Even general manager Jim Hendry is enough of a realist to know this 10-game homestand is make-or-break time for his Cubs, who looked like they already had taken a break for the winter in a 15-6 loss to the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.
“We’ve got to have a real good homestand and hopefully get some help elsewhere [with the Cardinals],” he said, “and hopefully cut the gap in half in the next 10 days or two weeks.
“Time is running out, and we’ve put ourselves in a bad spot. We’re where we deserve to be right now.”
Manager Lou Piniella admitted he “clings to” hope with fewer than 40 games remaining.
“It’s amazing what a nice winning streak will do to make up ground in a hurry,” Piniella said. “Unfortunately for us, we haven’t had a good winning streak in a long time.”
So as the Cubs opened the homestand with a huge backward step, let’s look at the positive — for those of you who still believe — and the negative — for the majority who have given up — outlooks for the team extricating itself from the grave in the next few days:
Positive: With the Nationals, Mets, Astros and White Sox as opponents, the Cubs could put together a “nice winning streak,” as Piniella called it. You know, like eight in a row.
Negative: Why would it start now? The Cubs’ longest winning streak is five games, which they’ve done twice. They’ve also strung together a couple of four-gamers, but it will take better streaks than those.
Positive: Nine of the 10 games are against teams with sub-.500 records, and those are opponents the Cubs have cleaned up against this season.
Negative: Not so fast. This is St. Louis’ opposition for the corresponding four series: Houston, Washington, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh.
Positive: Even before Carlos Zambrano returned to the mound Tuesday night, the Cubs had 75 quality starts from the rotation, and the starters produced a 37-15 record in those.
Negative: In those 75 games, the Cubs’ overall record is 47-28, so more than a few have been squandered by the bullpen and inept offense.
The Cardinals’ big three of Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Joel Pineiro have 53 quality starts among them and recently ran off a streak in which they won 24 of 27 decisions.
So even if the Cubs get hot, the Cardinals have no reason to go into panic mode.
Positive: Piniella reiterated Tuesday, “It’s time for veterans right now, [and] I fully expect them to perform well.” The point being that Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley can’t possibly be this bad for that long.
Negative: Who says? Over the last three seasons, Soriano’s worst month, average-wise, has been September (.260). And Bradley had his second-lowest average (.286, and wouldn’t that look good right now?) and second-lowest RBI total.
If you want to talk about veterans who perform, look no farther than St. Louis, where Matt Holliday hit six homers and drove in 27 runs in his first 28 games. Bradley had nine and 31 in his first 103 games for the Cubs.
Positive: The Cubs are still within striking distance in the NL wild-card race.
Negative: Are you serious? The Cubs probably won’t catch one team with an above-.500 record. Why would anyone believe they could catch four?
Positive: Of the Cubs’ last 40 games, 24 are at Wrigley Field, and they have played much better in the Friendly Confines compared with their 27-38 road record.
Negative: Sorry to say, but the Cardinals are 36-30 on the road and also have more home than road games.
And even worse, the only series left between the Cubs and Cardinals is Sept. 18-20 — in St. Louis.
HOW THEY SCORED
NATIONALS SECOND: Willingham singled. Belliard singled, Willingham to second. Dukes grounded into fielder’s choice, Willingham to third, Belliard out at second. Nieves hit sacrifice fly, scoring Willingham. Mock struck out. One run. Nationals 1-0.
CUBS THIRD: Fontenot popped out. Zambrano homered. Theriot flied out. Bradley singled. Lee struck out. One run. Tied 1-1.
NATIONALS FOURTH: Dunn struck out. Willingham homered. Belliard infield single. Dukes doubled, scoring Belliard. On Fontenot error, Dukes to third. Dukes caught stealing. Nieves flied out. Two runs. Nationals 3-1.
NATIONALS FIFTH: Mock grounded out. Harris hit by pitch. Guzman singled, Harris to third. Zimmerman singled, scoring Harris, Guzman to third. Dunn walked, Zimmerman to second. Willingham walked, scoring Guzman, Zimmerman to third, Dunn to second. Heilman pitching. Belliard struck out. Dukes homered, scoring Zimmerman, Dunn and Willingham. Nieves grounded out. Six runs. Nationals 9-1.
CUBS SIXTH: Bradley walked. Lee struck out. Ramirez singled, Bradley to third. Fukudome singled, scoring Bradley, Ramirez to second. Fox flied out, Ramirez to third. Soto doubled, scoring Ramirez and Fukudome. Clippard pitching. Fontenot popped out. Three runs. Nationals 9-4.
NATIONALS SEVENTH: Zimmerman doubled. Dunn struck out. Willingham infield single, and Zimmerman. Belliard singled, Willingham to third. On Fox error, Belliard to second. Dukes intentionally walked. Guzman pitching. Nieves singled, scoring Willingham and Belliard, Dukes to third. Clippard grounded into double play, Nieves out at second. Three runs. Nationals 12-4.
CUBS SEVENTH: Baker flied out. Theriot popped out. Bradley homered. Lee doubled. Ramirez fouled out. One run. Nationals 12-5.
NATIONALS EIGHTH. Harris flied out. Guzman struck out. Zimmerman walked. Dunn singled, Zimmerman to second. Willingham homered, scoring Zimmerman and Dunn. Belliard lined out. Three runs. Nationals 15-5.
CUBS NINTH. Baker homered. Theriot grounded out. Bradley singled. On defensive indifference, Bradley to second. Lee flied out. Ramirez singled, Bradley to third. Fukudome popped out. One run. Nationals 15-6.
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dvandyck@tribune.com
