McNeil: Cubs' Season Not All Bad
By Dan McNeil-
Not everybody grasps the concept of "fun bad." You know, when your team is so dreadful you just throw your hands in the air and embrace the train wreck with laughter.
As the Cubs attempt to stop the bleeding in Pittsburgh, give me a chance to show you a glass that's half full. That's a tough putt with Team Ricketts mired at 15-29, worst in the major leagues.
• Patience is paying dividends. The Cubs giving flamethrower Jeff Samardzija a long leash was worth it. The likable, local boy has been terrific as a starter this season.
"Shark"(I prefer "Sammy") has been much better than his 4-3 record indicates. His ERA is 3.00 and the right-hander has a WHIP of 1.175, which ranks among the best in baseball.
Looking ahead to 2013, Samardzija's emergence as legitimate pushes the Cubs' list of young, reliable starting pitchers to one.
•Neither Darwin Barney nor David DeJesus were injured in a collision that lit the fuse for the Cubs' most recent meltdown Wednesday night in Houston.
Start an office pool for the next two Cubs defenders to play bumper cars while a ball lands on the ground resulting in runs allowed.
• Enjoy Tony Campana. The center fielder, who hasn't made an error yet, is hitting .302 with a .355 OBP and shares the team lead for stolen bases (Starlin Castro) with 12.
