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Posting Date: October 10, 2007
Chicago Cubs
Roster Choices Led To Cubs’ Downfall
By TOM DANZ
Always expect the worst.
That should be the motto of Cub fans, and that’s exactly what they got in the series with the Arizona Diamondbacks — the worst.
The pitching was bad, the hitting was very bad, and the managing was questionable.
Actually, the selection of the 25-man roster was probably even more questionable. By going with Jason Marquis instead of Sean Marshall, the Cubs left themselves without a fourth starter.
They weren’t going with Marquis in Game 4, no matter what — as they were correct to decide. But Game 4 was on Lou Piniella’s mind when he lifted Carlos Zambrano in Game 1 after six innings, even though he was pitching brilliantly and the score was 1-1. Piniella did not want to extend Zambrano too far because he was going to use him in Game 4.
That would not necessarily have been the case if Marshall was on the roster. If Marshall had been on the roster, they could have pitched Zambrano an extra inning (or more) in Game 1, and possibly won the game — even if it meant that Marshall, and not Zambrano, had to start Game 4.
As it was, there was no Game 4. After losing Game 1 came the meltdown by Ted Lilly in Game 2 (why did he groove a fastball to Chris Young when first base was open — and after shaking off the curve that was called by Geovany Sota?) and the pathetic hitting in the clutch in Game 3.
Actually, the lack of timely hitting in Game 3 epitomized the entire series, as did the first-pitch homer by Young off Rich Hill.
So the season is over. There are many highlights to look back on — the Cubs did make it to the postseason, after all — but that will be done in a future column. Now is a time for mourning.
© Copyright 2007 Vondrak Publishing Company, Inc.
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