Jake Peavy Shuts Down Punchless Cubs

Two days ago it looked like Jake Peavy was going to become a member of the Chicago White Sox, but the trade was vetoed by Peavy himself, and he remained a member of the San Diego Padres.  Friday night he took the mound against the other Chicago team, the offensively inept Cubs, and showed the form that has made him so sought-after in the trade market.  Peavy allowed only 2 hits over 6 innings while striking out 10.  The bullpen then came in to finish the job, allowing just 3 more hits in the final 3 frames, giving the Padres a 4-0 win.

The Cubs’ offensive woes have now reached dire proportions.  The team has managed to score just 2 runs in the last four games, being shut out twice in that span.  It’s gotten so bad that Lou Piniella has hinted at moving Alfonso Soriano to 2nd to get Micah Hoffpauir’s bat into the lineup in left.  In fact, Hoffpauir got the start in right Friday for the Cubs in place of struggling Milton Bradley – and rewarded Piniella’s favor by striking out four times in four at-bats.  It’s just a mess right now, and I don’t know what Piniella or anyone else can do about it.

The good news Friday was that Carlos Zambrano returned to the hill after missing a couple of weeks with a pulled hamstring.  Z didn’t have a particularly good outing – he only lasted 4 2/3, surrendering 3 runs on 3 hits and 4 walks – but he could’ve had no-hit stuff and still lost given the Cubs’ utter inability to get anything going with their bats.