Cubs come up short

The Cubs finally caught a break from spring weather that has been the worst in recent memory around these parts.

Sunday’s rainout meant they did not have to face Giants ace Tim Lincecum at Wrigley Field.

On this homestand, the Cubs began a critical and difficult part of their schedule, and they came up short, dropping two of three each to the Reds and Cardinals and splitting two against the defending-champion Giants.

Things don’t get any easier for the 17-21 Cubs. They head to Cincinnati for two beginning Monday, followed by two at Florida and three at Boston.

Games were there for the taking against the Reds and Cards, and the Cubs didn’t take them. Good teams take them.

The Cubs had talked about using this stretch of games as a measuring stick. So far, they’re coming up well short.

“You always talk about the fine line in this game,” manager Mike Quade said. “The truth of the matter is you take two out of three from those clubs, it’s a huge difference. But you’ve got to take them.

“You’ve got to do the things that allow you to take them. We’re not there yet. That’s a fact.”

The Cubs are at a minus-29 in run differential, having scored 154 while allowing 183. Although they’re third in the National League in on-base percentage, the Cubs are dead last in walks, 11th in runs scored and 13th in home runs. They’ve not homered since May 7.

As far as walks go, the Cubs have four players — Darwin Barney, Starlin Castro, Marlon Byrd and Alfonso Soriano — in the bottom 13 in walk percentage in the major leagues.

Pitching plans: The Cubs will go with Carlos Zambrano and Matt Garza as their starting pitchers for the two-game set at Cincinnati, beginning tonight. Zambrano was supposed to pitch Sunday, with Garza and Casey Coleman going in Cincinnati. Now Ryan Dempster will open Wednesday at Florida with Coleman going Thursday. Doug Davis, who made a creditable start Saturday, will pitch the series opener Friday at Boston.Colvin decision coming?The situation with outfielder Tyler Colvin is reaching a critical mass. If Sunday#146;s game had been played, infielder Blake DeWitt, not Colvin, would have started in left field in place of Alfonso Soriano.Colvin rarely plays these days, and he has a hitting line of .113/.191/.258. The Cubs now are considering whether they should send him to Class AAA Iowa for at-bats and playing time. If that were to happen, the Cubs could bring up veteran Lou Montanez, a former Cubs No. 1 draft choice who is hitting .369 at Iowa. There is a spot open on the 40-man roster.Another name to watch is outfield prospect Tony Campana, but it wouldn#146;t do Campana much good to sit on the bench with the big club, either. Montanez at least has seen spot duty with Baltimore the previous three seasons. #147;Very concerned,#148; Mike Quade said about Colvin#146;s plight. #147;I have some time now to think about that since we#146;re not going to play and contemplate what we might want to do. Yeah, it#146;s a concern. He#146;s not going to get out of his funk by pinch hit here or there and a game once a week.#147;I have a lot to think about as far as that goes.#148;Colvin says all he can do is hang in there.#147;I#146;m going about my business the same way,#148; he said. #147;I#146;m getting ready before the game, getting prepared for the pitcher we#146;re going to face the next day.#148; Last year, then-manager Lou Piniella was criticized for starting Colvin only four times in May. Colvin had come off a spring training in which he was the Cubs#146; best hitter.As far as going to the minor leagues, Colvin said that#146;s not his call.#147;I can#146;t think about that stuff,#148; he said. #147;I have to stay positive and know I#146;m on this team to help them win ballgames.#148;Rethink the policy:Sunday#146;s rainout will be made up as part of a day-night, separate-admission doubleheader on Tuesday, June 28. On June 27, the Cubs play a makeup game with Colorado at Wrigley Field. The Cubs say tickets from Sunday are good for the day game on June 28. This is a policy the Cubs need to change for the convenience of their fans, many of whom are complaining. Why not let fans exchange Sunday#146;s tickets for the game of their choice (based on availability, and there will be availability for many games) later in the year? Cubs ownership is losing valuable points here.