Auto parts

Wondering about the title to this post? I'll get to that.

I had a wonderful weekend in Phoenix at "Phoenix Cooks" -- a food and wine extravaganza at the Biltmore. It would have been better had the Cubs cooperated the final two games of the debacle, er, series with Philadelphia.

So, after a relaxing weekend you'd think I have no rants, right? Wrong. Real wrong.

1. I blame Saturday's loss on bad managing, pure and simple. Absolutely criminal that Lou replaces DeRosa in that double switch and leaves Stinkodome in the game. That hurt us twice. Two chances to win that game -- both lost thanks to one stupid move. What was he thinking? That Fukudome could possibly hit JC Romero? Come on. The line up rolls and now we have to pinch hit Cedeno for the pitcher's spot instead of having DeRosa up, and then it comes to Stinkodome for the inning ending whiff -- in what should have been the pitcher's spot and THEN we could have pinch hit Cedeno...depending on what DeRosa did. Awful decision. Worried about defense when you are losing and can't score? Poor decision.

2. The simple fact that we can't score runs on Jamie Moyer is a joke. Jamie Moyer? He's older than Ralph. Problem with us Saturday and Sunday? Our clutch went out. (auto parts reference explained.) Sunday's line for our 3 and 4 hitters? 0 for 9. Soriano with risp -- yuk. What the hell? We could have lost all four of those games. Easily. Here's another question for you re: Sunday's game. Any reason that Zambrano and his tired arm couldn't pinch hit? I'd have had no problem with that.

Brewers are creeping up -- I for one think we are going to be the wild card team. I'm not being negative, just realistic. Look at our schedule and look at theirs. Theirs is much easier -- and I've said all season long that we are exposed as the mediocre offensive team that we are against good pitching. Yes, we have a very good pitching team. Better with Big Z in the rotation, but still very good. And yes, we beat up bad pitching. Which will get us to the playoffs. But will our offense get us THROUGH the playoffs? I can't say.

I look at DLee hitting third. Or should I call him Judy, as in "Punch and Judy"? He does not hit for power much anymore. Fine. Let's deal with that. Put him somewhere in the order that makes more sense. Oh wait, we don't have anyone else who hits for power, either. Oops. Soto in the 3 spot, perhaps? Perhaps. Never happen. Just like Soriano leading off...Lou is set in some things.

Like using K.Wood in that blow out vs. the Pirates to "get some work" and then not having him available in the Philly series for a game because he'd had too much work. Thankfully, we didn't need him that game. But, seriously?

Our biggest hitter, ARam, is getting easier to pitch around since we don't have a bona fide number five hitter. Edmonds is tired. Reed Johnson is not a five hitter.

And don't tell the national league, but we can't hit a change up. Shhhhh.

Fontenot is a good hitter, but he doesn't play.

What happens if (here's a hypothetical for you) Hoffpauir comes up and hits .410 with seven homers in September? Does he take Lee's spot at first for the playoffs? Answer: No. Why? I have no fucking idea. Ask Lou.

I like leading the division. Don't get me wrong. I like this team. Don't get me wrong there, either. But we have some uphill battles to win this division with our schedule, and we have some offensive issues to work out to get to, and win the World Series.

Just my two cents. Glad to be back. Or not.

best to cb.

JS