Cubs' Fans Feeling a Heavy Dose of Deja Vu

Bullpen blows another lead/game after offense provides spark

It's a phenomenon known as deja vu or otherwise Chicago Cubs baseball.

If you thought it couldn't get any worse...it did Friday night and into early Saturday. The Cubs bullpen imploded yet again. After the Cubs found themselves in a 5-0 deficit to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team rallied for one run in the sixth and seven in the seventh to take an 8-5 lead. All signs pointed to a solid come from behind win for the up-and-down Cubbies; however, the bullpen stole the show again by serving up four runs in the bottom of the eighth to lose 9-8 to the Dodgers.

Cubs set-up man (hopefully former set-up man and Cub) Bob Howry came in the eighth with a three-run cushion only to give up back-to-back-to-back line drive singles to Russell Martin, Luis Gonzalez, and Tony Abreu. The amazing aspect of it all was that Howry continued to go to his mediocre low-nineties fastball to all three batters he faced. All three batters drilled the pitch for a single. Does the Cubs’ set-up man have another pitch besides his pathetic, no-movement fastball? Do any of the Cubs’ relievers have pitches besides mediocre fastballs? I’ve watched majority of the Cubs games this year and so far I’ve never seen a bullpen throw so many fastballs and average fastballs at that.

After Howry loaded the bases, lefty Will Ohman (or as I say when he comes in “Oh Man”) proceeded to give up a single up the middle to pinch-hitter Olmedo Saenz. The lead was now 8-6, and head coach Lou Pinella quickly took out “Oh Man” for youngster Angel Guzman. Guzman’s first pitch found the dirt and flew passed Michael Barrett as the Dodgers drew to within one. Three pitches later, Guzman walked pinch-hitter Andy LaRoche to load the bases yet again. With the bases juiced hot-hitting Rafael Furcal slapped a single through the left-side of the infield tying the game at eight with the bases still loaded and no outs. So far three Cubs’ relievers had faced six batters giving up five hits and one walk without a single out.

Next to the plate strolled ex-Cub Juan Pierre. Pierre hit a sacrifice fly (something he never could do with the Cubs) to give the Dodgers the lead 9-8. Another ex-Cub Nomar Garciaparra followed by grounding into an inning ending double play; however, the damage was done and Cubs’ fans took a deep breath for that’s all they could to do to restrain themselves from freaking out (if you did freak out…it’s more than understandable).

When the top of the ninth rolled around the Cubs position players went 1-2-3 without so much as a jab. They were defeated by their bullpen once again. The steam of their seven-run seventh inning was jarred by yet another miserable, horrendous bullpen outing. With the loss the Cubs fell to 21-25, and 2-11 in games decided by one-run. However, was anyone really surprised how this one ended? The Cubs are a major-league worst 2-11 in one-run games while the Dodgers are a major-league best 10-4. The Dodgers are 28-20. It’s as if every other game I go through a feeling of déjà vu. Haven’t I seen this script before? It’s like when you see a movie with almost the exact same plot or a TV show based on the same nonsense. Last year, the Cubs’ bullpen was miserable and this year the story’s the same with a few new characters.

Looking at the standings, somehow the Cubs find themselves only six games behind the Milwaukee Brewers, but does anyone really think the Cubs’ bullpen will be able to turn it around this year. When you win everything is great, but when you lose and lose like the Cubs have numerous times this year, well…then it makes you wonder. They say good teams win the close games, the Cubs haven’t done that. They say good teams get the clutch hit or make the clutch play, the Cubs haven’t done that. They also say head coach Lou Pinella is not a pitchers coach, well after the first 46 games I see why.

The Cubs’ bullpen has been downright PATHETIC and needs a real mix-up with certain players being released. It is clear the message has not been delivered. The only relievers whose jobs are not on the line are Ryan Dempster, Carlos Marmol, and Angel Guzman. The rest of the bullpen better wake-up soon or else find new fans to bring headaches to.

Looking at the stats, nothing adds up. The Cubs have outscored their opponents 219 to 193 and have given up the six fewest runs in baseball thanks to solid starting pitching, yet are 21-25. The White Sox have scored 11 fewer runs than allowed, but have a record of 24-20. The Cubs entered Friday nights’ game with an NL leading .285 average with runners in scoring position, second in NL in overall average at .269, but seventh in runs scored. Once again, none of this makes any sense.

However, it all makes sense when you look at the bullpen numbers. The bullpen leads the majors in losses with 15, with only four wins. They have blown 10 saves with only one coming at the hands of closer Ryan Dempster who is 10 for 11. Howry sports an era of 5.56, Eyre checks in at 7.53, Ohman at 4.97, and Dempster at 4.15. The answers to the offensive statistics are in the Cubs’ pathetic excuse for a bullpen.

Someone end this déjà vu…go out and do your job! Cubs’ nation, the coaching staff, and position players have all had enough.