For most workers, Wednesday represents that mental hurdle they endure to get to the weekend. For the Cubs and Sox, Wednesday could be the day to get through the season.
With both teams hovering around .500, we’re designating Wednesday as Hump Day as we look at what each team needs to do to get over the hump.
Note: The Cubs and White Sox games went into extra innings and did not finish before press time.
CUBS’ ‘HUMPS’
POWER BALL
The Cubs dig the long ball, but the production from Alfonso Soriano and Derrek Lee (two each) haven’t been there. But they’re getting on base. The irony is the Cubs have been better at playing “small ball” than the home-run hitting-Sox this season.
PITCHING
Who’s the fifth starter? Wade Miller? Angel Guzman? Those options haven’t worked so far. Sean Marshall appears to have the next shot, according to the Tribune’s Paul Sullivan, provided he continues to pitch well at Iowa. The good news is with all the off-season turmoil with Carlos Zambrano’s contract and Kerry Wood and Mark Prior’s injuries, the two aces of the staff were the former question marks: Rich Hill (1.73 ERA) and Jason Marquis (2.09).
LINEUPQUESTIONS
The Cubs have had 24 different lineups in the first 29 games. The outfield has been a logjam, and Lou Piniella has had to shuffle the shortstop position between Ronny Cedeno, Cesar Itzsuris and Ryan Theriot. The good news is Theriot has been clutch, helping transform the Cubs with a .382 on-base percentage, second only to Lee among Cubs with at least 80 at bats.
THE DIVISION
The Cubs had a10-12 record in the Central Division entering Tuesday night’s game against Pittsburgh. The Cubs haven’t fallen into their usual malaise against the Cardinals, but this season they’re already down 2-4 to the middling Cincinnati Reds.
SOX’S ‘HUMPS’
SMALL BALL
Angels import Darin Erstad has been the Sox’s most reliable hitter (.267) and he’s supposed to be washed up. No other Sox player with more than 80 at-bats is hitting higher than .230, entering Tuesday night’s game. The carousel of Brian Anderson, Luis Terrero and Ryan Sweeney shows how desperate the Sox are for runs. The Sox are last in the American League in runs (110) and last in baseball in hitting (.222).
INJURIES
The Sox haven’t used the absence of slugger Jim Thome and leadoff hitter Scott Podsednik as an excuse, but few have stepped up to take their places. That might not be a problem soon. Thome took 60 swings Tuesday for the first time since aggravating his right rib cage April 27, and the Sox expect him back when they play the New York Yankees for next Tuesday. Podsednik isn’t likely to return until early June.
THE DIVISION
Cleveland or Minnesota. Minnesota or Cleveland. The Sox need to get over the mental hurdle of playing their two main rivals. They’ve managed just two wins in six contests against the Indians, but split the first series against Minnesota, with one game postponed.
