For Cubs, explaining what went wrong is a long list

Posted June 28, 2009 11:00 pm

By Bruce Miles

The Cubs hit their low-water mark of the season Sunday at 2 games under .500 with their sloppily played 6-0 loss to the White Sox.

Low water?

It looks more like the Cubs are taking on water and drowning.

In losing the final two games of this series on the South Side, the Cubs looked bad in all aspects of the game. Sunday, the problems were widespread:

• Their batters managed just 4 hits while going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

• They sniffed out a squeeze attempt by the White Sox only to have their pitcher and catcher miscommunicate to the point where Carlos Zambrano fired a pitch too far outside, allowing Chris Getz to waltz in with an easy steal of home.

• The infielders had trouble putting tags on runners and catching pop flies.

• The outfielders got bad reads on balls and fought a losing battle with the wind all day.

Is anybody worried yet?

"It's not getting worrisome, but you know, we're going to have to shore up some areas," said manager Lou Piniella, who again put on his bravest face before the game and talked of his team going on a winning spree one of these days soon. "There's no question as far as getting better defensively."

Things fell apart in the sixth for Zambrano and the Cubs. The Sox' Getz led off with a double and was bunted to third by Gordon Beckham. On an 0-1 pitch, Getz broke for home, and it appeared catcher Geovany Soto was moving outside to take a pitchout. Zambrano, however, missed high and wide.

"For some reason, I knew when I saw this guy taking off when I was up here (in the stretch) trying to tell Geo, 'Get out, get out,'" Zambrano said. "He was too late, trying to throw a pitchout."

Zambrano then hit Dewayne Wise in the backside with a pitch, nearly causing a ruckus that was snuffed out by home-plate umpire Brian Runge.

Things got worse. Wise stole second base on a play where it looked like shortstop Ryan Theriot had trouble getting the tag down.

Scott Podsednik walked, and Alexei Ramirez dropped a single into left field. The ball fell in front of Alfonso Soriano, who looked like he broke the wrong way at first.

Jermaine Dye then lifted a high fly into short left. Theriot went back, struggling with the wind. The infield-fly rule was called, meaning Dye was out no matter what, but the ball fell for a run-scoring error on Theriot.

"The sun wasn't a problem, just the wind," Theriot said. "That ball was in front of third base. Yeah, it was a tough one."

Theriot didn't seem to agree with Piniella's assessment that the defense needed improving.

"I don't think so," Theriot said. "What do you guys think? I thought we were playing pretty good defense. I thought we've been playing pretty good. I don't know. You can always improve. I think for the most part, I know as a unit we really take pride in that."

Even so, first baseman Derrek Lee agreed the last two games were anything but pretty.

"Yeah, today wasn't a good game at all for us," Lee said. "Not only did we not swing the bats, we didn't play good defense. So there's definitely room for improvement."

As displeased as Piniella was after the game, his optimism seemed boundless beforehand.

"I still cling to the fact that we're going to have a good second half of the season, and the second half, I'm not talking about after the All-Star Game," he said. "We can start the first of July. It can start today, for that matter. I think that when it's all said and done, people will be pleased with what we do the rest of the year. I cling to that, and that's it."

If it doesn't happen, man the buckets and start bailing.

Cubs scouting report Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park TV: Channel 26 today; Comcast SportsNet Plus (CLTV) Tuesday; Comcast SportsNet Wednesday Radio: WGN 720-AM Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Rich Harden (4-4) vs. Zach Duke (8-5) today; Ted Lilly (7-5) vs. Ross Ohlendorf (6-6) Tuesday; Randy Wells (2-3) vs. TBA Wednesday. All games begin at 6:05 p.m. At a glance: This is the Cubs' first foray into Pittsburgh this season. The Cubs won two of three from the Pirates late last month at Wrigley. The Cubs were 7-2 in Pittsburgh last season. Andrew McCutchen has taken over in center field and at the leadoff spot for the Pirates with the recent trade of Nate McLouth to Atlanta. Adam LaRoche has been the Bucs' most productive offensive player, but onetime hockey player Nyjer Morgan brings speed and excitement to a team battling to reach .500. LaRoche is 5-for-12 vs. Lilly. The Cubs' Alfonso Soriano is 15-for-29 with 2 homers off Duke. Next: Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field, Thursday-Sunday

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