Cubs Offense Back in Hibernation

After a nice post-All Star yawn and stretch, the Cubs‘ offense appears to have crawled into its cave, curled up in a ball and gone back to beddy-bye.

2 runs in 22 innings.  That’s what the Cubs have mustered against the Phillies.  In a ballpark that’s almost as absurdly hitter-friendly as Wrigley Field with a nice 20 mph wind blowing out to left.  Such stats became dishearteningly familiar during the first half of the season, when the Cubs offense was about as potent as a Chris Brown apology.

Philly’s pitchers have given up just 11 hits to the Cubs in the two games they’ve played.  11 hits in 22 innings – math majors? – is a knock every two innings.  And since not one of them has been a homer…well, it’s not a shock that they’ve mustered 2 runs.

The leadoff spot has done nothing:  Reed Johnson and Kosuke Fukudome are a combined 1-8 in the two games, with nary a run between them.  Aramis Ramirez hasn’t had a hit yet against Philadelphia, and Alfonso Soriano appears to have reverted to pre-Nats levels.

All right, so I can hear what some of you are saying:  two games, dude.  We go Stewart Cink on that old fart Jamie Moyer today and everything’s fine.  Maybe.  I, however, can’t help getting a sinking feeling when I see the numbers.  This could be a two-game speed bump or it could be the beginning of another mind-numbing, Gatorade-dispenser-threatening slump.

And this time we can’t even blame Milton Bradley.

Subscribe to Cubbies Crib.  Follow me on Twitter.  Spread world peace.