I Just Don’t Get It

Why, Lou, why?  Or maybe this is on Ryan Dempster, but either way, why on Earth would you pitch to Albert Pujols with a 3-0 lead late in the game with first base open?  As you can tell by my frustration, the Cubs let another win (and a chance to widen their lead on the NL Central, but I’ll get to that) slip away, by allowing a home run to Albert Pujols in the sixth to tie the game.

Like I said, I just don’t get it.  Albert Pujols, bum elbow and all, has put up MVP caliber numbers this season.  He is mashing the ball.  I don’t care if you are walking the bases loaded, you just can’t pitch to him in that situation.  To me, Pujols has earned the same kind of reputation as Barry Bonds – if Albert represents the tying or go ahead run, you walk him and take your chances with the next guy.  Sure, Ryan Ludwick has had a very good year.  But he hasn’t been the “Cub Killer” that Pujols has been.  He hasn’t shown over his career that he can change the course of a game with one swing.

The only saving grace out of all this is that the Cubs didn’t lose any ground to the, just as slumping, Brewers.  The Reds returned the favor of taking 2 out of 3 from the Cubs by taking the first 2 games in their series with the Brewers.  After winning 5-4 on Monday, the Reds beat the Brewers by the same score last night.

Both teams at the top of the National League have looked pathetic over the last couple weeks.  The Cubs have lost 8 of their last 10, but in that span, the Brewers have gained a grand total of ½ a game.  And that’s only because they played on one of the Cubs’ off days.  It’s pretty depressing to see how hot the bats were over the last several months, only to see them go cold at the wrong time.  I’m not worried about not getting to the playoffs.  I’m not even worried about not winning the Division.  I am worried that the offense is not going to snap out of their funk, and they are going to suffer the same fate as last season, even after having what some consider the best team in the National League.

I better stock up on Tums, because the next 3 weeks are going to be Hell on my stomach.