In a Pinch
Fukudome Comes off Bench to Beat A's 3-2

Jerry Lai/US PRESSWIRE

A-ha! We've found our great pinch-hitter. Kosuke Fukudome started the Cubs' eighth-inning rally with a pinch-single, then drove in the winning run with a hit in the ninth. Meanwhile, after several brutal outings, Randy Wells finally pitched a good (great?) game, going seven innings and giving up two runs while striking out six. The best part: The Cubs actually came back to win after being down in the eighth inning. Yes, the North Siders only scored three runs, but a) they beat a guy who threw a perfect game this year, and b) two wins in a row? We'll take it.

ESPN Chicago: Fukudome sparks rally, drives in winner for Cubs [+ video]
Chicago Tribune: Fukudome knocks in game-winner in 9th
Chicago Sun-Times: This Cubs victory is music to their ears
Daily Herald: Kosuke comes through in the clutch as Cubs take series
MLB: Fukudome delivers series win over A's [+ video]

A Rudy Awakening
Backlash Starts Against Cubs Hitting Coach
Before this season, we all heard the Cubs' new hitting coach/svengali/soothsayer Rudy Jaramillo would completely change the team: Soriano would stop swinging at pitches in the dirt, Fukudome would put together a full season of awesomeness, etc. Now, the Cubs are 13th in the NL in runs scored, and Jaramillo is hearing it from the fans. Talking Chicago Baseball says everyone who thought Rudy can't fail had that belief because of the media buildup: "The fact that people are booing and taunting Jaramillo is a direct result of the fawning media coverage given to him this winter," the blog says.

Talking Chicago Baseball: Poor Rudy
Chicago Sun-Times: 'I'm not a miracle worker': Cubs' Jaramillo

A Mighty Wind
Piniella Says Weather Could Help Team's Offense
Here's a unique reason for optimism: The weather is going to change soon, which should make the wind blow out, which should help the Cubs hit more homers. Or so says Lou Piniella: "You're going to start seeing the flag blow out much more consistently, which should dictate more offense,'' he said. The Trib notes that the Cubs have hit 14 homers when the wind is blowing in (the opposition has hit 15), while the Cubs have slugged 10 homers when the wind is blowing in (the opposition hit 9). Hey, whatever it takes.

Chicago Tribune: Cubs hoping wind starts to blow out more with warmer...
MLB: Piniella likes the Cubs' chances with the wind

Murder by Numbers
Cubs Hire Stats Guy, Hendry Isn't Happy
As we noted yesterday, admitted numbers geek Tom Ricketts has hired another numbers geek, Ari Kaplan, to be the team's statistical analyst manager. That's interesting, sure, but what's more compelling is Jim Hendry's reaction to the Daily Herald: "You just don't draw people up on computers and plug them in and that means they can perform at Wrigley Field in a pennant race," he said. So Hendry is pooh-poohing the importance of math in baseball. Given Ricketts' financial analyst background, we guessing he's a little more interested in data. Does this spell trouble Hendry and his old-school ways? Hmmm.

View from the Bleachers: In the news: has the Ricketts era finally begun?
Daily Herald: Ricketts adds Kaplan to Cubs' stat analysis effort

Putrid Pete
A Rose by Any Other Name Is Just as Lame
Man does not live by Cubs news alone. So every now and then, we'll run a story that's worth reading on its own. Maybe it's about the Cubs, maybe not. In today's Good Read, Deadspin looks at the strong evidence that Pete Rose corked his bat. It's yet another blow to the image of the once-revered Charlie Hustle. We're not going to get into the whole "Does he belong in the Hall?" argument. We'll just say this: The guy is a complete jag.

Deadspin: This is Pete Rose's corked bat

Baseball America is reporting that the Cubs have signed their controversial first-round pick, pitcher Hayden Simpson... Aramis Ramirez is going to rehab his thumb at Single-A Peoria this weekend... Comcast Sports New England says the Cubs approached the Red Sox about a Kosuke Fukudome trade, but the Sox said no thanks because of his large salary... The Wrigleyville expansion project, which would bring a hotel, retail, and residences to the southeast corner of Clark and Addison, was approved by the Chicago Planning Commission.

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