Cubs look like team just good enough to lose
The mantra in the Cubs’ clubhouse these days goes something like this: “We’ve got too many good players here with good track records, and if we just keep working hard, we’re going to be fine.”
Don’t let me paraphrase, though.
This was pitcher Jeff Samardzija after Sunday’s 2-0 loss to the Reds: “This team’s playing real hard. We’re playing great. If we keep playing like this, in the end, things are going to be looking pretty good.
“If you look at this team as a whole, I think everybody’s confident and very happy with where we’re at.
“Obviously, day to day, win-loss, your mood changes with that. As a whole, this team feels great. I haven’t see a team come to the park every day ready to work and get ready for the game like this team has, and we do it every day regardless of what happened the day before.
“I think you’ll keep seeing that. It’s still pretty early. We’ll get some more games under our belt as the season goes along. I think we’ll be very excited where we’re at.”
This was after the Cubs fell to 15-18 with the first-place St. Louis Cardinals (20-15) coming to town tonight to start a three-game series.
The two teams will meet in St. Louis for a big weekend June 3-5.
Right now the Cubs are looking like a team that’s just good enough to lose. They had chances in 2 of the 3 losses to the Reds over the weekend and couldn’t put them away.
The Cubs are in a current stretch of games that has them playing the Reds, Cardinals, Giants, the Reds again and the Red Sox.
With 40 percent of their starting rotation still on the disabled list, they’ll have to tread water as they try to get a handle on what kind of team they’ve got.
“Wanted better,” manager Mike Quade said of the start to the season. “Always want better. Would like to be 30-3 or whatever. But we’re in the hunt.
“Without being too greedy, considering some of the inconsistencies, we’re OK. I’d like to be better off a month-and-a-half from now. We’ll see.
“You show it by winning games.”
Pena vs. Berkman:During the off-season, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry gave $10 million to Carlos Pena. The St. Louis Cardinals gave $8 million to Lance Berkman. Let#146;s see how they#146;re doing. Pena has an average/on-base/slugging line of .198/.327/.314 with 3 homers and 9 RBI. All 3 of his homers have come within the last week, and he has hit the ball hard a few times with nothing to show. Berkman is at .374/.452/.738 with 10 homers and 32 RBI, and he#146;s one of the big reasons the Cardinals are in first place. His batting average was second in the National League entering Monday to teammate Matt Holliday#146;s .398. Berkman#146;s RBI total led the league. That#146;s a couple of paragraphs on the Cardinals, and we haven#146;t even mentioned Albert Pujols. He#146;s at only .248/.322/.421 with 7 homers and 22 RBI. The Cardinals entered Monday first in the NL in runs scored, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS (on-base plus slugging). Their pitchers were fifth in ERA, at 3.34.The Cubs were 12th in runs scored, fourth in slugging, sixth in homers, OBP and OPS. Where the Cubs are lagging are walks drawn by their batters and ERA by their pitchers. The Cubs rank next to last in both categories. Whither Colvin?While all the attention lately has been on Starlin Castro#146;s slump, one also has to wonder how much good the Cubs are doing themselves and outfielder Tyler Colvin. Colvin#146;s hitting line is .121/.203/.276. He#146;s not hitting. And he#146;s not playing. I suppose the Cubs could wait to see when Kosuke Fukudome begins his annual decline and then put Colvin in right field. After a mild slump, Fukudome went 4-for-7 with 2 walks over the weekend, and his line stands at .359/468/.397. Would it be better to send Colvin to Class AAA Iowa to play every day and get some at-bats while waiting to see what Fukudome does? In the meantime, the Cubs could call up Lou Montanez, who is tearing it up at Iowa with a line of .367/.431/.615 with 4 homers and 30 RBI. Montanez was a Cubs first-round draft choice in 2000 #8212; Jim Hendry#146;s last as scouting director #8212; and he has seen major-league time with the Orioles the past three seasons. At this point, such a move couldn#146;t hurt, and it may only help Colvin in the long run. bmiles@dailyherald.com