Cubs not winning for lack of trying
Cubs president Theo Epstein didn't say “we stinks” last week, just as Carlos Zambrano didn't use the term “talent deficit” last year to describe that bunch of woebegone Cubs.
Who knew Theo and Big Z were kindred spirits? They probably would have gotten on fine this year had Theo not sent him packing to the Marlins.
Perhaps both had it right. The reason the Cubs have a 24-45 record this year isn't for lack of trying or poor fundamentals. It's just that pesky “talent deficit.”
The Cubs simply aren't as good as most or all of the teams they face, and right now they appear willing to live with that as long as they're playing the game the right way.
Manager Dale Sveum said before Wednesday night's 7-0 loss to the White Sox that he was happy with his team in that department.
“As far as all the fundamentals and defense and all that, sure, we've had some lapses,” Sveum said. “I said before the season started we were going to have some because of guys playing out of position that they're not accustomed to playing, getting their bats in the lineup against lefties so you have some mistakes that way. For the core guys, I think they've all done a good job.
“There's no complaints. We've had a few hiccups, the pitchers throwing the ball around. As far as everything else goes, I can't complain about.
“The effort and the preparation's been good. We really haven't lost a lot of games at all because of our defensive fundamentals.”
With any team that's 24-45, there are issues. The Cubs once again failed to score a run after leadoff extra-base hits. Starlin Castro hit his seventh triple of the season to start the sixth, but Sox pitcher Gavin Floyd struck out Bryan LaHair and Alfonso Soriano before Steve Clevenger grounded out.
Cubs starting pitcher Randy Wells didn't help himself. Filling in for the injured Ryan Dempster, Wells fell to 1-2 with a 4.91 ERA as he walked four and struck out none in only 3 innings.
Afterward, Sveum said the next start for that spot was open, with Chris Volstad and Chris Rusin getting possible consideration at Class AAA Iowa.
“I got off to a pretty decent start,” said Wells, who has made 3 starts. “You walk (Eduardo Escobar and Alejandro De Aza), especially guys that can run like that, you're putting yourself against the wall.
“The 4 walks, it's just unacceptable. I won't accept it. They shouldn't accept it. I don't know what's going to come after that. If I do get another one, it's time to go back to the drawing board and really focus on pounding fastballs down and away and getting back to the basics.”
In the end, the Cubs won two of three, their first series win since they swept the San Diego Padres in late May. So there's that.
“You're just always trying to win series, back to back,” Sveum said. “Keep winning series is what you want to do in baseball, especially if you haven't won a lot.
“If you keep winning series, you can get back into this thing, in some kind of fashion anyway.”
bmiles@dailyherald.com