The Knives Are Out

The Cubs lost to the Cardinals. That's always bad news. First of all, because all right-thinking Northsiders hate losing to our rivals from the other side of the state line. Secondly because, since the Cards are in our division, it's as though these games count double.

As fans, we're frustrated. This is, on paper, a very solid team. Yet on the field, they just can't seem to get together, to play cohesively, and WIN consistently. The pitching is solid but the hitting is spotty, then the bats come alive but the fielding sucks, then the defense is tight but the base running is stupid ...

The scapegoat for everything that's gone wrong seems to be Alfonso Soriano. His bat is lukewarm and he's only seems able to hit when the bases are empty. He's been losing balls in the outfield. All this is true. But it's true of just about everybody except Theriot and Lee.

But it's Soriano that seems especially annoying to the fans. The papers and sports radio shows reflect this. I feel bad for Fonzie. I believe he's trying ... perhaps even too hard, maybe that's why he's choking.

Here's hoping he can turn it around. There's still (a little more than) half a season left. Anything can happen ... including vindication for Soriano.