How about those Chicago Cubs?
After watching the Cubs pound the Padres the last two nights, it’s obvious this is a team with legitimate high hopes in 2008.
The Cubs are flat-out beating the Padres; rather than having the Padres beat themselves as they do so often.
What’s most impressive about the Cubs is how they just seem to hit line drive after line drive after line drive.
Padres’ catcher Michael Barrett, who played for the Cubs until last June, is certainly aware of his former team’s offensive prowess.
“One thing that’s impressive about them is that they have such a high on base percentage,” Barrett told the Associated Press. “The biggest thing about that lineup is that they really forced us to come to them. You don't see them making too many quick outs.”
Speaking of, it’s hard to get quick outs when you don’t throw strikes.
Padres starting pitcher Wil Ledezma threw 100 pitches in 4 2/3 innings Tuesday night, including 61 to the last 12 batters he faced (averaging more than five pitches per batter.) Ledezma walked five and went to full counts on eight of 21 batters; a terribly high percentage.
But that’s the way the Cubs play, forcing pitchers to get behind in the count because they’re evidently afraid to throw strikes.
Of course, the Padres are an easy target this season. But considering the Cubs have won nine straight and boast the best record in baseball, don’t be surprised if/when they play deep into October this season.
After watching the Cubs pound the Padres the last two nights, it’s obvious this is a team with legitimate high hopes in 2008.
The Cubs are flat-out beating the Padres; rather than having the Padres beat themselves as they do so often.
What’s most impressive about the Cubs is how they just seem to hit line drive after line drive after line drive.
Padres’ catcher Michael Barrett, who played for the Cubs until last June, is certainly aware of his former team’s offensive prowess.
“One thing that’s impressive about them is that they have such a high on base percentage,” Barrett told the Associated Press. “The biggest thing about that lineup is that they really forced us to come to them. You don't see them making too many quick outs.”
Speaking of, it’s hard to get quick outs when you don’t throw strikes.
Padres starting pitcher Wil Ledezma threw 100 pitches in 4 2/3 innings Tuesday night, including 61 to the last 12 batters he faced (averaging more than five pitches per batter.) Ledezma walked five and went to full counts on eight of 21 batters; a terribly high percentage.
But that’s the way the Cubs play, forcing pitchers to get behind in the count because they’re evidently afraid to throw strikes.
Of course, the Padres are an easy target this season. But considering the Cubs have won nine straight and boast the best record in baseball, don’t be surprised if/when they play deep into October this season.
