Bere, Alou in tough-luck situations
Cubs starter falls to 1-8, outfielder is hitting just .192
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Those numbers don't make sense. Not to Bere. Or Alou. Or the Cubs.
The Houston Astros handed the Cubs the latest home loss, a 4-1 decision thanks to Richard Hidalgo's pair of two-run homers. Sammy Sosa did hit his Major League leading 19th home run but that was all the Cubs could muster.
Bere took the loss, his seventh straight, although the right-hander did impress Cubs manager Don Baylor with his outing.
"Inning after inning, he threw strikes," Baylor said. "He had a low amount of pitches. His fastball was good, his changeup was great. It's hard when a guy goes 1-8 and you give him no support at all."
Unfortunately, that's been a season-long trend for the Cubs. Maybe turning the calendar to June will help.
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 | | Height: 6'3" Weight: 225 Bats/Throws: R/R More info: Player page Stats Splits indians.com | | ||
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"We're struggling," Bere said, "and it's not just about getting the pitcher runs, it's about doing the things we need to do to win the game. I think my teammates know that when I go out there I'm giving everything I have and trying to give us a chance to win. It's never too late."
Bere served up Hidalgo's first blast in the seventh inning, which gave Houston a 2-0 lead.
"It was one of those pitches that when you let it go, you know it's not going to be in the spot where you want it," Bere said.
The seven consecutive losses are a career high -- actually a low point. But in his last two starts, Bere has given up just two runs on nine hits over 13 innings. There's no more talk about him going to the bullpen to make room for rookie sensation Mark Prior. Juan Cruz will stay in the relief role.
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"Things are starting to turn the corner and and hopefully from a team standpoint, the way to get a streak going is to send a starter out there every day who gives us a chance to win," Bere said. "I think we have that day in and day out."
Alou's situation is different.
"It's not physical because there's nothing wrong with him," Baylor said of the left fielder, who usually gets off to a good start. He has a career average of .349 in April, .297 in May.
"He's fine. His leg is fine. His back is fine," Baylor said. "It has to be the mental part. You're going into June and he's hitting .190. I know that bothers you. You've been such a good hitter and run producer your entire career and you're struggling right now."
Alou batted .331 last year with the Astros. He has had to deal with injuries to a variety of body parts but he's not using that as an excuse. And Alou doesn't buy the notion that he's pressing.
| Moises Alou / LF | |
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"I've always been under pressure," he said. "Everywhere I've been I've been expected to perform and I have performed. I'm not pressuring myself.
"Right now, I'm just screwing up. Mechanically I'm screwed up. Mentally, maybe a week ago, I had a lot of things on my mind. I didn't have a very good day today but I feel like it's coming slowly."
Even his father, Felipe Alou, now a bench coach with the Detroit Tigers and his son's former manager in Montreal, called to offer advice. Moises said his father noticed his son had changed where he holds his hands in his batting stance.
Felipe is just one of many people offering Alou help. A candy manufacturer sent some sweets they hoped would change Alou's luck.
"I've been one of the best players in the game but I'm not playing like that," he said. "I have to work my way back to the top."
He's watched video, he's taken extra batting practice. Friday, he went 0-for-3, flying out to end the first and strand runners at first and third, and also grounding out in the sixth after Fred McGriff's leadoff double.
"I can't go home tonight and feel sorry for myself," Alou said. "When I look myself in the mirror, I can't feel bad about it. I'm trying my best and that's all I can do is try my best and keep my faith. That's what I've got to do."
"It's a long season and I have faith in him," Bere said. "He's a better hitter than he's shown. I'm sure he's going to turn it around."
But can the Cubs? Baylor said the team is capable of going on a hot streak and flipping it's current 21-32 record around. They could.
"We have to do it and we have to do it in a hurry," Baylor said.
Carrie Muskat covers the Cubs for MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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