Hairston's long ball not enough to save game, Cubs split series against Padres

AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

 
  Well, the series back at Wrigley Field was short of amazing.  The Cubs sure made a good outcome close for Game 4 against the Padres.  Travis Wood pitched excellent until the 8th, where he must got maxed out on the pitch count to give up 3 earned runs with 4 totals hits for the game.  Scott Hairston smacked a 2-run shot in the 7th, placing the Cubs on the scoreboard with a small cushion for support.  That obviously dimished quick.  A 11-17 record now can't be how the season moves along for this understaffed club.  Sure the talent is missing too yet what's going to work half the time: starting pitching or random offense?  The Cubs' prime opportunity to progress slips away by their unability to sweep San Diego.  If management can't smell a trade by now then they've got their nostrils around too much revenue or mindsets' on goat head reminders which ruins their time for good decisions. 

  With performance evaluations not being handed out just yet and the team's progression sliding by at a snail's pace the odds appear to still be stacked high against the franchise.  Sure the quality innings are being ranked up by starters: Samardzija, Wood, and Villaneuva with a good combined team ERA at .371.  Then on the flip side, the lineup's overall batting average through just over a month is a meager .237.  Nothing really so far is appealing about the Cubs (except Anthony Rizzo's 8 homeruns).  There must be a resolution in Wrigley Field beyond the high cost renovations (with a potential move) planned for later in the off-season if not next year.  Dave Suevm will try to switch the outfield around and strategize with the bullpen and manage defensive replacements, but everyone knows the offense is just not there. 

  Following up on the trade possibilities from a week ago, anyone who can hit for a top average or power is a plus.  Another good firearm to add in the bullpen is fine too.  Otherwise the Cubs might as well not get rid of rising prospects such as Jorge Soler and Javier Baez to fill a mere position which becomes unproductive again.  The Cubs might as well get their money's worth for Soriano until he's willing to depart Chicago.  Up next on the schedule is the Reds as they come to town then a make-up game follows with the Rangers before the Cubs end their homestand in a short series with the Cardinals.  The only matchup worth watching is the last series of course.  Depending on the starters the matchup shapes up to be another classic confrontation.