Joggin' With the Cubs

"Who's in left, and who's at short?"


Today, I was watching the game between the Cubs and A's from Oakland. The score was 0-0 and once again, the Cubs starting pitcher (today, Travis Wood) was pitching in outstanding fashion but with no offensive support. Then the Cubs got something going. Starlin Castro, who last night committed his 15th error of the season, was on 2nd base with one out and Alfonso Soriano at the plate. Soriano singled to left and started jogging to first base oblivious to the chance that the throw from left might go home and afford him the ability to go to 2nd base.  Castro meanwhile, was practically jogging from 2nd to third, around third and was thrown out at home plate. Meanwhile, Soriano was still standing at first base instead of going to 2nd on the throw. On the next pitch, Soriano was thrown out trying to steal second. All of this while Cub manager Dale Sveum watched helplessly from the dugout.

Final score: A's 1
Cubs 0

In the 9th, the Cubs had runners on first and second with two outs. On a 2 and 0 pitch Soriano flied out to shallow right.

I have rarely seen two talented players with less fundamental skills than Soriano and Castro. Neither of them have their head in the game. The Cubs can't trade Soriano because no team is crazy enough to get him. They can trade Castro, however, and the sooner the better.