I should have time to get out part two this afternoon, but no promises.
Chicago Cubs (54-46); First Place -- 0.0 GB
Last Week’s Record: 6-1
Last Week’s Opponents: Cincinnati Reds (3-0); Houston Astros (3-1)
Transactions:
Placed LHP Ted Lilly on the 15-Day DL with left shoulder inflammation.
Recalled RHP Justin Berg from AAA-Iowa.
Activated RHP Ryan Dempster from 15-Day DL.
Optioned RHP Justin Berg to AAA-Iowa.
Optioned RHP Jeff Stevens to AAA-Iowa.
Recalled RHP Mitch Atkins from AAA-Iowa.
Traded RHP Kevin Hart and RHP Jose Ascaino to the Pittsburgh Pirates for LHP John Grabow and LHP Tom Gorzelanny.
Placed OF Reed Johnson on 15-Day DL with a fractured left foot.
Recalled RHP Jeff Stevens from AAA-Iowa.
Optioned RHP Mitch Atkins to AAA-Iowa.
Who’s Hot?:
Aramis Ramirez -- .520/.586/1.160, 13 for 25, 4 2B, 4 HR, 4 BB, 7 R
Randy Wells -- 2-0, 14 IP, 13 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, .250 Opp BA
Who was Not?:
Ryan Theriot -- .200/.265/.267, 6 for 30, 2 2B, 5 RBI, 5 R
Ryan Dempster -- 0-0, 5.0 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
The Cubs look really hot right now, but I’m still not buying them as legit. It’s going to sound a little crazy too, since Chicago hit the crap out of the ball this week. After all, what struggling team goes 6-1 in a week, right? Try the one that got all the right matchups at all the right times. The only respectable pitchers the Cubs got to see this week were Johnny Cueto and Wandy Rodriguez. They pounded on Cueto, but managed just one run in seven against Wandy and it stayed that way through 12. It took a walk-off grand slam by Alfonso Soriano in the 13th for it finally go their way. Their bullpen is usually not good enough to pull that off. The next day they were to face Roy Oswalt, but the Astros ace had to leave after just a couple of innings because of back problems. They still managed to lose that game against the Astros taxed bullpen.
Okay, so anyone can find some stats or matchups to go against a team, but I think this upcoming week of games will tell the whole story. The Cubs are headed on a nine game road trip that starts in Florida against a Marlins team that is pitching prett well. Jim Hendry appears to be unsure his team can keep it together as he traded two solid prospects for a decent LOOGY and a poor left handed starter. Word is he’s also looking for another outfield bat with Reed Johnson going down, and Milton Bradley refusing to play to his mean. Granted, if Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano and Derek Lee continue to hit the way they’ve been hitting, it doesn’t matter who else is in the line up.
Who’s Next?
It doesn’t hurt to repeat that the Cubs head to Florida this weekend to start three against the Fish, but they got lucky again because Josh Johnson is not scheduled to take the mound. On Monday they’ll head to Cincinnati to try and build on their three game sweep of the Reds this past week.
St. Louis Cardinals (56-49); Second Place -- 0.5 GB
Last Week’s Record: 4-3
Last Week’s Opponents: Philadelphia Phillies (1-2); Los Angeles Dodgers (3-1)
Transactions:
Activated SS Julio Lugo after trading for him.
Optioned RHP P.J. Walters to AAA-Memphis.
Traded 3B Brett Wallace, OF Shane Peterson, RHP Clayton Mortensen to the Oakland Athletics for OF Matt Holliday and cash considerations.
Optioned INF Brian Barden to AAA-Memphis.
Traded RHP Jess Todd to the Cleveland Indians to complete the DeRosa deal.
Recalled RHP Blake Hawksworth from AAA-Memphis.
Optioned RHP Josh Kinney to AAA-Memphis.
