Anemia: The Study of an Offense

Anemia is defined as "any condition in which the number of red blood cells, the amount of hemoglobin in 100 mL of blood, and/or the volume of packed red blood cells in 100 mL of blood are less than normal."

Clearly, doctors are omitting one critical sympton.

While 13 hits and one run over a two-game span doesn't register on WEbMD as anything fatal, it certainly isn't considered healthy. The Cubs dropped two straight to the Reds, a 3-0 duel between Theodore Lilly and Johnny Cueto, as well as a 7-1 spanking that came complete with another Milton Bradley controversy.

Where to begin?

Superb pitching deserves to be rewarded. Theodore was masterful over seven innings, allowing only an unearned run that came on a throwing error that he made in the third. More importantly, he didn't walk a man [take notes bullpen. That goes for you too Kevin Gregg]. Lilly has never opened a season 3-0, which leads me to believe that the Cubs vied for upholding tradition over protecting the standings.

Then again, with the way Cueto was throwing, we didn't have much of a chance.

Cincinatti's young righty matched Lilly inning for inning, allowing only four hits without issuing a walk. While his arm is eligible for an AARP card as a result of the Dusty Baker school of pitching, in Dusty-We-Trusty is getting a lot of miles out of his 23-year old phenom.

David Weathers, our KEY midseason acquisition to help us with the stretch run in 2001, relieved Cueto after seven. Weathers and Francisco Cordero closed the door on the game. These games are going to happen; it's a long season. But two games in a row is a bit hard to swallow, especially when your vaunted offense is expected to help mask a floundering bullpen.

Thankfully for the Cubs, the series finale was dwarfed by the embarrassment that took place at the United Center on Thursday [talk about a rough day for the city of Chicago]. Carlos Zambrano took the mound, entering with 5-0 record and a 0.97 ERA in his last five starts against the Reds.

Well, 5-1 doesn't sound that bad. Does it?

Zambrano was solid through six, giving up only two runs. His downfall came in the seventh after the Cubs picked up a run to make it 2-1. Zambarno, aided by a Micah Hoffpauir error, gave up two more runs. That was all the Reds would need to put the game out of reach. Aaron Harang was nearly as good as Cueto, but he certainly gave the Cubs the opportunities they needed to win this game.

Call it poor execution. Call it a hangover from the "Night of the Curses." Call it what you will.

Milton Bradley will call it a witch hunt. Bradley began to sink just a little bit deeper into hot water, reporting to the Chicago media that they were out to villianize him, and Lou Piniella's benching of Bradley didn't help matters. Bradley was given a seat because he isn't healthy. However, when the new guy is called into the manager's office 14 games into the season, heads begin to shake. Hopefully this is nothing more than a bump in the road, and Bradley will be back on the field in the next week.

Anemia isn't a funny topic, and neither is an offensive core earning $66.4 million with limited production. The Reds are better than in years past, but they're not cracking anyone's Top 10 anytime soon. These are the series you have to take if you're going to win a division, especially with St. Louis appearing to be a quality opponent [and have you seen that new Albert Pujols-ESPN commerical? That's quality].