Carlos Zambrano was pretty wild on Wednesday night as the Chicago Cubs lost to the Tampa Bay Rays for the second straight night.  Big Z took the loss as the Cubs lost the game by the score of 5-3.

It was unsure if Zambrano just didn’t get settled in, or if he had some sort of arm problem.  He did leave the game after pitching 6 2/3 innings.  He tried to talk his way into staying in the game but that didn’t happen as Lou Piniella brough in Neal Cotts who ended up walking his only batter.

Michael Wuertz was then brought in to record the final out in the seventh inning and he also pitched the eighth inning without letting a run score.  It was  good job by Wuertz, but Cotts has been sucking it up and needs to be sent back down to the minors if you ask me.

Ryan Theriot had two rbi for the Cubs while Kosuke Fukudome had one rbi.  It should be noted that Fukudome will be the lead off man every game until Alfonso Soriano returns to the lineup.  Geovany Soto hit a solo home run to start the top of the ninth but the Cubs couldn’t get another run to tie the game and extend it into extra innings.

Jim Edmonds left the game in the bottom of the fourth inning with soreness in his left foot.

Cubs Blog

Once again the Chicago Cubs defeated the Atlanta Braves in a night game at Wrigley Field.  The Cubs beat the Braves 7-2 on Wednesday night behind a complete game by Ryan Dempster.  It was the first complete game by a Cubs pitcher this season as he threw 119 pitches to finish the game.

However any celebrating the Cubs wanted to do, they won’t be doing it tonight as Alfonso Soriano was hit on the left hand and actually broke a finger on his hand.  Soriano will miss atleast two weeks but expect it to be three or four weeks.  Micah Hoofpauir would be our guess to be called up to take Soriano’s spot on the roster.

Kosuke Fukudome had three rbi all on a three run home run in the first inning to lead the Cubs at the plate.  Ryan Theriot and Jim Edmonds both had two rbi each in the game as well for the Cubbies.

The Cubs will go for the three game sweep of the Braves on Thursday afternoon from Wrigley Field.

Cubs Blog

The Chicago Cubs defeated the Cincinnati Reds in Dusty Baker’s return to Chicago by the score of 9-5 on Tuesday evening.  The Cubs used three long balls by Derrek Lee, Mark DeRosa, and Ryan Theriot to get by the Reds.  The wind was blowing out and the Cubs sure took advantage of it.

Lee and Derosa both finished with three RBI while Theriot had two RBI.  Aramis Ramirez also had one RBI in the game.  I just have to laugh everytime Aramis is at the plate, the guy just swings for the fences everytime, and I’ll predict that he hurts himself sometime this year swinging the bat the way he is swinginig right now.

Ryan Dempster picked up the win for the Cubs even though he didn’t pitch like he is capable of.  He was a little wild but kept the score close and ended up picking up the win as he pitched six innings of four run baseball.  Carlos Marmol, Michael Wuertz, and Kerry Wood and seen in action to close the game out.  Wuertz sucked it up, Marmol was able to get out of a bases loaded jam, and Wood looked great.

Alfonso Soriano was placed on the disabled list with a calf injury and Eric Patterson has been called up to take his spot on the roster.  Most Cubs fans thought it would be Matt Murton getting called up, but for some reason Jim Hendry choose Eric Patterson.

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Scott Eyre will be taking it easy for a few days as he rests his pitching arm/elbow.  Hopefully that is all Eyre will need after his elbow started to hurt over the weekend.  If Eyre does have to start the season the disabled list, look for the Cubs to use Carmen Pignatiello out of the bullpen.

The Chicago Cubs have expressed interest in Reed Johnson who was released by the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend.  Johnson could be the right handed outfielder the Cubs have been looking for all off season.  Johnson could help out in centerfield as well as the corner outfield positions as well.  Something could happen in the next 48 hours involving Johnson and the Cubs.

Cubs Blog

Cubs second basemen / utility player Mark DeRosa was hospitalized on Saturday with an irregular heartbeat.  DeRosa was fielding groundballs at second base when he became short of breath and after being checked out by the trainer, he was taken off the field on a stretcher even though he was sitting up.

DeRosa stayed Saturday night in the hospital while tests were being run, and then was released on Sunday.  He shouldn’t miss much time with team, and will probably be back later in the week but will be monitored very closely.

Cubs Blog

We would like to Welcome you to the Friendly Confines of CubsHomePlate!  Cubshomeplate is a brand new Chicago Cubs Blog where we will be blogging about our favorite team the Chicago Cubs!  The Cubs made the playoffs last season, but were swept away in the first round by the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Lets hope this next year has a different ending to it!

The Cubs have recently signed free agent Fukudome from Japan and he will be playing right field for the Cubs.  The Cubs will have to decide on Felix Pie or Sam Fuld for the center field position, and we all know that Alfonso Soriano will be playing in left field full time in 2008.

As far as the rest of the roster, Jim Hendry is still trying to get alteast one more pitcher.  One name that is being thrown around today is Joe Blanton of the Oakland A’s.  Who knows if anything will come of it however.  One thing is for sure, I do not want to see Ryan Dempster in the starting rotation for the Cubs.  Please, don’t let that happen Hendry!

I would like to welcome you to post comments about our articles.  If you agree or disagree, there is always room for some good Cubs talk!  Go Cubs!