On the eve of August 1, the Chicago Cubs were just a half game back of the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals and had posted a 7-3 record in their previous ten games. 18 days and 15 games later, the North Siders are six games back in the standings and have gone 3-7 in their last ten contests. We’re just over halfway through the month and things are starting to look dire for the lovable losers.

It’s been a tough month for everyone, but no one more so than closer Kevin Gregg. In eight appearances this August, Gregg has an ERA of 11.25. Last night in San Diego Gregg gave up an RBI double to let the Padres tie up the game then surrendered a three-run shot to rookie Kyle Blanks for the loss.

Because Cub fans are masochistic by nature, let’s take a closer look at Gregg’s performances in the month of August, shall we?

——–
*August 1 - Cubs 9, Marlins 8 – Ryan Theriot’s two-run double in the top of the ninth inning puts the Cubs up 8-5. Gregg, facing the Marlins for the first time since being traded from Florida to the Cubs in the offseason, takes the mound for the bottom of the ninth. After striking out the first two batters, Gregg works two strikes on the pinch-hitting Ronny Paulino but can’t finish him off; Paulino goes yard to make the score 8-6. Chris Coghlan and Nick Johnson both single and Emilio Bonifacio’s triple sends both runners home, tying the game at 8-8.

Of course, if you check the box score, Gregg earned the win, as Derrek Lee’s solo homer in the top of the 10th gave the North Siders a 9-8 victory. There’s an undeserved W if I’ve ever seen one.

*August 2 - Marlins 3, Cubs 2 - For the second straight day, Gregg appears to have forgotten which team he plays for. The Cubs closer stepped in for the save after Jake Fox’s solo shot in the top of the ninth put Chicago up 2-1.  With one out on the board, Gregg gets lit up by Dan Uggla and Cody Ross on back-to-back pitches. Two pitches, two homers, two blown saves in two straight days.

*August 5 – Reds 4, Cubs 0 – Lou Piniella sends Gregg in for some work in the bottom of the eighth with his team down 4-0. With the pressure off, Gregg pitches like a Major Leaguer, sitting down three straight batters for a hitless, scoreless eighth.
*August 8 - Cubs 6, Rockies 5 - The Cubs are clinging to a 6-5 lead when Gregg takes the ball for the bottom of the ninth. He makes quick work of the Rockies’ hitters, forcing fly outs from Clint Barmes and Seth Smith, then  striking out Carlos Gonzalez looking. At this point, the North Siders are still just one game behind the Cards in the standings.

*August 11 - Phillies 4, Cubs 3 - Gregg does fellow closer Brad Lidge a solid, helping people forget Lidge’s blown save in the ninth by giving up the game-winning home run in the 12th. After pitching a scoreless 11th, Gregg comes back for the 12th and promptly blows the game. The Phils’ first batter, Ben Francisco, launches a Gregg slider to deep left for the win.

*August 14 - Cubs 17, Pirates 2 - Perhaps in an attempt to boost Gregg’s confidence, Lou throws him out to close out a game that was well over by the second inning. With his team up 15 runs, Gregg came out to finish off the Bucs, sitting down all three batters for a scoreless ninth.

*August 15 - Cubs 3, Pirates 1 - Nothing like a series with the Pirates to make your team—and your closer—seem legit again. Former Pirate Tom Gorzelanny holds his old team to one run on three hits and Gregg, despite giving up a two-out double to Delmon Young, manages to escape the ninth unscathed for the save.

*August 17 - Padres 4, Cubs 1 - The latest (and greatest?) of Gregg’s failures, a four-run Padres ninth inning that helped the Cubs to their sixth loss in eight games. Gregg was one strike away from earning a save and preserving a 1-0 Chicago lead when he gave up a Chase Headley RBI double that tied things up. After giving Kevin Kouzmanoff a free pass, Gregg served up a fastball right down the middle to rookie Kyle Blanks, who blasted it into the seats in left center. Ted Lilly, John Grabow and Carlos Marmol kept San Diego scoreless for eight whole innings, but Gregg surrendered four runs in just one.

——
In five save chances this month, Gregg has saved two and blown three. He’s allowed 10 hits, 10 runs and five home runs in eight total innings of work this August. The Cubs are now 8-43 when scoring fewer than four runs. Gregg’s job would be easier if the Cubs gave him bigger leads, but regardless, the job of a closer, tough as it may be, is to close.  No matter the situation: ten-run lead, five-run lead, one-run lead, closers must ALWAYS BE CLOSING. Didn’t Gregg ever watch Glengarry Glen Ross?

After Monday night’s shocking loss, Lou Piniella told media, “I think we’re going to make some changes as far as what we’re going to do in late innings.” Let’s hope so, or Cubs fans might not make it to September.