Bleed Cubbie Blue

Do-It-Yourself 12-Game Cubs Losing Streak Recap

2012-05-27T20:50:30Z

Sunday afternoon at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, the Cubs in front of a crowd of . The Cubs' Matt Garza . The Cubs' offense hit . Meanwhile, the Pirates . The Cubs' bullpen . The Cubs had the lead in this series The Cubs hit into Blake Parker threw a scoreless seventh inning. This is important because . In the eighth inning, Blake Lalli In the ninth inning, the Cubs got the tying run to the plate! . After the game, Theo Epstein The Cubs have won Meanwhile, the Phillies' Roy Halladay left the game Sunday after two innings for only the third time in his career. . The Cubs still don't have the worst record in baseball by themselves because . Manager Dale Sveum's comments after today's game included: . On Monday afternoon at Wrigley Field, the Cubs will . Disclaimer: .

First Pitch Thread: Cubs vs. Pirates, Sunday 5/27, 12:35 CT

2012-05-27T17:35:03Z

Go get 'em, Matt.

Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Preview, Sunday 5/27, 12:35 CT

2012-05-27T16:00:09Z

Here's another example of how false rumors get started. After Friday's loss, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Sun-Times asked Ryan Dempster if he thought he'd be traded. Response:

"I’m not an idiot. I know how things go," said Dempster, a two-time All-Star and the Cubs’ Opening Day starter the last two seasons. "I know how it goes with players in contract years and the team not necessarily doing like they’re supposed to be doing, there’s always a possibility of things. There’s a possibility of being traded anytime.

"But I don’t really think about it. I don’t really worry about it because I can just control doing my job the best I can."

Nowhere in that article did it say the Cubs are shopping Dempster now, though it does seem likely that contending teams will come calling. That article provoked -- not here, I heard this elsewhere -- the rumor that Dempster is on the trading block rightfreakingnow.

Not true, and this followup article from Saturday seems to indicate Dempster might veto a deal:

"I love being here, man," said Dempster, who has the sixth-best ERA (2.14) in the majors. "I love being a part of this organization."

The chances of Dempster, 35, returning next season if he’s traded this summer would seem remote. But the clubhouse leader and 200-inning-a-year starter likes the thought of being with the Cubs when the promised turnaround gains traction.

"I want to be here and be part of what’s going to be a bright future," he said. "Sometimes you have to endure some of the tough times in the present to get to that. We’ll just see how it goes."

Could Dempster be traded? Sure. Will he be traded in the next week or so? Doubtful. Could he veto a deal and stay here? Possible.

Just don't believe all the rumors you hear. This is why you rarely see me post about or write about trade rumors. Most of them turn out to be nothing, or misconstrued or misinterpreted.

Meanwhile:

Rafael Dolis out as #Cubs closer for now with James Russell & Shawn Camp sharing duties
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) May 27, 2012

Like it matters, since the Cubs haven't even had a save opportunity since the first game of the losing streak.

Cubs lineup:

DeJesus RF, Castro SS, Mather 3B, Soriano LF, Baker 1B, Johnson CF, Barney 2B, Hill C, Garza P

Pirates lineup:

Tabata lf, Harrison ss, McCutchen cf, Alvarez 3b, Walker 2b, Jones rf, Hague 1b, McKenry c, Bedard p

Today's Starting Pitchers


Matt Garza Cubs	vs.	Erik Bedard Pirates

2-2	W-L	2-5
3.72	ERA	3.52
43	SO	48
18	BB	18
5	HR	4
vs. Pit	--	vs. Cubs

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2012 - Matt Garza	2-2	8	8	0	0	0	0	48.1	36	20	20	5	18	43	3.72	1.12

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2012 - Erik Bedard	2-5	9	9	0	0	0	0	46.0	46	19	18	4	18	48	3.52	1.39

Matt Garza started twice against the Pirates in 2011. In the first one, on April 3, he gave up 12 hits -- all singles -- and struck out 12, and the Cubs lost. In the second one, on August 3, he threw seven shutout innings and the Cubs won 1-0. Hmmm. Could we have another 1-0 game heading our way?

Erik Bedard has never faced the Cubs. The Cub he's faced the most is Reed Johnson, who is 7-for-29 against him. Interestingly, Alfonso Soriano is 5-for-6 against Bedard (two singles, two doubles and a home run), but all of those appearances were in 2004 and 2005, so they're largely irrelevant now.

Today's game is on WGN.

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Pirates site Bucs Dugout.

Today's first pitch thread will post at 12:35 p.m. CDT and the overflows at 1:35, 2:35 and 3:10 p.m. CDT. If you need more overflows due to extra innings or rain delays, post them in the fanshot section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Cubs Find New Way To Lose, Streak At 11

2012-05-27T12:15:04Z

I've written the words in the headline to this post before, but Saturday night, you'll have to admit the Cubs really did find a new and interesting way to lose.

