Weather, Bullpen, Injuries All Bogging Cubs Down; Time to Stop Making Excuses

COMMENTARY | It was another weather-related loss Tuesday for the Chicago Cubs, who fell to the Chicago White Sox 3-2 in another cross-town showdown -- games that are always fun to watch. The loss tied the current series at one game apiece.

Carrie Muskat has posted an article at the MLB.com website titled "Soaked Garza, Cubs left wanting more."

As Muskat reports, the game had a "one-hour, 44-minute delay" due to rain -- typical Chicago weather.

One story of the game was that Matt Garza (3-6, ERA 4.11), going for the Cubs, continued pitching tough from his last game, a win. In his own words, Garza asserted his prowess: "I had good stuff tonight, I'm not going to lie."

The game was a pitcher's duel until the top of the sixth inning, when rain stopped play. That was the end for Garza, who would not pitch again after the delay.

The difference in the ballgame was, once again, the failure of the bullpen to keep the Cubs from losing. Chicago reliever Jeff Samardzija (5-3, ERA 4.17) took the loss, though he should have gotten it. He gave up the winning run. Alexei Ramirez doubled off of Samardzija in the bottom of the seventh inning and later scored on a sacrifice fly. That run was all it took to get the White Sox the win.

The winning pitcher for the White Sox was Jesse Crain (3-2, ERA 2.81), who closed out the game, although earlier he had allowed the tying run at 2-2.

It was a disappointing loss for the Cubs on several levels:

Chicago was unable to win another one-run game. Further, it was another game that the Cubs lost in bad weather, even though they should be able to play with anyone because they "live" in bad weather.

The Cubs have a lineup that boasts a lot of good hitters. That fact was even mentioned by opposing manager Ozzie Guillen, who suggested Chicago could win the National League Central. Yet the wins aren't coming.

One answer is that the pitching for the Cubs just isn't there. Mainly it is the bullpen that has been failing. It seems when the Cubs get good pitching the hitting "goes south."

The Cubs also are still battling injuries; currently, there are four key players out, including two starters (Darwin Barney and Marlin Byrd), and a starting pitcher (Andrew Cashner), and key reliever (Kerry Wood).

The All-Star Game is just around the corner, signaling the season is moving along, and the Cubs are 13 games under .500.

It's time to overcome the excuses.

References:

MLB.com Website, "Injury Updates"

MLB.com Website, "Matt Garza Statistics"

MLB.com Website, "Jeff Samardzija Statistics"

MLB.com Website, "Jesse Crain Statistics"

MLB.com Website, Carrie Muskat, "Soaked Garza, Cubs left wanting more"