After an exhausting 15 inning display of greatness in what was arguably the best All-Star game in history, it is time for the regular season to resume again. The second half will test the Cubs mettle in their quest to end the 100 year drought of futility. As they enter their first post-All-Star break series battling the Astros on Friday, be sure to follow these ongoing storylines in the push for the pennant:

The Stamina of Ryan Dempster
Dempster went 10-4 with a 3.25 ERA in the first half of his first season as a starter since 2003. Those numbers merited an All-Star selection, and an appearance in the game in which he struck out the side in 1 inning of relief. Clearly he has shown that making the switch from closer to starter was not a problem. The problem could come down the stretch, however, as the innings begin to pile up with each start. In 2003, Dempster started 20 games—he has already equaled that total in one half of a season this year. He hasn’t started 30 games since 2002 with Florida and Cincinnati when he threw 209 innings over 33 starts. He has thrown 124.2 innings thus far. How his body responds to such a heavy workload for the first time in 6 years will be pivotal in the Cubs’ playoff and (subsequently) postseason chances.

Marmol-Aid
Marmol more or less self-combusted in June and July, posting a 7.36, and 13.50 ERA, respectively. These atrocious numbers ballooned his season ERA to 4.13. In his slump he has hit 4 batters and walked 13. The 52.1 innings pitched are largely to blame for his downfall. The All-Star break should have provided him with the rest he needs. He also received a confidence booster in the All-Star game, throwing a scoreless inning of relief. While fatigue has hurt him, his slump may also be attributed to a mental problem. He has tended to meander away from his fastball and rely heavily on his slider. In his All-Star appearance he utilized a nice mix of the two pitches and didn’t try to force the slider when it was unnecessary. This could be a sign he is back on the right track.

Jason Staying a Marquis Player
Jason Marquis’ first half went considerably well: 6-5, 4.44 ERA. Jason Marquis in the second half could be, well, considerably worse. In his last 2 seasons after the All-Star break he has posted ERA’s of 5.73, and 6.72, respectively. His opponents’ batting average in those two years is a combined .303. Cubs GM Jim Hendry may want to go out and get another arm in case Marquis falters down the stretch once again. The Cubs also have Sean Marshall and/or newly acquired Chad Gaudin as understudies to Marquis.

Road Warriors
With the AL winning the All-Star game and taking home-field advantage in the World Series, the Cubs are going to have to start finding a way to get it done on the road if they want a chance in October. A series victory in St. Louis was a sign they are capable of doing so, but they must start playing with consistency in away games. They have 32 home and 35 away games left. The September schedule consists of 16 away games, including a 7 game trip to end the season, with the final 3 in Milwaukee.

Other Stories

• Soriano’s return: His bat should give a lift to the offense and will allow Kosuke Fukudome to return to the 5 hole.
• Harden’s Health: If Rich Harden gets injured, the Cubs probably still have enough to win the division or at least make the playoffs, but may see another early exit.
• Lee’s GIDP: Derrek Lee has been somewhat of a rally killer, leading the league in GIDP (Grounded Into Double Plays) with 19. He has to find a way to fix this and help out his team.
• Lilly’s Blossom: Can Ted Lilly return to his 2007 form? So far it’s been a lot of frustration.

   

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