And what does it say about the way things are going that my first thought when the game entered the bottom of the ninth tied 2-2 was, "I know they're going to lose. But how?"

The Cubs, as they have so many times this year, found the "how". After a single, a pair of walks and two outs, Rafael Dolis was one strike away from sending the game into extra innings. Instead, he hit Matt Hague with the bases loaded, giving the Pirates a 3-2 win over the Cubs, the Cubs' 11th consecutive defeat.

It's almost as if this team is consciously trying to be the anti-2008 Cubs. Almost four years ago, on June 12, 2008, Reed Johnson got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 12th at Wrigley Field; the Cubs beat the Braves on that, 5-4. I cannot remember nor locate (there aren't any systematic records of this) the last time the Cubs lost a game on a walkoff HBP. If you recall -- and it almost seems too long ago to recall -- the 2008 regular season was the Cubs' best in more than 70 years.

This one could wind up as the worst in team history.

Paul Maholm, in his first start at PNC Park as a non-Pirate, struggled through five innings, issuing five walks but somehow, giving up just two runs. He left with the game tied 2-2, thanks to an Alfonso Soriano solo homer in the fourth and back-to-back extra-base hits by David DeJesus and Starlin Castro in the fifth.

(Incidentally, the last time any Cub hit a home run with anyone on base was May 19 against the White Sox, when Soriano and Joe Mather both hit meaningless two-run homers in the bottom of the ninth in a game the Cubs entered that inning trailing 7-0.)

Meanwhile, the Cubs were getting runners thrown out at the plate. Maholm got thrown out in the third, and Blake Lalli, who appeared to have zero chance of scoring, in the seventh. And why'd you do that, Dale Sveum and Pat Listach?

Sveum said Listach was "caught up in the moment" and tried to "push the envelope" because of the Cubs' inability to score runs.

Cubs pitchers issued eight walks on Saturday night, and this time it was the Pirates who couldn't take advantage. They left 13 runners on base (three of them, of course, in that bases-loaded, ninth-inning, winning rally), but eventually walks like that are going to come back and bite you, and for Dolis, they did.

With the eight walks, the Cubs "keep pace" with the Padres for the most walks by pitchers in the National League; that makes 180 for the Cubs, 187 for the Padres, and guess who comes to Wrigley Field on Monday? The likely end result of that matchup: both teams will walk tons of hitters, but neither team will be able to score any of the runners (the Padres have scored even fewer runs than the Cubs). Look for 2-1 games that last three and a half hours. Oh, joy.

Now, we are in rarefied air. Just six Cubs teams have lost more than 11 in a row:

12: 1970, 1981
13: 1944, 1982, 1985
14: 1997

Amazingly enough, the 1970 Cubs somehow managed to finish with a winning record (84-78) despite the 12-game losing streak, which came in June. That team was 4½ games ahead in the old NL East when the streak began, 4½ behind when it ended, and finished five games behind the Pirates in second place.

This Cubs team won't come anywhere close to doing that. They will, however, attempt to break the losing streak Sunday afternoon. The game preview will post at 11 a.m. CDT.

Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 26

2012-05-27T03:36:50Z

Don't let anyone tell you the Cubs are on a losing streak. Both Iowa and Daytona won tonight.

Last year's first round pick Javier Baez is on his way to Peoria. He's expected to play his first game on Monday. If you want to see him but can't get to Peoria, the Chiefs will be at Kane County next Saturday through Monday, June 2,3 and 4.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs plucked the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals) 6-4.

Frankie De La Cruz pitched the first five innings and gave up four runs on four hits. One of the four runs was unearned. He walked four and struck out five.

Ryan Rowland-Smith took the win with two scoreless inning in relief of Del Valle. Smith surrendered two hits, but he did not walk anyone and struck out two.

Mike McDougal pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his first save. The only baserunner was a two-out walk. McDougal did not strike anyone out.

The I-Cubs hit four solo home runs tonight, with one each going to the four that you most likely wanted to hit one. The first was hit in the first inning by catcher Steve Clevenger, who is still on a rehab assignment in Iowa. Clevenger went 3 for 3 with a double and the home run. He scored twice and just had the one run batted in.

Center fielder Brett Jackson slammed his first home run since May 17 in the fifth inning. Jackson also tripled in a 2 for 4 night. Jackson scored twice and had two runs batted in. Jackson now has five home runs this season.

With the score tied at four in the eighth inning, first baseman Anthony Rizzo gave the I-Cubs their first lead of the game with his league-leading 17th home run of the season. Rizzo was 2 for 4.

