Chicago Cubs Week Two Is High On Drama

By: kevinhill

The Cubs ended week two the same way they will begin week three, with a day off.  The Sunday night game was postponed due to weather and will be made up on July 12th.  A scheduled off day Monday means a little extra rest early in the season.  They can probably use it this week after an exciting week and an eleven inning affair on Saturday.

Drama was the theme this week with all three wins having an element that would be highlight worthy.  Two game winning home runs and a no hit bid made the first week at Wrigley an exciting one.  They took two of three from division rival, and surprisingly hot St. Louis.  That left them tied with the Cardinals for first in the division and a game ahead in the loss column. 

Lou, What Are You Thinking - In week one, I questioned the lineup, suggesting that Lee was hitting too high and Ramirez too far down.  This week the question is on the appeal of Milton Bradley’s suspension.  In principle, I know you appeal because this is a ridiculous suspension.  His reputation has a lot to do with the league’s reaction I am sure.  However, you aren’t playing the guy anyway.  By appealing, we are going to lose him for two games at some point, because this won’t be overturned.  Instead we could have had Saturday as game one when all he did was pinch hit.  Zambrano could have done that.

Offensive Player of the Week- This is a tough decision this week, and for a good reason.  I am sure I am going to come across a week where I have a hard time deciding because no one is hitting.  Not this week.  The guys who are supposed to be the core run producers for this team all had great weeks.  Kosuke, D. Lee, Soriano, and Aramis were all big run producers this week.  I am going to go with Aramis based on the most production per game. 

Aramis only played in three of the five games due to a sore back early in the week.  In those three games he managed six hits, one of them the walk off home run.  The day before he drove in three runs on three separate hits keeping the Cubs close all game long.  He really seems dialed in during this first two weeks of the season and deserves this honor this week.

Honorable mention could go to any of the other three guys mentioned earlier.  Soriano had another dramatic home run that was a game winner, it just happened in the eighth inning so it wasn’t a walk off.  Derrek led the team with eight hits this week and Kosuke was responsible for ten runs.  Nice job by all the guys who are getting paid to produce.

Pitcher of the Week- Ted Lilly had the most dramatic appearance this week, taking a no hitter into the seventh inning against the Rockies on Monday.  There really was no other performance this week to match it.  Z did go seven innings when the bullpen needed some rest, but the Cubs won that game on offense.  Z allowed seven earned runs in those seven innings.   Why he struggles against St. Louis is beyond me, but he does.  So Ted Lilly, the only guy in the rotation this week to post a W, gets the honor.  He only gave up one hit and two walks through six and two thirds.  He set the tone for the week and gave the Wrigley crowd a great show on Opening Day.

Play of the Week - Has to be Aramis’ walk off eleventh inning home run.  Take the fact that it is a game ender, against the Cardinals, and the joyous celebration that ensued at Wrigley, and you have a no brainer. 

Comeback Player of the Week - We couldn’t have this in week one, because it was week one.  Now, however, we can look back and see who showed the most improvement week to week for the Cubs.  This week is a hands down Derrek Lee.  Kosuke had a heck of a week after a bad start, but him improvement really started in Milwaukee.  That means week over week, Derrek’s improvement is much more dramatic.

After just managing two hits in week one, he rapped out eight in week two.  He only drove in one more run than he did week one, but the  way he did it was much more impressive.  Let’s hope he can continue in this style of hitting instead of reverting back to week one.  If he keeps hitting like this I’ll quit bitching that he should be moved down in the order. 

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Share This Article

1 Comment

  1. [...] The National Sports Review, IL The Cubs ended week two the same way they will begin week three, with a day off. The Sunday night game was postponed due to weather and will be made up on July 12th. A scheduled off day Monday means a little extra rest early in the season. via nationalsportsreview.com [...]

    Pingback by Chicago Cubs Week Two Is High On Drama - The National Sports Review | icVideos on April 20, 2009

Comment On This Article