2007 Chicago Cubs: Fresh New Start

2007 Chicago Cubs: Fresh New Start

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2007 Chicago Cubs: Fresh New Start

Just days after the St. Louis Cardinals won the 2006 World Series, the Chicago Cubs made moves to improve their ballclub, beginning with the hiring of a new manager. On October 17, 2006 the Cubs hired Lou Piniella to be their new manager. On November 14 second baseman Mark DeRosa was signed to a 3-year, $13 Million contract. On November 20 the Cubs signed left fielder Alfonso Soriano to an 8-year, $136 Million contract. On December 15 starting pitcher Ted Lilly was signed to a 4-year, $40 Million contract. On December 19 starting pitcher Jason Marquis was signed to a 3-year, $21 Million contract.

There was a new found hope in the Cubs, and the regular season results were satisfying. In 2007 the Cubs went 85-77, winning the National League Central division by 2 games over the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs went 9-6 against the Brewers in head-to-head play. The Cubs 44-37 at home and 41-40 on the road.

First baseman Derrek Lee batted .317 with 22 home runs and 82 RBI’s off 180 hits, 43 doubles and 6 stolen bases. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez batted .310 with 26 home runs and 101 RBI’s off 157 hits, 35 doubles and 4 triples. Alfonso Soriano batted .299 with 33 home runs and 70 RBI’s off 173 hits, 42 doubles, 5 triples and 19 stolen bases. Mark DeRosa batted .293 with 10 home runs and 72 RBI’s off 147 hits and 28 doubles. Center fielder Jacques Jones batted .285 with 129 hits and 33 doubles. Right fielder Cliff Floyd batted .284 with 80 hits and 12 doubles in 108 games. Reserve left fielder Matt Murton batted .281 with 66 hits and 13 doubles in 94 games. Second baseman Mike Fontenot had 65 hits, 12 doubles and 4 triples in 86 games. Shortstop Ryan Theriot had 143 hits, 30 doubles and 28 stolen bases. Catcher Michael Barrett had 9 home runs, 54 hits and 9 doubles in 57 games.

Starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano went 18-13 with 177 strikeouts and a 3.95 ERA, recording 1 complete game. Ted Lilly went 15-8 with 174 strikeouts and a 3.83 ERA. Rich Hill went 11-8 with 183 strikeouts and a 3.92 ERA. Jason Marquis went 12-9 with 109 strikeouts, recording 1 complete game and 1 shutout. Sean Marshall recorded a 3.92 ERA despite going 7-8. Closer Ryan Dempster had 28 saves. Relief pitcher Bob Howry had 8 saves, 72 strikeouts and a 3.32 ERA. Michael Wuertz had 79 strikeouts and a 3.48 ERA. Carlos Marmol went 5-1 with 1 save, 96 strikeouts and a 1.43 ERA. Will Ohman had 1 save.

The regular season didn’t start off so rosy for the Cubs as they got out to a 22-29 start through April and May, but they played great baseball in June, July and September as they went 17-11, 17-9 and 17-12 respectively. Especially in the month of June the Cubs went on a 7-game winning streak which started with a 5-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park II on June 22, and then ended with a 6-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on June 29.

One of the most impressive wins for the Cubs was a 12-1 pounding of the San Francisco Giants on July 18. Carlos Zambrano had a solid outing on the pitcher’s mound, pitching 5 innings and giving up 2 hits and 2 walks, but he managed to record 3 strikeouts. In the bottom of the 4th inning Jacques Jones had a 2-run single, and then catcher Koyie Hill followed with a 2-run double. In the bottom of the 5th a passed ball scored Alfonso Soriano, Cliff Floyd had an RBI double, and then Hill had a 3-run double. In the bottom of the 8th pinch hitting right fielder Angel Pagan had an RBI double, Mark DeRosa had an RBI single, and then Mike Fontenot topped things off with a sacrifice fly.

One of the most exciting regular season games the Cubs played would be against the Giants once more at AT&T Park on August 20, and the Cubs would claim a close 4-2 victory in 10 innings. Rich Hill pitched 7 innings and gave up 6 hits, 1 walk and 2 runs, but he recorded 10 strikeouts. In the bottom of the 1st inning catcher Bengie Molina got the Giants on the board with an RBI single, and then in the bottom of the 3rd left fielder Barry Bonds had an RBI double. The Cubs would respond with a 2-run double by Aramis Ramirez in the top of the 4th to tie the game. In the top of the 10th catcher Jason Kendall broke the tie for the Cubs by reaching on an error to score outfielder Felix Pie, and then catcher Henry Blanco pinch hit in Carlos Marmol’s spot in the lineup and had an RBI bunt groundout.

Unfortunately for the Cubs, they would be swept out of the National League Division Series 3 games to none by the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Cubs lost Game 1 on October 3 by the score of 3-1. They then lost Game 2 on October 4 by the score of 8-4, and then they lost Game 3 on October 6 by the score of 5-1.

Despite coming up short in the postseason, the Cubs would reload for the very next season in which they would put themselves back in a position to compete for postseason play.