Finally, third baseman Josh Vitters added an insurance run in the ninth with his fifth home run of the year. Vitters entered the game in the sixth inning on a double-switch and went 1 for 2.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were chased up a tree by the Mobile BayBears (Diamondbacks), 3-0.

Trey McNutt started and took the loss after allowing two runs over four innings. He surrendered five hits and walked two. He struck out one.

Former Tennessee Volunteer Ty'Relle Harris made his first appearance for the Smokies since being hit by a car in Knoxville last June. He pitched two scoreless innings. He gave up no hits and walked one, but promptly erased the baserunner with a double play. Harris struck out two in his inspirational return.

The Smokies couldn't do much of anything against BayBears staff, led by starter and top Diamondbacks prospect Tyler Skaggs. Right fielder Michael Burgess went 2 for 3.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs reeled in the Clearwater Threshers (Phillies), 3-1.

Matt Loosen was tremendous tonight as he got his second win of the season. Loosen went six innings and gave up only one run on a solo home run in the fifth. He allowed four total hits. Loosen struck out seven and did not walk anyone.

Scott Weismann pitched the ninth inning and allowed an infield single with two out, but nothing else for his second save. Weismann struck out two.

Second baseman Rubi Silva went 2 for 4 with a triple and a run scored.

Center fielder John Andreoli was 2 for 3 and scored twice. He also stole two more bases tonight, giving him 12, tying him for fourth in the league with his teammate Arismendy Alcantara. The both trail teammate Matt Szczur, who leads the league with 19.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs tasted the venom of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 11-3.

Sigh.

Gerardo Concepcion got hammered again tonight as he allowed eight runs on twelve hits in only 4.2 innings. Only five of the eight runs were ruled as earned, but since it was his error that kept the inning alive for a three-run home run by Gregory Hopkins, that's little consolation. Hopkins, in fact, hit two home runs and doubled in his three trips to the plate against Concepcion.

Concepcion waled one and struck out four. He threw two wild pitches, too.

Felix Pena made his season debut in relief of Concepcion and gave up three runs in two innings.

Shortstop Marco Hernandez hit his second home run of the season with the bases empty in the third inning. Hernandez also tripled in a 2 for 3 game. He scored twice.

Second baseman Zeke DeVoss was 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. Right fielder Oliver Zapata was 2 for 3.

First Pitch Thread: Cubs vs. Pirates, Saturday 5/26, 6:15 CT

2012-05-26T23:15:08Z

Go get 'em, Paul.

Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Preview, Saturday 5/26, 6:15 CT

2012-05-26T21:00:18Z

The photo at the top of this post depicts the scoring of a "run".

I am posting this as a public service to both Cubs fans and Pirates fans, since neither fanbase has much experience with witnessing such an event. It happens when a baserunner touches home plate without being tagged out by a fielder from the other team.

Study it hard. You might not see much of it the rest of this series.

You might be wondering why the Cubs and Pirates are one of Fox's choices for "Baseball Night In America", Fox's new Saturday-evening series of games, considering how bad both teams are. The likely answer is a postgame fireworks show scheduled for today -- the Pirates are expecting a near-full house and probably didn't want to give that up and reschedule this for an afternoon time slot (since Fox has exclusivity on their Saturday timeslot).

According to this, about 11% of the USA will see this game. (For the exact markets covered, see the TV info after the jump.) If you're in the other 89%, you might even consider yourself lucky.

Cubs lineup:

DeJesus rf, Castro ss, Mather cf, LaHair 1b, Soriano lf, Stewart 3b, Barney 2b, Lalli c, Maholm p

Pirates lineup:

Tabata lf, Harrison rf, McCutchen cf, Alvarez 3b, Walker 2b, Hague 1b, Barajas c, Barmes ss, Correia p

Today's Starting Pitchers


Paul Maholm Cubs	vs.	Kevin Correia Pirates

4-3	W-L	1-5
4.73	ERA	4.50
27	SO	16
12	BB	15
9	HR	6
vs. Pit	--	vs. Cubs

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2012 - Paul Maholm	4-3	8	8	0	0	0	0	45.2	43	24	24	9	12	27	4.73	1.20

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2012 - Kevin Correia	1-5	8	8	0	0	0	0	46.0	42	24	23	6	15	16	4.50	1.24

Paul Maholm, obviously, has never faced the Pirates. He has faced three current Pirates: Rod Barajas, Clint Barmes and Casey McGehee. Those three players have combined to go 22-for-52 (.423) against Maholm with four doubles, two triples and three home runs. Clearly, once again, we are doomed.

