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One thing is true about Opening Day in baseball: It’s a lot easier to jump to conclusions about a team than it is to draw them after one game. But such is the nature of Opening Day.
If the Cubs had lost 16-5 in the middle of July instead of Monday, not a lot would have been said.
But because it was Opening Day, with all of Chicago media at Turner Field and fans starving for games that count, the result drew swift and heated reaction.
On the Daily Herald’s baseball blog, Chicago’s Inside Pitch, suggestions included:
• Offering pitchers Carlos Zambrano and Carlos Marmol in trades.
• Discussing third baseman Aramis Ramirez’ opt-out clause in his contract.
• Talking about the possibility of trading first baseman Derrek Lee if the Cubs are out of the [...]
The left-hander, who does not have the go-ahead to steal bases, held Houston to four hits over eight innings, and Carlos Marmol picked up his fifth straight save as the Cubs beat the Astros, 2-0, Wednesday to win the series. Derrek Lee belted a two-run homer, his 27th, in the fourth inning for all the offense Lilly (10-8) needed. Chicago began the day six games behind Colorado in the National League Wild Card race and won for the 10th time in the last 26 games.
“We’re fully aware of what we need to do,” Lilly said. “We have to win the game we’re playing. You’ve heard it a thousand times — we don’t have any influence on who wins the game we’re not playing in. We go out there and put all our concentration and physical and mental energy into the game that we have to deal with, and we’re putting ourselves in the best chance to win.” [...]
Derrek Lee is consistent, Aramis Ramirez has been clutch and Alfonso Soriano can provide a spark. The trio are the Cubs’ nominees for the Hank Aaron Award.
The Hank Aaron Award, presented by Sharp, is awarded annually to the best overall offensive performer in each league, with each club having three nominees. This is the seventh consecutive year that fans have had a voice in selecting the award winners.
Fans can vote through Sept. 15 to determine the club nominee, and then voting will be held Sept. 16-30 to select the winner in each league. The winners will be announced during the World Series. [...]
The Cubs have come to the proverbial fork in the road and now must decide which team they’re going to be the rest of the 2009 season.
Will they be the offensive power that leads the National League in runs scored in the second half or the lackluster lineup that reared its ugly head again Wednesday night in [...]
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