Cubs, Dempster Hoping to Turn Fortunes Around in Arizona

The Chicago Cubs are headed west. They're going to play the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Cubs are ready for a change and in addition to the weather, they would like to see a change in Ryan Dempster.

Evan Drellich has posted an article at the MLB.com website titled "Cubs hope Arizona sun warms up offense."

Anyone who has watched the team for the last several days, 10 to be exact, knows that the Cubs have been exposed to lousy weather. It has been rainy and cold. In fact, two of the games scheduled had to be canceled. I live about two-and-a-half hours south of Chicago and we have had the same weather' I can see why it would be hard to play baseball.

However, in all fairness, the Cubs' opponents have been playing under the same conditions. The Cubs have lost three straight games, five of their last six.

Ryan Dempster (1-2, 7.63 ERA) has commented on his less-than-great pitching performances and isn't happy. He pitched seven innings against Arizona the first time they met this year.

Going for the D-Backs will be Barry Enright (0-2, 6.65 ERA), who had a good outing the first time he faced the Cubs although he did not get a win; he got a "no-decision."

Why have the Cubs been losing?

Chicago's offense has been down. Perhaps the key is the third spot in the batting order. Chicago manager Mike Quade had Marlon Byrd in that important position until just recently. He has experimented with the red-hot Starlin Castro, but that resulted in Castro's average dropping dramatically.

The Cubs just had a game rained out (now reset for June 27 with the Colorado Rockies) and scheduled for the third spot was Jeff Baker, who very quietly is working himself into the order.

One thing that is easily seen with Quade is he is not afraid to make changes. Perhaps that is due to his extensive background in the Minor Leagues, where players are always coming and going.

The Cubs are hoping their bats get heated from the "Arizona Sun."

I'm not nearly as worried about the hitting as I am the pitching for Chicago. We've lost two starting pitchers, and a couple of our key pitchers, like Ryan Dempster, are struggling.

I've got my fingers crossed.

References:

MLB.com Website, Evan Drellich, "Cubs hope Arizona sun warms up offense"

MLB.com Website, "Barry Enright Statistics"

MLB.com Website, "Ryan Dempster Statistics"