I really don't like Roy Oswalt. I don't know why. I just don't. Oswalt doesn't like Michael Barrett, so you'd think I'd like him. But I don't.
Anyway, Oswalt was really good today, and the Cubs bat went back to sleep...at least until the Astros sorry excuse for a bullpen came in.
Anyway, I really don't feel motivated about a recap after the game today.
Soriano had another unbelievably ridiculous error today, luckily it didn't cost the Cubs anything. He officially has 3 errors already this season, but he has had at least 4 or 5 misplays as well that aren't really captured in general statistics. I was really hoping that Marlon Byrd would help compensate for Soriano's lack of fielding ability, but Byrd's lack of range in center is actually exposing Soriano even more.
Don't get me wrong, Byrd is actually a good center fielder. He gets good jumps on balls, and seems to know how to position himself out there...but he is slow.
Enough about Soriano's defense...one thing that appears to be improving is his offense. He hit a critical double in the bottom of the 8th today to drive in a run. His average is up to .286 now. That is near his career mark. I do believe that he is going to be ok offensively over time. His bat appears to be speeding up a bit...now if he could just lay off those breaking balls outside.
Another good sign right now is that Geo Soto is starting to get his average up. I don't think we are going to see the power numbers that he put up in 2008, but if he can get on base a third of the time, then we are in good shape. This team doesn't need him to hit homers...we have plenty of other people to do that. It figures that he is starting to hit the ball immediately after I call for Koyie Hill to get at least 1/2 of the starts behind the plate...shows what I know.
A weird quirk in today's game...Cubs pitchers didn't strike out a single Astros hitter until the 9th inning...and in the 9th inning, Sean Marshall struck out the side. You don't see that very often.
The Cubs' bullpen did have to work a lot today...Gorzelanny left the game after the third inning after being hit with a line drive off the bat of Pedro Feliz during that inning. In six innings of work, the bullpen only allowed 2 runs...but that was too many and the Cubs lost 4-3.
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Some people in the press have hinted that the Cubs might be looking at bringing Andrew Cashner up from AA Tennessee to help out our ailing bullpen. Lou Piniella says this is not being considered...and thank goodness it isn't.
As of right now, the Cubs organization stupidly still thinks Cashner will be a starting pitcher some day. Almost all scouts believe he is a much better candidate for the bullpen. Be careful and watch to see if the Cubs do to Cashner what they have done with Jeff Samardzija (basically ruin him). So far this year Cashner is striking out nearly 2 batters per inning at Tennessee in a starting role. He might be getting close to being called up, but if he doesn't, it won't be as a starter.
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Tomorrow: Wandy Rodriguez vs. Ryan Dempster.
Dempster pitched opening day on Monday, and had some control problems. Hopefully Dempster can bounce back. Rodriguez, who is considered by many to be very good (I'm not one of those people), has struggled in his first two starts this year...so he's due for a good performance. Ugh! Rodriguez is a lefty, so expect Nady and Baker to get starts.
