SAN FRANCISCO — On Sunday, the Cubs wrap up the road portion of their schedule for 2009 with the series finale against the Giants. Rookie Randy Wells will start, going for his 12th win.
The long and winding road included a stop at the White House in July, where Lou Piniella had a chance to meet President Barack Obama. Alfonso Soriano began the year in Houston leading off, was dropped to third in St. Louis in late April, then returned after two games "for good," Piniella said. The left fielder, whose season ended early because of a sore left knee, will open next year on the road lower in the order.
Kevin Gregg had nothing but trouble on the road. All of the right-hander's seven blown saves occurred away from Wrigley Field, and he lost his job as closer after blowing a lead Aug. 17 in San Diego.
In Detroit, Geovany Soto admitted to marijuana use during the 2009 World Baseball Classic, and in San Diego, Piniella was issued a warning for jaywalking. The Cubs manager was ejected twice — both times away from Wrigley. He was tossed on July 1 in Pittsburgh by umpire Chad Fairchild, and on Aug. 9 in Colorado, the latter coming after a heated argument with second-base umpire Chris Guccione.
Milton Bradley made a baserunning gaffe in St. Louis in May, had one-on-one hitting sessions in Pittsburgh with Von Joshua in late June and with Piniella in Philadlephia, and introduced us to his "muppet" friend in San Diego in August. He was sent home by Piniella from an Interleague game at U.S. Cellular Field in June, and then for good by GM Jim Hendry in St. Louis on Sept. 20.
Piniella gave the team an informal pep talk in Los Angeles in August and another one in Pittsburgh in September. He probably had a few more choice words in the visiting manager's office that weren't reported.
Aramis Ramirez dislocated his left shoulder in Milwaukee in early May, Soriano dislocated his little finger in Washington in July, and Carlos Zambrano hurt his back in Colorado in August.
Tom Gorzelanny, acquired at the Trade Deadline from the Pirates along with John Grabow, made his first start for the Cubs in Cincinnati. Jeff Samardzija made his best start so far last week in Milwaukee. Tyler Colvin made his Major League debut at Miller Park, while Bobby Scales had a game he'd rather forget at Busch Stadium.
The Cubs, who have seven more games at home, beginning Tuesday, have gone 44-30 at Wrigley Field and are batting .268 there with 81 home runs and 359 RBIs. On the road, the Cubs are 36-43 with a .246 (690-for-2,800) average, 79 home runs and 300 RBIs.
Who will be happy to take off the road grays for the last time? How about Ramirez? He's batting .399 in 37 games at Wrigley compared to .253 in 42 games on the road. Derrek Lee is batting .321 with 20 homers and 66 RBIs at home and .291 with 15 homers and 43 RBIs on the road. Kosuke Fukudome may prefer room service. He's hitting .282 on the road and .235 at home. Micah Hoffpauir has a .275 average at Wrigley, and .225 on the road. Soto also has scuffled on the road, hitting just .196 in 50 games.
Among the pitchers, Ted Lilly, who will pitch Wednesday in one of the doubleheader games against the Pirates, thrives at Wrigley, going 8-1 with a 1.60 ERA in 12 home starts. He's 4-7 with a 4.41 ERA in 14 road games.