Ivy’s Cubs Game Round-Up, Current to Whatever Day Today Is

You know how people look into “spicing things up” in their relationship after being with someone for so long? That’s where I am right now with the Cubs. It’s so hard to get excited with the way they are playing now a days. It’s not like I’m used to a lot of success when it comes to the Cubs, but I just get tired of watching them lose.

 

8/03 @ Dodgers L 1-6                                                       

8/04 @ Dodgers L 1-3                          

8/05 @ Dodgers L 6-7                          

                                   

8/06 @ Padres L 0-2

8/07 @ Padres L 4-7

8/08 @ Padres L 0-2

 

Their West Coast trip was a complete failure. They went 0-6 and got shut-out twice. Other than Brooks Raley (filling in for Matt Garza) who pitched the second game of the Padres series, the starting pitching wasn’t bad at all. Given the fact that they have lost three of their top starting pitchers (Ryan Dempster, Paul Maholm, and Garza-DL) I think they’ve done quite well, even Chris Volstad showed improvement when he started the second game vs. the Dodgers and went seven innings and gave up only two runs. During their eight-game losing streak, which included these two series, the Cubs were outscored 40-16 and hit just .169.

 

8/09 vs. Reds W 5-3

8/10 vs. Reds L 8-10

8/11 vs. Reds L 2-4

8/12 vs. Reds L 0-3

 

8/13 vs. Astros W 7-1

8/14 vs. Astros L 1-10

8/15 vs. Astros W 7-2

 

Their recent homestand didn’t have much success either. The Reds took the first series but the Cubs were able to beat up the only team in the division worse than they were. Now, at least the Reds are at the top of the division, but when you get beat by the worst team in baseball (Astros 39-80) then you know that things are really bad.  Well, maybe not so bad since Chris Volstad took the only loss and he kinda sucks.  Not sure what to think, maybe this is a fluke and the offense will wake up and they will play better again, or maybe this is what the team will look like for the remaining months. There is no doubt that I love this team so much, it’s just hard to watch at the moment.

This is one of my favorite quotes:

“Progress always involves risks. You can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first.” ~Frederick B. Wilcox

So, I guess that if you want success, you have to go through a little bit of a rough patch. We’ll just have to keep looking at the bright side of things for now and probably for the next two years as well.

 

Looking Ahead

The Cubs will battle teams in their division in a 7-game road trip where they will have 4 games vs. the Reds, which includes a doubleheader on Saturday, and then they will head to Milwaukee to play three games against the Brewers.

 

Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds

Friday August 17, 2012 @ 6:10 p.m. CT

Travis Wood, LHP (4-8, 4.52 ERA) vs. Bronson Arroyo, RHP (8-7, 3.95 ERA)

 

Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds **Doubleheader**

Saturday August 18, 2012 @ 12:10 p.m. CT

Jeff Samardzija, RHP (8-10, 4.06 ERA) vs. Johnny Cueto, RHP (15-6, 2.45 ERA)

 

Saturday August 18, 2012 @ 6:10 p.m. CT

Brooks Raley, LHP (0-2, 9.00 ERA) vs. To Be Announced

 

Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds

Sunday August 19, 2012 @ 12:10 p.m. CT

Chris Volstad, RHP (0-9, 6.96 ERA) vs. Mat Latos, RHP (10-3, 3.63 ERA)

 

Thank you so much for reading and as always, Go Cubs!

-Ivy