Gobble Again

After Jimmy Gobble threw his complete game against the Twins last weekend there was talk that perhaps things had changed for Gobble while down at Omaha. Evidence included his use of a cut fastball to coax 20 groundball outs versus only 3 fly ball outs, a major reversal from his usual profile as a huge fly-ball pitcher. In his start yesterday he reverted to form with only 3 groundball outs against 8 fly balls in his 5 innings in which he gave up 5 earned runs and surrended a homerun.

This afternoon Denny Bautisa was hammered again, this time giving up 11 hits and 6 runs in 5 and 2/3 innings. His ERA is now 11.85, not exactly what the Royals had hoped from a guy they project as in the rotation next season.

The Cubs are down 7-1 in the 8th. Glendon Rusch was anything but sharp and Moises Alou contributed with an early throwing error. The Cubs managed only 1 walk against Burnett, a guy not known for his control.