Jerome Williams knows what the problem is. Fixing it is another thing altogether.
Williams issued four walks Saturday in an otherwise strong performance, including leadoff walks in the second and third innings that led directly to St. Louis runs in his third straight loss.
“I have no problem with control,” Williams said.
“It’s just my mind frame is not being set to that spot. I’m not concentrating on throwing to that spot.”
The right-hander was on the spot in his 10th start for the Cubs after failing to last more than 5 1/3 innings in his previous three outings.
He pitched well enough to earn another shot, though players’ lack of concentration is something Cubs manager Dusty Baker has admitted bothers him and his coaches.
“I think every time I go out there, it’s going to be a step forward,” Williams said.
“It just comes back and haunts me every time. I do work on it; I’m just not concentrating.”
How can Williams improve his concentration level?
“Just think of what you’ve got to do before you make that pitch,” he said.
“Sometimes I don’t think, and the ball goes somewhere else.”
Taking the hit
Reliever Scott Williamson was kicking himself for walking pitcher Chris Carpenter to open the seventh, leading to a two-run inning.
Coming back so quickly from reconstructive elbow surgery, Williamson still is feeling his way around.
“It’s got to be tough for Dusty and the ballclub [asking themselves], `Do you put this guy in this situation? Do you not? We know he’s going to have good games and bad games,'” Williamson said.
“It’s a tough situation for him. He’s definitely not at fault. It’s my fault. I’m the one throwing the ball. Sometimes you’ve got to put the blame on yourself.”
Extra innings
There was no fallout Saturday from Cardinals reliever Julian Tavarez hitting Nomar Garciaparra with a pitch in Friday’s game. “I don’t know if it was intentional or not,” Baker said. “Only Julian knows that. I asked Nomar if he and [Tavarez] had any history, and he said no. Who knows? Usually when the stuff starts, we get the [blame] for it.” … The Cubs granted ESPN permission to film inside Wrigley Field last week while the team was out of town for a segment of its “50 States in 50 Days” series on “SportsCenter.” But the Cubs won’t be happy when they discover ESPN focused on the so-called Bartman seat near the bullpen. … Top prospect Felix Pie, who was slated to return to Double-A West Tenn last week, suffered another setback with more inflammation in his injured right ankle.
