O Isn't for Offense
Feeble Cubs Can't Manage 1 Run vs. Pirates

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

We're just going to use our template for yesterday's Cubs loss: [Insert Cubs pitcher here] threw a solid game, but the team's offense managed [insert painfully low number] hits and they lost by [insert discouraging score]. Yesterday's blanks would be filled by Tom Gorzelanny, who gave up zero runs through five innings as the North Siders eked out five hits and lost 2-0 to the Pirates. For those counting, the Cubs are a jaw-dropping 3-9 against Pittsburgh, the team with the second-worst record in baseball. Yeah, ummm... we don't have anything else to say.

ESPN Chicago: Pirates 9-3 vs. Cubs on Lincoln's 1st MLB win [+ video]
Chicago Tribune: Pirates leave Cubs with blanked look
Chicago Sun-Times: Lowly Pirates make Cubs walk the blank
Daily Herald: Cubs can't seem to flip the switch vs. lowly Pirates
MLB: Loss has all-too-familiar feel for Cubs [+video]

Red Dawn
First-Place Cincinnati (Ugh) Comes to Town
Dusty Baker makes a handy scapegoat for the 2003 debacle (as well as a certain bespectacled fan). And admit it, you enjoyed watching his Cincinnati teams struggle the past few years. But now, Dusty is getting the last laugh. Not only is his team in first place, but the Reds lead the league with 25 come-from-behind wins. The team is fronted by Cub killer Joey Votto and a resurgent Scott Rolen, who both have a whopping 17 homers. Congrats, Dusty. Grumble grumble....

Daily Herald: First-place Reds coming to Wrigley with Cubs left in the dust
Chicago Tribune: Baker, Jocketty have Reds rolling
CBS Sports: Cubs vs. Reds

Facing Reality
Another Year, Another Disappointment
On May 17, Marlon Byrd vowed the Cubs would make the playoffs. Sadly, the team has gone 17-22 since Byrd made us promises promises, and even the most starry-eyed Pollyanna must admit it's probably not going to happen. "The Cubs' latest window with its latest core has drawn to a close," the Sun-Times notes today. That might be a little strong, but since the team is 9.5 games out of first place, clearly the team needs to turn it around this weekend. Or else what? Or else the Ricketts family has some serious decisions to make.

Chicago Sun-Times: Empty promise a sore spot

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Got Your Back? Hardly.
Teammates Don't Rush to Stick up for Zambrano
Carlos Zambrano's teammates have clearly been tepid in their support for him. Ted Lillly, for instance, discussed whether Zambrano was sorry for his dugout blow-up and said, "I don't think by any means (Zambrano's) at a point where he doesn't feel responsible. That's not the issue. And so we all understand that." Huh? Also, Ryan Dempster appeared on WMVP's Waddle and Silvy show earlier this week and said Zambrano simply needs to say he's sorry for the meltdown. "I think that everybody would be crazy not to assume that he owes everybody an apology," Dempster said. The plot thickens....

Chicago Breaking Sports: Can Cubs' Zambrano restore his reputation?
Chicago Tribune: Lilly reaches Zambrano, who says he wants to help Cubs
Sporting News: Dempster: Before return, Zambrano 'owes everybody an apology'

The Man with the Golden Arm
Cashner Seems to Be Money in the Bank
Andrew Cashner is clearly a stud: His ERA is below 2.00, and homeboy can hit 100mph on the radar gun. (He's struggled a bit lately, but clearly the guy has the goods.) But are the Cubs using him the right way? Cubs Stats argues no, that he needs innings to build up his endurance. And where does one get these innings? As a starter in the minors, not a reliever in the majors, the blog argues. But who's going to take his place in the bullpen? Carlos Zambrano? Hahahaha. Sometimes we crack ourselves up.

Cubs Stats: On Andrew Cashner

Sean Marshall, all star? The Daily Herald's Bruce Miles thinks he should be... One-third of the Pirates' wins have come against the Cubs.

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