Lee Return Fails to Ignite
Derrek Lee returned, but didn't ignite, providing an early reminder that he can't save every game. Juan Pierre and Todd Walker at the top of the order got on base a total of six times today and neither one scored a run.
The first inning was symptomatic of much of the season: Singles-power followed by a failure to deliver. Pierre and Walker opened with singles to put runners on first and second with no one out and Lee, Nevin, and Ramirez coming up. Except Lee then struck out and Nevin, while hitting the ball hard on the ground, grounded into a double play. Lee, Nevin, and Ramirez were a combined 1-for-12 in the game. Pierre eliminated himself from the basepaths another time when he was caught stealing.
On the mound, bad Sean Marshall showed up -- 6 hits and 3 walks in 4.2 innings. The hits were often the result of poor location on his fastball.
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Lee is not enough
The weeks of play without Lee have made it clear that the Cubs have very little to build on - an outfield that is inadequate - an infield that is really poor - and a pitching staff that barely reaches majoy league status except for Z - topped off with a coaching staff that must not know the meaning of making ball contact and hitting to the opposite field.
"Wait till next year" is a joke. Even the team of Hal Jeffcoat and Frankie Baumholtz was not this bad.