Pitching Fails Cubs Yet Again in First of Double-Header with Giants

COMMENTARY | The San Francisco Giants are visiting the Chicago Cubs for a two-game series. Tuesday was not a good day for Chicago. It started with an embarrassing loss to San Francisco 13-7.

Alex Ruppenthal has posted an article at the MLB.com website titled "Cubs fall to Giants in twin-bill opener."

It is the story of two seasons: The Giants are in first place in the National League West with a record of 46-34. The Cubs are four games out of last place and 12 games out of first in the National League Central with a 32-48 record.

The winning pitcher for San Francisco was Ryan Vogelsong (6-1, ERA 2.09). The loser for the hapless Cubs was Doug Davis (1-7, ERA 6.50).

Even the pitchers are inverse reflections of one another, with Vogelsong having a good season and Davis battling just for a win.

Vogelsong was given multi-run support, as was Davis. The difference was that Davis just wasn't "on." He gave up 10 runs in 4 1/3 innings. This was his poorest showing since his first Major League game in 1999. Vogelsong, on the other hand, was trying to extend a streak of keeping the opposition at two runs or less.

The Vogelsong-Davis face-off wasn't the key. The Cubs are just not capable of winning right now on any type of consistent basis.

While Chicago manager Mike Quade seemed to be content with the Cubs' bullpen, it is hard to understand why. Chris Carpenter replaced Davis in the fifth inning and was hit for an immediate three runs -- hardly a "success."

It is understandable to always try to look at the positives for a team. It is true that Carlos Pena and Aramis Ramirez are beginning to hit, and slowly players are coming back from injuries.

Still, the Cubs will have a good game and then struggle. Their starting pitching usually doesn't do well, as in this case. Perhaps what is hurting them the most is the fact they don't have the same team every day.

There is no denying that the Giants came to Wrigley Field, as Ruppenthal reports, with an average per game of 3.4 runs. Wrigley Field is friendly to hitters.

The Cubs play in their ballpark all the time yet lost big in this opening game.

References:

MLB.com Website, Alex Ruppenthal, "Cubs fall to Giants in twin-bill opener"

MLB.com Website, "Ryan Vogelsong Statistics"

MLB.com Website, "Doug Davis Statistics"