If you would've asked a Cub fan about their bad start, which took place right in the middle of some great performances by players on the team, they would've told you that the reason the Cubs started so poorly was because they were failing to do the smallest things that end up having the biggest effect on the end of the game. They were probably talking about Aramis Ramirez, whose brain fart probably cost the Cubs a 15-inning marathon against the Pirates last night.
After Ronny Paulino reached first base in the fiftteenth, this one took on a Twilight Zone feel. Jose Bautista layed down a bunt, but Derrick Lee's throw to get the lead-footed Paulino at second hit Paulino. With pinch-bunter Zach Duke at the plate, the Cubs charged the corners with shortstop Cesar Izturis covering third, hoping to nail Paulino at third. They didn't even need that, though because when Duke failed on his bunt attempt, Michael Barrett had Paulino nailed by something like 85 feet. Except that Aramis Ramirez, standing 40 feet in front of the bag, screened the throw and even seemed to try to catch the throw like he was still on third base (though everyone seems to be putting the blame on Barrett right now it didn't look like it was his fault at all). He deflected the throw away from Izturis and Paulino scored from third on a sac fly a play later.
I expected Lou Piniella to explode at this sloppy play, but for once, Lou was understated:
If the Cubs are going to get things together and make a serious run at the playoffs later this year, they can't let games like last night happen. It's that simple.''It wasn't the best major-league game,'' Piniella said after a botched throw from catcher Michael Barrett on a steal of third set up Jack Wilson's sacrifice fly in the 15th. ''We had our chances. We just didn't take advantage of them.''
