that places the blame at Lou’s feet. Lou pulled the strings and got the results, but the players did not execute. For example, you say its a no brainer that he should have walked Braun, but he got the desired result, a grounder to SS. It should have been a DP and we can argue over this or not, but IMO Theriot got a ball hard hit ball, fielded it and should have gotten the 6-4-3 DP.

Lou pulled the strings, agree or don’t, but the players did not perform. You need to expect that your closer is going to get the job done in the 9th, and he didn’t. You need to expect that your batters are going to score more than 3 runs off of Braden Looper, who was walking guys left and right, and when he did throw strikes, he was hitting the radar gun in the mid 80s. Looper was walking the house and throwing BP but Cubs batters, who were so disciplined that they raked the Astros on Wednesday for 11 runs were the opposite today.

Placing blame on Lou in this one, to me, is just rediculous. It was a team loss… poor defense, no offense, and bullpen pitchers that (aside from Marmol) threw like garbage today. The players did not get the job done and they lost a game that should have easily been in the win column.

This was not one of Lou’s finer moments. I think this bullpen will drive us all nuts this year. One day they will be lights out the next will be games like this one. When you bring your lefties in and they hit a batter (Cotts) and walk (Marshall) the first hitter they face, I just want to throw something.
 But this is what our bullpen is, the guys out there have to suck it up and get it done.
 I know Theriot doesn’t have a cannon arm, but is there a weaker armed shortstop in the majors?

….but the one that made no sense whatsoever was sending Miles in to PH. It was a game changer…

He looked pretty terrible this game. I hope he doesn’t continue with his second half last year where he was hitting for no power.

Vizcaino did not throw well; he threw junk and got lucky. Hanging 80 mph sliders. Yuck. Second, I don’t understand why Miles pinch hit in that situation; however, if he is going to pinch hit, then I would’ve liked a squeeze. That was a huge, huge run we left out there.

but he should have had that double off of weeks

But what’s a LOOGY?

His use of the bullpen was downright odd and, ultimately, ineffective. Ken Macha was correct to leave Counsell in to face Cotts, who really isn’t very adept at getting out left-handers. As soon as Cotts hit Counsell, the bullpen mess had just begun.

last year after 4 games we were 1-3, outscored 19-14 in those games, and then went on to win 5 in a row. This won’t be the last defeat we snatch from the jaws of victory this year. We’ll have our share of games we should lose but emerge victorious. The problem was we let the Brewers hang around when we had the chance to put it away. You don’t give up that many walks and win.

We take the next two, we forget about today.

cant seem to throw his breaking ball for a strike. thats going to a be a huge problem if it continues.

“when Theriot threw away an easy ground ball to lead off the game by Weeks, which led to an unearned run. Maybe we’re talking about a victory tonight if Theriot makes that play.”

How about Lee? He watched it sail through his glove and if it was such a bad throw why didn’t he leave the bag to prevent the ball from making the dugout? The “maybe” game hits a lot of people today, but I wouldn’t put Theriot at the top.

As I said in the game thread, in a 3-2 game in the top of the 8th more runs don’t matter. Only outs. Maximize your team’s ability to get those six outs. Lou failed miserably at that today.

That said, I have a procedural question: Does the pitcher have to go to the dugout between innings? Yes, I’ve tried google but maybe I wasn’t framing the question correctly. My point is, asking Gregg to end the 8th, sit, then come out and throw a sharp 9th didn’t seem prudent at the time. Could he have just jogged to the ‘pen and tossed for a while to stay loose since his spot in the order wasn’t imminent? I’m guessing not, but I don’t know the rule.

Anyhows, a colossal FAIL. Threw a game away, I don’t care if it’s April or September, winners don’t throw away games, they close them out.

We could add more players to the list, like Marshall and Cotts, but in the end, Al hit the nail on the head. Why weren’t the bases loaded intentionally in the 9th inning to force a DP without having to tag the runner? Now, I agree with Al that the DP was not going to be made so the correct approach by Theriot was to throw home, as he did. But he could have settled himself before throwing. He had time. Instead, he didn’t set his feet properly, short-hopped the throw and the rest is history.

Anyway, those are details, costly but not as significant as the fact that Mr. Gregg cannot get this team to the promised land issuing so many walks. And Cotts and Marshall have to step up. Funny, didn’t we all say that last year too? Last season, our closer got into the habit of allowing the long ball or hitting batters in the 9th inning. This season, our new closer can achieve the same frustrating result by issuing walks. Granted, he’s done it only once so far, but considering his history with the Marlins, Gregg didn’t wait, didn’t he?

I just hope Gregg can get his act together and Lou stops cursing for one moment and try to consult his coaches more often. And if they didn’t tell him to load the bases in the ninth then, perhaps they shouldn’t be there either. (I’m pretty confident someone must’ve mentioned the correct strategy.) So, Al, good recap. Let’s just win this series.