Who’s Hot?:
Matt Holliday -- .500/.606/.808, 13 for 26, 5 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 6 BB, 6 K
Joel Pineiro -- 2-0, 14 IP, 10 H, ER, 3 BB, 10 K, .204 Opp BA, 26:14 GB-FB
Who was Not?:
Yadier Molina -- .136/.269/.406, 3 for 22, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 4 K
Todd Wellenmeyer -- 0-1, 6.0 IP, 12 H, 7 R (5 ER), BB, 3 K, .414 Opp BA
This is the team to beat right now in the NL Central, and they proved as much by nearly sweeping the Dodgers in a four game series at home. The acquisition of Matt Holliday will prove to be huge. The slugging outfielder’s numbers have dropped since leaving Colorado, but was starting to come alive when the Cardinals traded away to of their best prospects to rent his services for the remainder of the year. Holliday hasn’t disappointed, hitting based on the numbers reported above. That’s more than made up for the ‘slump’ Albert Pujols is having. I can’t imagine the trouble when he returns to form. What was most surprising this week was the sudden offensive surge of Julio Lugo, who hit .393/.414/.714 with two doubles, two triples and a home run. This has taken away playing time from Skip Schumaker, who has suddenly become a replacement player. But if Skip is the first player off your bench, you’re doing just fine.
Lost in all of the hoopla of the trades to improve the offense is the continued success of the Red Birds rotation. While the bullpen isn’t all that impressive, they don’t have to do about much when everyone is going seven innings, well everyone except Todd Wellenmeyer. No need to fret Cardinals’ fans. Tony LaRussa is finally thinking about removing him from the rotation. The options aren’t very good, though, with Brad Thompson being the logical favorite. But I suspect Blake Hawksworth couldn’t do any worse. With everything going full throttle, I expect Cardinals to start pulling away slowly, but not before making a small move to get a bullpen arm later this evening.
Who’s Next:
The Cardinals get a chance to redeem themselves this weekend against the Astros, who recently swept the Red Birds before Matt Holliday came to town. Interestingly, they follow the three game set with a day off, two games at the Mets and another day off. And no, there isn’t a long stretch of games to finish the month. It’s a pretty nice schedule for these guys.
Milwaukee Brewers (51-51); Third Place -- 4.0 GB
Last Week’s Record: 3-4
Last Week’s Opponents: Atlanta Braves (1-2); Washington Nationals (2-2)
Transactions:
Placed RHP Seth McClung on 15-Day DL with a right elbow sprain.
Recalled RHP Tim Dillard from AAA-Nashville.
Optioned RHP Mike Burns to AAA-Nashville.
Recalled LHP R.J. Swindle from AAA-Nashville.
Placed RHP Jeff Suppan on 15-Day DL with a sprained left oblique.
Optioned UTI Bill Hall to AAA-Nashville.
Recalled 2B Hernan Iribarren from AAA-Nashville.
Who’s Hot?:
Ryan Braun -- .423/.483/1.077, 11 for 26, 2 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 7 R
Yovani Gallardo -- 2-0, 14.1 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 17 K, .191 Opp BA.
Who was Not?:
Jason Kendall -- .143/.217/.190, 3 for 21, 2B, RBI, 2 BB, 2 K
Jeff Suppan -- 0-1, 5.1 IP, 10 H, 10 ER, 4 BB, 4 K (To the DL)
The Crew has a lot of work ahead of them after narrowly spiraling out of Wild Card contention. I specifically say the Wild Card because there’s no way this team can surge it’s way back to the top of the division without some help on the mound. The Brewers team ERA this past week was a whopping 6.86. Sadly it wasn’t just one game or one area that was the problem. With the exception of Yovani Gallardo, Todd Coffey and Trevor Hoffman, everyone on this staff, starter or reliever, has struggled over the past two weeks. And it’s dug this team a giant hole with a very slim chance to climb out.
Unfortunately, this is the time teams should start selling, and while Doug Melvin would love to move some expiring contracts, nobody is biting. That’s really hard to believe since guys like Mike Cameron and JJ Hardy could really help out teams in contention. It’s possible Melvin’s asking price may be too high, but we can never be sure. With the trade deadline tonight, the worst thing that could happen to this team is nothing. They would get no opportunity to check out Alcides Escobar, no help to fix the bleeding rotation and no salary relief to produce themselves options next season. The only true positive of staying pat is it give us followers a lot to talk about during the Winter Meetings.
Who’s Next:
The Brewers have that always dreadful West Coast road trip ahead of them. It starts tonight against the San Diego Padres and ends in LA on Wednesday after three against the Dodgers.