Chalk it up to timing. I mention Henry Blanco is 0-for-May, and in his next game he bloops an RBI single past shortstop... and proceeds to be almost comically thrown out at second trying, for lack of a better term, to leg out his first extra-base hit. It's something, though. He's going to be getting a lot more at-bats for a couple of weeks.
So hey, two straight. Don't break out the champagne just yet. But the hits are falling in, Maddux had a good outing, the bullpen was airtight tonight, and the defense... well... the defense still needs some work.
Ronny Cedeno is still overanxious at shortstop, and it's really hard to watch Jacque Jones play right field sometimes. As long as he's hitting, why not wheel Jones to first base, Womack to right and Walker to second? You put more speed in the outfield, put Walker back at his natural position and cut down on balls airmailed to the screen. The only questions then would be, can Jones pick 'em when balls are thrown directly to him, and can the left side hit a 5'10" target? Hey, it might make Cedeno a little more careful when he's got time to make a play.
Interesting note: Derrek Lee has six more RBIs and two more walks than Juan Pierre, and still ranks second on the team in stolen bases, tied with Cedeno.
Ex-Cub Watch: Corey Patterson hit two solo homers and made a game-saving catch above the wall in the ninth for Baltimore. He's batting .291 and is 18-of-19 in steals (t2 AL, t3 MLB). No one in baseball with fewer at-bats has more than nine.
Ex-Cub Watch II, III: Nomar Garciaparra is batting .379 in May and overall is at .362 with 35 RBIs playing first base for the Dodgers, where he bats behind ex-Cub Kenny Lofton (.315, 11 steals).
Ex-Cub Watch IV: Moises Alou is batting .378 for the Giants. And I still wouldn't take him back.
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