Some observations from the week:

-Lee is slumping, horribly, and it’s just not his BA either (cough Bradley cough), but if it weren’t the beginning of the season, we wouldn’t be discussing this
-Fukudome has hushed some of his critics for now
-Gregg isn’t doing awful as a closer, ie. look at Wood in his first appearance last year against the Brewers. I’ll give him another month
-Soriano and Ramirez are poised to have monster seasons

And here is a suggestion: If Gregg falters, would you consider making Shark the closer??

He was TERRIBLE in the field today. One throwing error and two terrible mental ones, including not going for the double play at the end of the game. He was playing at double play depth, how could he forgot to freaking go for the double play. The worst part is that if Lou benches him his backup is Aaron Freaking Miles

How is it that Miles and not Hoffpauir was the pinch hitter in the 8th inning? Why the hell else is he on the team? Hoff can at least hit the ball out of the infield

1. D-Lee is not a #3 hitter and has not been since his injury. Just swap him and Aramiz or put Fontenot there. Anyone but him.

2. I disagree with Miles v. Hoff wash theory. 1 out, runner on 3rd — just need to get him home. I would prefer someone who has pop and is hot. And, I am sure someone else could tell us, but Hoff probably has better fly ball %. Miles puzzled me there.

3. Marmol will outperform Gregg all year. Gregg did not lead the league in Blown saves for a reason. Sux to have downgraded at a position so substantially.

I wouldn’t mind seeing

Soriano LF
Fukudome CF
Ramirez 3B
Bradley RF
Lee 1b
Fontenot 2b
Soto C
Theriot SS

simply because they should’ve taken advantage of Loopers horrendous pitching. They should’ve been teeing off on him, my god he’s no C.C. or Sheets. Not scoring insurance runs with several different chances hurt them. They played like they were waiting to get beat. Go get em tomorrow with El Toro.

They had so many opportunities. They held the Brewers to 4 hits, which is just as many as they scored. Those walks really hurt them.

Hendry continues his tread of getting hitters who can’t hit in the clutch…

And Closers who :can’t close…

OK…maybe it all isn’t on Hendry…BUT LaTroy and Who was the guy from Montreal who blew a few saves right out the box and was never the same??

Gregg is a LOSER…I watched him enogh last year to know the Marlins KNOW they are better off without him…see above….

Cubs are 0-2 in 1 run games….DISTURBING….THESE are the kind of games neeeded to win during the playoffs to advance…

Out hit the Brewers 9-4 bot not outscore…Hendry offense in action again….the 16/9 LOB on 3 runs is “CHOKE CITY”….What’s kinder "0-3 Lee …even though he was 0-4…or 6-4-3 Lee?….looks like the solo home run syndrom has struck the team…

The opposition scored “100% of their hits” - 4 hits 4 runs …(yes I know it didn’t play out that way)

The Cubs as usual WASTE opportunities…(9 hits and 3 runs come out to a 33% clip)…

This ought to get all the small sample size members screaming…

Kerry Wood is out there laughing hysterically?

I was spared watching the game as I was in flight ( I got the 3-2 score when I took off did not get the final till many hours later ) and I am just getting the gory details but it sounds a lot like the game I went to in Philly last year which turned me against Lou ( first or second weekend of the season) . Insane overmanaging of bullpen and bench. The one in Philly had a happy ending but only because of Phillies error in the 10th. I have faith in my theory from last season that the Cubs are good enough to win DESPITE Lou. Alas Gregg is likely to end up in the dog house translating into Marmol’s arm falling off.

Marmol should be our closer, Gregg is a stiff that was jettisoned by Florida. Why are we wasting our time with him? He’s got nothing!

OK, yesterday was a loss. We can dissect it six ways to Sunday (or Saturday as the case may be), but we get another shot today. We don’t have to wait days or even a week to see the Cubs wipe away yesterday’s disappointment with today’s win. So let’s chalk up Friday’s game as just one of those days and let’s get ’em today.

Getting pumped for Monday’s home opener! Rain or no rain, it’ll be a great day. Beats working!

Also, I feel the Cubs lost this game in the 8th, when they failed to score Fontenot after a lead-off double.

100% inexcusable, unjustifiable decision.

…are cracking me up. Thanks for a few laughs.

Enough blame to go around for yesterday to choke a herd of horses. Let’s get a victory at Wrigley North tonight and put our past in our behinds.

Also, Go Blackhawks vs. the Evil Empire!

the Cubs do appear to have a legitimate #4 starter and Bradley finally got a hit. Assuming Soto comes back with his shoulder well rested, this team should have a terrific offense.

Let’s hope Z can get us off to a good start tonight and get us in a position where tomorrow night is a “rubber game” for this series.

it was bush league for Piniella to blame Hill for calling a slider at 3-2 on Duffy…Piniella should be calling the pitches, or Gregg should know to shake him off in that situation…

He is a kid, and hasn’t been in a lot of late-game situations like that. To make him the scapegoat was bull.