Carlos Marmol: Live Cubs Game Blog

Volquez is still in.  The Reds have a 9-0 lead and their prodigal-son pitcher on the mound in lousy playing conditions.

Enjoy having Dusty Baker as your coach, Cincy!

Second Inning (bottom)

Lieber looked like he was going to cruise after that first inning. Yet, here we are in the second and he’s given up three home runs. Two of those were back-to-back. At this rate, it makes you wonder why they bothered to send Rich Hill down to the minors. When he wasn’t playing well, he couldn’t hit the plate which meant that he wasn’t giving up home runs.

I’m convinced the Reds are where Cubs players go to continue their futility. Cory Patterson, Paul Bako, and Jerry Hairston, Jr. Then you have Dusty Baker watching over all of them. And you have Joe ‘Blow the Save’ Borowski in the same state. What a shame for Ohio.

That would be another home run in this inning.   Worst part was that it was to Hairston.  Lieber must be tipping his pitches. 5-0 Reds right now. Sean Marshal is up in the bullpen already and I can’t imagine Lou is going to let Lieber stay in there much longer. I’m sure the staff was hoping to get at least 4 innings out of the old work horse.

Even though there was a myriad of bad calls against the Cubs, the Cubs really put themselves in a position to lose.  Lots of errors in particular were damning tonight.  Dempster only gave up one ER in six innings but he nonetheless left the game after “giving up” five.  Too bad DeRosa couldn’t have an ERA started for him.

It’s just sloppy baseball and the Cubs are going to keep losing “close” games (when they don’t score 19 runs) unless they start playing more fundamental ball.  Period.

Cubs lose. 5-3.

Fontenot with a hit!

Pie (!) with a hit!

Darryl Ward…I love Darryl Ward but shouldn’t we (the Cubs) be sacrificing right now?  You’ve got Marmol ready to go in case we can tie it up–you know Marmol is going to keep the scoreless for at least three innings.

And it’s a flyout.  3-1 AND a fastball.  And you fly out to center.  Awesome.

Soriano is chasing again.  There’s your surprise of the night.  The Cubs can’t give away games fast enough.   I know they have a huge payroll and a long list of marquee players (no pun intended) but play some fundamental baseball.  Wow, after starting 0-2 Soriano takes a walk and the tying run is in scoring position.  If only Derek Lee were up now instead of Ryan Theriot.  Oh well, can’t win them all.  C’mon Theriot!

And Fontenot is thrown out trying to get home on a passed ball. He looked safe to me.  Yeah, the replay confirms that Fontenot was totally safe.  That sucks–that sucks big time.  On the bright side, it looks like Cordero is having a really hard time throwing strikes.  Full count on Theriot…walk!

Yeah buddy, Derek Lee up with the bases loaded.  Who better to have up in the game of baseball right now than Derek Lee (yeah, maybe Pujols but he’s not available right now).

Damn.

The Cubs just got a terrible call on a throw from Soto to Lee.  Now Sean Marshall is in a world of trouble–runners on the corners with just one out AND Ken Griffey Jr. up to bat.  Super.

Wow, and Junior pops out to short.  If you’re the Reds…wow, you just want to tell them to stop playing like the Cubs.  Out comes Marshall and in comes 500-year-old Chad Fox.  The last time I saw Fox he was walking head-drooped after giving up a walk-off homerun to the Cardinals in extra-innings in St. Louis.

And Fox gets it done with a big, fat K.  Well done, old man.

HOLY CRAP!  Pie just ROBBED Ken Griffey Jr. of his 600th homerun.  I mean #1 on Web Gems robbed.  Wow.

What a catch.

Hell has frozen over.  Pie took a walk.

And is gone on a double play.  Super.

I honestly believe you could roll a die to determine if Soriano is going to swing or not.  It clearly has nothing to do with the real pitch.  It’s just painful watching him…as he gets a hit.  Shows why I’m sitting at home writing about the game while he’s playing it.

Thank God Soriano didn’t have to really run on Theriot’s double.  I’m still not convinced that he (Soriano) can run even at 75%.  I love Ryan Theriot.  Way to go, sport.

Base hit for Lee!  He was due for a hit.  Finally, the Cubs are getting some two-out hits.  Unfortunately, this is where having Ramirez out is a little more than problematic.

And Fukudome swings at the first pitch and flies out to right.  Patience!!!

Dempster finds his groove.  The rare perfect inning.

Fukudome has apparently given up being patient and that’s no good.

Soto walks! You are our catcher. And you will be for a long time. Welcome aboard.

DeRosa, I don’t know what you’re swinging at. It’s certainly not the ball. Yet you take the strikes. Soriano doesn’t do that.

And Fontenot looks stupid again by Cueto.

I wish Ramirez were in the line-up even though DeRosa just threw out Brandon Phillips on a play that Ramirez would have errored into a double.

Dempster is a good-fielding pitcher (bye Votto).  Thanks for the lessons Greg Maddux.

Oh, DeRosa, I just complimented your fielding and what do you–let it go right between your legs.  If you’re going to do that you better start hitting like Ramirez.

Wow.  Adam Dunn just crushed a two-run homer.  I don’t know how that ball didn’t shatter.  Thanks again for the error, DeRosa!

Keppinger just struck out but with the Reds now up 5-1…bad news.