Beltran hot, Cubs win 5 straight
Garcia and Sheets still perfect as Cubs
By Ray Leonard / |
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The Cubs players
are not just stepping up, they’re stepping up big time. Carlos
Beltran,
forced into the leadoff role after Alfonso Soriano’s
early struggles, might be the
biggest reason for the current streak.
Beltran hitting just .214 coming into May, is red-hot
right now, hitting an hefty .435 during
the latest 2 week sim.
Along
with the offensive explosion of Beltran, the Cubs have a very steady starting
rotation. The acquisitions of
Ben Sheets and Freddy Garcia are paying off immediately.
Ben
Sheets is the league ERA leader with an 2.34 Earned
Run Average while carrying
an 4-0 record. Freddy Garcia has come
to his own in
in his first three starts along with
an 2.59 ERA.
The
Richie Sexson story also
keeps going and going. Big Sexsie, is not only
hitting just
homeruns, he’s doing it in
clutch situations. Along with the homeruns, Sexson is
batting
.291
with an .367 OBP. Something GM Rhee
could only dreamed about when he
acquired Sexson
back in April for shortstop Christian Guzman. Sexson
has 17 homers
on the young season, which gives him
the most in the Memorial League. Jay Gibbons
follows with 14, while the Phillies’ J.D. Drew comes in third with 10.
The
Cubs have 2 more meetings with the Philadelphia Stars before the high rated
Pittsburgh Rebels come to town. This meeting will be the
first test, for this Cubs team. But if
everyone keeps contributing as they’re doing right now, the Cubs shouldn’t be
afraid of anyone.