Wells, DeWitt audition for 2011 in Cubs win vs. Mets
Manager Mike Quade isn't the only guy "auditioning" for next year.
The Cubs' manager has a few guys on the field trying to find their spots on the team for next year and the niches in their careers.
Pitcher Randy Wells would be one. Second baseman Blake DeWitt would be another.
Wells struggled through another outing, but he was let off the hook a couple of times by his teammates Friday in a 7-6 victory over the New York Mets at Wrigley Field.
Alfonso Soriano hit a 3-run homer in the fourth inning to put the Cubs ahead 4-3. Wells gave up the tying run in the sixth only to be bailed out by rookie left-hander James Russell, who stranded a runner in scoring position that inning to earn his first major-league win.
DeWitt then put the Cubs ahead for good in the bottom of the sixth with a 3-run homer, his fifth of the year.
Wells ended up with a no-decision, as his record remained 6-12 while his ERA rose to 4.56. It's quite a different season from his rookie year in 2009, when he was 12-10 with a 3.05 ERA.
"That sophomore jinx or whatever they talk about where guys struggle a little bit the second year, that's not the jinx; there are reasons for that," said Quade, who is 7-3 since taking over for Lou Piniella. "He's shown some resiliency this year, fought through some tough outings.
"It's a command thing with him, and he's just got to keep on doing that (working). He's a big old guy, a big horse. He's a converted catcher. He's still learning."
Wells was trying to cut off talk of the "sophomore jinx" as far back as the Cubs caravan in January. Friday's outing seemed to bother him.
"I talked to Larry after I was done," said Wells, referring to pitching coach Larry Rothschild. "He asked me if I was all right. I said, 'No, not really.' You try so hard to figure this thing out. You have so much success last year. This whole year has been a battle.
"You put yourself in the mind-set coming into spring training that the sophomore jinx or whatever you guys call it isn't real, that you can work through it. The truth of the matter is, I think the biggest part of the sophomore jinx is mental, learning how to work through the bad times, work through the struggles."
Wells gave up 3 in the first inning, but then he got a little help from his friends.
DeWitt is a new friend, having come over from the Dodgers in a July 31 trade for Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot. He's been versatile in the field while still trying to carve out an identity as a hitter.
"I saw him in the minor leagues," Quade said. "You're looking at a guy that I projected out 15-ish, maybe a few more, homers. He's still learning. He swings the bat well. I still would think he'd make more consistent contact and be able to drive the ball. He's a blue-collar guy. He's a baseball player."
DeWitt says he's not worried about projecting out his own career.
"I'm just going to keep working," he said. "If it (power) happens, it happens. If it doesn't, it doesn't. I'm just going to go out and battle every day and try to improve every day. Whatever happens in the end happens."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Bruce Miles' game tracker</p>
<p class="News">Cubs 7, Mets 6</p>
<p class="News"><b>Firsts keep coming:</b> Lefty reliever James Russell earned his first major-league victory. In the Cubs' previous game, Thomas Diamond got his first big-league win. "It seemed like everybody who came up here got theirs out of the way quick," Russell said. "I kind of had to wait for mine. That's not bad. It's worth the wait."</p>
<p class="News"><b>Soriano's big day:</b> Alfonso Soriano had a 3-run homer in the fourth and a double in the eighth. Eleven of his 22 homers have come at Wrigley Field.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Cruising Castro:</b> Shortstop Starlin Castro extended his hitting streak to five games. He's 11-for-22 in the streak, and his batting average rose to .319. Castro entered the day third in the NL in batting average.</p>
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