Kevin Correia made four starts against the Cubs in 2011. Two of them were pretty good and two were pretty bad. Overall, he posted a 7.11 ERA in 19 innings against the Cubs in 2011 and gave up four home runs, but I think you can be reasonably assured that's not reflective of what's going to happen tonight. Current Cubs are hitting .316 (25-for-79) off Correia -- so maybe they can even score a run or two.

As noted above, today's game is on Fox. Here's the coverage map, but it might be quicker to just check this list of markets where the Cubs game is going to be carried:

Chicago, Rockford, Peoria, Quad Cities, LaCrosse WI, Eau Claire WI, Marquette MI, Cedar Rapids, Indianapolis, South Bend, Ft. Wayne, Grand Rapids, Pittsburgh, Erie, Altoona, Clarksburg WV, Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma AZ

That's it. That's right, not even Des Moines, home of the Cubs' Triple-A team, is getting this game. Announcers are Kenny Albert and Bob Brenly -- so at least those of us who can see this game can hear Brenly.

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Pirates site Bucs Dugout.

Today's first pitch thread will post at 6:15 p.m. CDT and the overflows at 7:15, 8:15 and 9 p.m. CDT. If you need more overflows due to extra innings or rain delays, post them in the fanshot section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Cubs Lose 10th Straight; Longest Losing Streak Since 1997

2012-05-26T13:00:17Z

In the preview to Friday night's game, I wrote:

All of this is another way of saying that I don't think either team can score any runs in this series. Someone will have to, of course; you can't have 0-0 ties in baseball. Ready for three 1-0 games?

Maybe instead of making predictions like this, I should go buy Powerball tickets or something.

The Cubs lost their 10th consecutive game Friday night, 1-0 to the Pirates. Baseball-reference.com's database of games goes back to 1918, 93-plus years' worth of data. In all that time, before Friday night, the Cubs had only 12 games in which they had 10 or more hits and could not score. Three of those were extra-inning games, so that makes Friday's game just the 10th time in nearly 100 years they had such a reign of offensive incompetence. The last game before Friday was on June 22, 2009; before that, it hadn't happened since 1991.

I've got more of this sort of thing, but you'll have to follow me past the jump.

The 10-game losing streak is now the longest since the team lost 14 in a row (the club record) to start the 1997 season. That team, at least, managed to play winning baseball in May (15-13) and wasn't that far below .500 for the rest of that season (68-80), though it lost 94 games.

This year's Cubs don't seem anywhere near capable of doing anything like that. It was the Cubs' first 1-0 loss since August 17, 2010, when the Padres shut out the Cubs 1-0 at Wrigley Field.

Take a look at the lineup the Cubs fielded for that game. Go ahead -- I dare you. It wasn't a very good lineup. Do you think anything this year's Cubs can put out there is anywhere close to that bad lineup? (Maybe you shouldn't answer that question.)

But wait! There's even more!

The 2012 Cubs are 15-30. There are now just four seasons in all of Cubs history with a worse 45-game start:

1953: 14-31
1957: 14-30 (one tie)
1966: 13-32
1981: 10-33 (two ties)

The 1966 Cubs (along with 1962) set the team record for losses. The 1981 team likely would have broken that record if not for the strike. The 1957 team went 62-92, the equivalent of 97 losses in a 162-game season. And the 1953 squad was managed by the popular Phil Cavarretta. When P.K. Wrigley asked Cavarretta just before the following season began how the Cubs would do, Cavarretta told the team owner, "They're a second-division club." (That's an old term, rarely heard now, indicating a team that would finish in the bottom of the standings.)

Cavarretta told the truth (and called himself a "dumb dago" for doing so; the 1954 Cubs went 64-90 and finished seventh). For that, Wrigley fired him just before Opening Day.

Dale Sveum isn't going to be so lucky, I don't think. Gallows humor from Sveum:

"It's just a change to get everything going," he said. "You never know. Sometimes you pick a lineup out of a hat and win. I wasn't going to go that far. You can do that in the American League."

How close is Sveum to doing that?

"Not too far," he said.

Well, why not do it? How much worse could it be?

You'll notice I haven't said much about the actual game Friday night. That's because there isn't much to say. The Cubs had 10 hits and two walks and went 0-for-12 with RISP. That pretty much tells the story of the moribund Cubs offense. Ryan Dempster had another excellent start; his 2.14 ERA now ranks tied for fourth in the National League, all of which has gotten the Cubs exactly nothing. They are 1-7 in games Dempster has started, and have scored a total of 18 runs in those eight games... only 11 of which have scored while Dempster was actually in the game.

Saturday night's game is one of five games being shown regionally on Fox. You'll see how few places are carrying this game in tonight's game preview (4 p.m. CT), but suffice to say that most of the country will be spared. You might not be unhappy to miss watching the Cubs trying for Consecutive Loss No. 11.

That's all I've got. Glad you took this job, Theo?