An Angel Came Down

For the second start this season Angel Guzman was removed early with forearm cramps. The last time he was, he came back on normal rest and threw the ball fine. Given the Cubs sketchy at best history of medical reports, I am a bit worried about him. He has had a lot of arm problems in the past, and a forearm injury allegedly kept him out of most of last season. Before his removal, Guzman had a very good start going. He had allowed 1 ER in the 4.2 innings of work, then Michael Wuertz threw all my good words from last night down the toilet. The rest of the bullpen did a solid job, with the exception of non-bullpen member Les Walrond and Ryan Dempster. Dempster has now allowed runs in his last four outings, and five of six. He's been dreadful of late, but I did not need to tell you that.

Ryan Theriot got the start today and went hitless. He did the unthinkable and walked, that should be good for two consecutive starts by Fast Freddie Bynum. Juan Pierre got four knocks, and where was this earlier in the season? Maybe he's a good stopgap next season. Matt Murton got an extra base hit today and did walked. Now we'll get our Angel Pagan sighting! Though with a guy like Jason Schmidt on the mound, this is one of the few occasions Pagan should be playing. Get with the program Dusty.

Cubs pitching insists on making Barry Bonds look like 2000-2004 Bonds. Two homers in two starts. Hey Dusty, go look at Steve Finley. He walked three times for the Giants at leadoff, scored two runs and went hitless. Damn clogging bases leading to runs. Omar Vizquel had a three hit game, gotta love the All-90s team. Jason Schmidt didn't have his usual dominance against the Cubbies today, only seven innings with three runs. Maybe next time we'll have a lineup. We're shit without Derrek Lee, we're merely poop with him.

In other Cubs news, Michael Barrett will miss 2-3 weeks after getting surgery. I'll leave the article to discussing what was wrong: "Barrett went to the emergency room and an ultrasound showed bleeding inside his scrotum." That hurts just reading it. I can't see him coming back at the end of the season. Might as well hit the golf courses early. Hopefully this doesn't hamper a run at the Silver Slugger.