R-e-l-i-e-f spells disaster

By Steven Chaitman | Jul 12, 9:45 PM

Give me a break, seriously. I guess my lonely cry yesterday from cyberspace fell upon deaf ears…or something.

A win like the Cubs had today (and it's still weird to call it a win) either proves that they are a truly great team that can persevere or have some serious issues.

I lean toward the latter because these are the San Francisco Giants we're talking about.

Nothing like making your newest pitcher feel welcome by blowing his 7 run shutout lead. I'd really have a fun time trusting my new ball club if they pulled that crap on me.

Lou Piniella really needs to spend the all-star break reevaluating how he handles this bullpenand the extent of the talent he's dealing with. I trust his judgment in the long-term, but right now he's had a heck of a time adjusting to the fact that Kerry Wood has a blister and Carlos Marmol is no longer Superman.

It's beginning to look like the All-Star Game couldn't come at a better time for the Cubs. While I'd prefer to have most of those guys resting for a few days instead of playing in another game, I'll still consider it a break.

If you don't think Lou was clueless today, just look at the stat lines for the bullpen. Harden looked unreal striking out 10 Giants in just over 5 innings. Gaudin threw just 9 pitches. Hart did a solid inning of relief, got into trouble and then Cotts and Howry each came in to total 12 pitches. Then Marmol comes in with a 5-run lead, a reasonable situation, but Lou lets him hang out to dry. 36 pitches, 5 hits, 4 earned runs. Obviously Lou thought he could nitpick with a 5-run lead, but to just let Marmol bust himself up and lose even more of his confidence (which he's always telling Lou he's got…somehow) makes no sense.Marshall could have come in earlier. He's struggling, the whole world knows he's struggling and yet when the danger signs come flashing, Lou leaves him in. Maybe his crystal ball said the Cubs could win it in extras, but please.

Tomorrow's match-up feels like a rubber game though the Cubs go for the sweep. That's because (today's game feeling like a loss aside) the Cubs will see Tim Lincecumagain and against Ryan Dempster who loves him that Wrigley Field. Beating Lincecum and sweeping after today's ridiculousness would send this team on break feeling good about second half baseball. Or more importantly, the fans.

Tagged: baseball, Cubs, Harden