October 12, 200322 yr The reason why we are losing this series has more to do with our own ballclub than it does with anything Chicago is doing. Sure, they have scored almost 1 run per inning, but that is what happens when your pitching staff falls in love with their fastballs. Our staff is too, too young I am afraid. Beckett, 23, Willis, 21, Penny, 25. These guys havent quite learned how to pitch, and have little experience and it shows. Redman, the only pitcher to give us a quality start, is 29. Seems to have been around the block. Sure, Prior is young too, but when he goes up against Penny who just breaks down on the mound and gets 8 runs to start the game, there is very little that can be done. The problem is our pitching staff has relied on too many fastballs right now and have become too predictable. So much so that an anemic, yes anemic, Cubs offense now scores like the Red Sox. They may be improving, and Wrigley may have something to do with that, but it comes down to pitching. We walk too many hitters and dont keep them off balance. Throwing too many balls, not enough strikes. Let them hit the ball, if they beat us, they beat us. I dont like the way we are pitching, and is one reason we stand to go down 3-1 right now.
October 12, 200322 yr All of our pitchers are trying to hard. They are overthrowing and trying to do more than they can, this is causing them to throw soo much Balls. They need to work Slower and throw strikes. Also utilize their breaking pitch. Example: Dontrelle didnt throw no breaking balls in the first inning and therefore he got hit and walked batters. LETS GET GOING STARTER!
October 12, 200322 yr well, i'm not really convinced the cubs are getting much out of their pitching, either. granted, they obliterated us in game 2. but game 3 was in our grasps! it was in our grasps! wood wasn't nuttin... god damn this sucks
October 12, 200322 yr It's not just our starters. Our bullpen hasn't exactly been rock-solid. There is one reliever that doesn't make me want to shut my eyes when they show his postseason stats. That reliever wasn't even a reliever for the regular season.
October 12, 200322 yr well, i'm not really convinced the cubs are getting much out of their pitching, either. granted, they obliterated us in game 2. but game 3 was in our grasps! it was in our grasps! wood wasn't nuttin... god damn this sucks The Cubs aren't getting much from their pitching? You're a funny guy :lol
October 12, 200322 yr It doesn't help when our starters give up runs in the first inning EVERY GAME!!!
October 12, 200322 yr It doesn't help when our starters give up runs in the first inning EVERY GAME!!! Yeah, you can't let the other team get the lead right away every game, it just inflates the flubbies confidence...and that makes them play over their heads. If the fightin' fish can just get a couple runs early and get a lead, they could win because of having the big mo'....with that said, i think the marlins will win tomorrow, they have too much heart to just roll over and die.
October 12, 200322 yr There's just no substitute for experience. These guys have come a long way this season, and are the main reason we're here in the first place. It's not surprising they are struggling, this is all new territory. Plus they all keep saying it doesn't make any difference that there's 67000 people screaming instead of 6,000. But , of course it does. Hat's off to these guys for a great season, no matter what happens tonight. BTW I'll be there in the cheap seats , it's all I could get with all those Cubs fans crowding the internet ticket sales. What a gaff that was not to limit sales to local zip codes.
October 12, 200322 yr Author It is a little sickening to see Cubs fans swarm JRS. BUt I think that had a lot to do with the game and the TV coverage. Anyway, as I was saying, we have not gotten any quality starts from anyone other than Redman. The Cubs score every first inning, and they score bunches. THe key, keeping fu$%ing Lofton off base. He has been able to work the count and get on base. Yesterday, Willis had him down two strikes and he worked it back to a full count (the ump would not give Willis any calls) and Lofton ended up getting a hit because Willis threw - a fastball. The Marlins need to slow down their attack on the hitters. They need to calm down, throw strikes, and keep the hitters off balance. Look, trying to nibble at the plate has not worked. In fact, if Willis just went out and challenged the hitters, if they hit the ball, you tip your hat. BUt walking 3 guys and giving up a homerun...that is just terrible. Just pitch to these guys - THESE ARE THE CUBS! THEY DONT HAVE THAT GREAT AN OFFENSE!
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