Ryan Dempster,   or Dumpster as he's been "lovingly" called by many of his supporters,  continues to look sold in the starting pitcher role.   The only problem I see him having is a lack of run support. (DAMN you Dumpster...  start hitting the ball!!)    I was hoping for that 9th inning comeback,  only to witness the bats fall short...  REAL short...   with a game ending BUNT.   

Sweet Lou stated after the game, "I didn't call the bunt," Piniella said. "He probably thought he could get the third baseman napping. As it was, the kid came in and barehanded it, and the first baseman made a real nice catch on the ball on the hop."

To Reed Johnson's defense, he did have reasoning behind the madness,  saying

"Some guys in the dugout were saying [Tampa manager Joe] Maddon was trying to get Longoria's attention right at the end," Johnson said. "I saw that he had started back, and I wanted to get in the box and lay the bunt down. I knew he was going to throw me a first-pitch fastball. I knew he wanted to get ahead in that situation.

"It's something I've done in the past," he said. "They haven't seen it much in Chicago because I haven't been given the opportunity. I figured it was a good play if I got it in a good area, and I guess it was a good play.

"The first baseman made a good play, and knew he was going to sacrifice himself and get hit in that situation." Johnson continued, "He kind of backed up to the middle of the bag. I had no choice but to get to the middle of the base in case he dropped it, and it didn't work out."

Proving once again that sometimes you win,  sometimes you lose,   and sometimes you ...  bunt?    I suppose it was a valiant attempt,   but risky as hell.    I'm well aware of Reed Johnson's speed,  but the Cubs haven't been very smart with it up to now.    I wasn't nearly as upset by the bunt at the end as I was when he was caught stealing 3rd.    In this league, it's VERY hard to steal 3rd base,  even if your name is Speedy Gonzalez.    That out was a waste and may have been the most costly out of the game.

Oh well,  once again you can't win them all.    Shake it off Cubs fans,  rub some dirt on it.    It's a tough loss to deal with, b this is why we play 3.