. Hendry has brought back 36-year-old Bob Howry and his 10.67 ERA to try to right the ship. Here's hoping a familiar face can bring back some of that old mojo.
View from the Bleachers: The return of Bob Howry (aka John Grabow)
Daily Herald: Cubs confident Howry can help bolster bullpen
Hitting and Missing
How Good is Rudy Jaramillo?
When the Cubs signed Rudy Jaramillo as their hitting coach, it almost felt like the team had added an established power hitter. That's how excited everyone was. But ESPN wonders if a hitting coach really makes that much of a difference. The Rangers are actually doing a wee bit better offensively than last year, and while the Cubs have gotten better production out of Soto and Soriano, there's still the whole Derrek Lee and A-Ram thing. Does a hitting coach really make much of a difference?
ESPN: Do Rangers miss their old hitting coach?
Star-Telegram: Early returns, post-Rudy: Rangers hitters miss a lot
A Diamond in the Pen?
Thomas Diamond Making a Statement in AAA Iowa
Let's hope diamonds are indeed forever. Pitcher Thomas Diamond is 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA and hitters are batting .196 off him at Triple-A Iowa. Not bad for a one-time Texas überprospect who was part of their vaunted DVD trio of pitchers (Danks, Volquez, and Diamond). The Cubs claimed him off waivers in the offseason and so far it's looking like a great move — if the Cubs can put him to use in the big leagues. If he keeps pitching well and the Howry experiment fails, we might just see this Diamond shine at Wrigley.
Bleacher Report: Thomas Diamond: Chicago Cubs gem
Ronnie Woos the Fans
A Look at Ronnie "Woo-Woo" Wickers in Pictures
Truth be told, we're not the biggest Ronnie Woo-Woo fans in the world. We don't jump up and down when we see him at the park. We don't try to get him to come over and take a picture with us. (OK maybe that one time, but the Nationals were in town — what else were we gonna do?) Either way, ChicagoNow has a nice pictorial look at the legend that is Ronnie Woo-Woo over the past 10 years. No matter what you think of him, you gotta give it up to a man who doesn't have much and has made himself part of Cubs lore. Plus, he has a teenaged daughter, and he's 68 years old, so... whoa, Ronnie!
ChicagoNow: 10 years of Ronnie "Woo-Woo" photographs
Aramis Ramirez was out of the lineup Friday to rest a sore left thumb... To make room for Bobby Howry on the roster, rookie right-hander Justin Berg was optioned to Triple-A Iowa... The Cubs and Toyota have officially begun their partnership by offering a free car to a Cubs fan. A lucky semifinalist will be chosen at each of the six Dodgers and Cardinals games next week at Wrigley Field. Here's a little secret though — you don't need a game ticket to be eligible to enter. Just show up at the Wrigley offices and fill out an entry form.
"The Cubs signing Bobby Howry is like drunk-dialing that ex you never even liked all that much after your current girlfriend dumps you."
-Sarah Spain
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