Our Cubs had a narrow escape last night. Two of the brewers' Achilles Heel areas cost them dearly. One is their inability to find a real, true closer after losing Francisco Cordero in free agency. The other is the defense of Rickie Weeks.
If Weeks had not launched a double play relay throw in to the outfield last night, this would all be a different story. As it is, things are looking up in Cub land, and if you're a Brewers fan, you've got to feel really down about last night.
The Cubs survived the C.C. Sabathia buzzsaw, even though we only had Ted Lilly as our starter. Now, we are at least even money facing Ben Sheets tonight, because Big Z will start for the Cubs. Z sometimes freaks out a little when all the pressure is on him, but truth be told, the real burden is on Milwaukee.
Right now, the Rich Harden trade looms large. At some point in this series now the Brewers will have to face Harden, with no pitcher of his caliber on the mound for them.
I was filled with a warm, happy feeling last night when I heard that Alfonso Soriano hit one out of off Sabathia early in the game. A Soriano hot streak is a best case scenario now, don't you think?
Milwaukee leads off with Weeks, who is a very shaky defensive player. Despite that, he is hitting only .224. Imagine how much better the Brewers would be if they shipped Weeks off for a smoother, veteran second baseman like Mark Loretta. Another change I would make to the Brewers is to add another relief pitcher (using the same candidates I recommended and still recommend for the Cubs). Heath Bell is not talked about much on the trade market, but the padres would have to think carefully abuot an offer for a serious prospect.
I don't know why the Cubs haven't tried offering Felix Pie for Heath Bell or Cla Meredith (pronounced Clay). The Padres, after giving up on Jim Edmonds WAY too early, are reduced to using Pirates reject Jody Gerut in center. It is definitely rebuilding time in San Diego.
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