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CHICAGO -- One step forward and one step back. That’s the Chicago Cubs of 2013.

On the verge of winning their second straight series, the Cubs gave away a game to the San Diego Padres on Thursday letting a 2-0 lead turn into a 4-2 loss. San Diego scored all four runs in the eighth. Relief pitching, shoddy defense and a lack of timely hitting contributed to the Cubs' 17th defeat of the season.

Sound familiar?

“I want to apologize to my teammates for doing that,” catcher Welington Castillo said after not hustling on a passed ball. “That’s not going to happen anymore. I feel like I lost the game.”

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CHICAGO -- Here's a quick look at the Chicago Cubs' 4-2 loss to the San Diego Padres on Thursday:

How it happened: The Cubs let a 2-0 lead slip away in the eighth inning after Julio Borbon called off Darwin Barney on a pop fly with two outs as the ball dropped safely. The Padres scored a run on that play and three more that inning after the tying run tallied on a passed ball. Everth Cabrera and Chase Headley had run-scoring singles as well. Shawn Camp and James Russell faltered in relief of Travis Wood, who was very good. The Cubs scored their runs on a two-run home run by Scott Hairston in the seventh, but that's all they managed.

What it means: The Cubs reverted to early-season form by making a mistake in the field and letting it hurt afterward. In this case, it's the pitching that's more to blame, as an extremely windy day was bound to cause havoc and the Cubs did make some very good defensive plays before Borbon and Barney's miscommunication. Bullpen struggles aren't new to this team but things had been going well of late. Wood deserved a better fate after retiring the first 14 batters of the game, but he's charged with the loss. ... As has been the case most of the year, the Cubs scored with the long ball but did little else, missing some early opportunities with runners on. They were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position while the Padres were 3-for-7.

What's next: The Cubs open a three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds at 1:20 p.m. CT Friday with Carlos Villanueva opposing Mike Leake.

This week's mailman is Chicago Cubs reliever James Russell. He delivers the answers to your questions:

Q: Hey James, I was wondering what role within the Cubs bullpen you prefer? You have been a great set-up man for the last few years, but I believe that you would be a great fit for the ninth inning. Is that something that you are interested in one day or are you happy with being the lefty specialist and set up man? --
Jack (Chicago)
JR: Honestly, ultimately I'd like to start. I have fun setting up but one of the biggest adrenaline rushes is closing a big-league ball game. So either one. I like being on the mound pitching.

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CHICAGO -- For the second consecutive game, Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro is batting fifth against the San Diego Padres in their series finale at Wrigley Field on Thursday.

For almost all of the first 27 games this season Castro has batted second for manager Dale Sveum until Wednesday. Sveum said he needed to be "creative" the last couple of days with his lineup and wants to take advantage of Cody Ransom's hot bat against left-handing pitching, so Ransom is batting second against southpaw Eric Stults while Castro is batting fifth. For now it's just a short-term thing for the Cubs shortstop.

"In our normal lineup he's going to hit second," Sveum said.

But the bigger question is where does Castro fit in the lineup long term?

"On our team right now he's a 2-hole hitter," Sveum said. "He's a hand/eye coordination guy that's going to put the ball in play that doesn't walk much so he's maybe more apt to hit in the bottom of the order because he will hit into some double plays and things like that, but with the team we have right now, he's our second hitter."

That makes it sound like when the Cubs have some better hitters in the lineup Castro will indeed move down. But in the same press gathering Sveum seemed to contradict himself.

"I see him as a 2-hole hitter on prolific offensive teams," he said. "When everything is set correctly he's a 2-hole hitter."

Maybe the bottom line is it's yet to be determined where he should hit and maybe it also depends on what you expect out of your No. 2 hitter. ESPN.com's Keith Law makes the case that a team's best hitter should be batting second which might mean that's Castro's place. But that's a more modern way of thinking. Plus, is Castro the Cubs' best hitter? Can a team's best hitter get on base just 30 percent of the time and have three walks in 27 games as Castro has?

According to ESPN Stats and Information, Castro ranks 29th out of 32 teams in walk percentage for No. 2 hitters in baseball. He also swings outside the strike zone 34 percent of the time which is third-most among No. 2 hitters. Overall, he swings at pitches 51 percent of the time and that ranks fourth.

He's a free swinger. We knew that without the stats. That screams of batting in a spot where more runners can be on base.

"You hit more with men in scoring position," Castro said of hitting fifth. "Position for more RBI out there."

But it's not just to get more RBIs, it's to see better pitches. To take full advantage of Castro's style allowing him to potentially hit with runners on base more often seems like the way to go. Hitting with runners on base inherently means seeing better pitches as a pitcher simply can't nibble as much. Castro swings at those "nibbling" pitches.

So if you do believe in the more traditional sense of a No. 2 hitter then Castro doesn't belong anywhere near there. And if you buy into the best hitter on the team should be hitting No. 2 then Castro simply needs to become the best hitter. Maybe on this Cubs team he is, but if he doesn't take more walks then he won't be.

Sveum says with his temporary switch of Castro to the 5-hole he's not "assessing" anything long-term. Maybe he should.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum has moved third baseman Luis Valbuena up in the order as he will bat third against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday while left fielder Alfonso Soriano is being given the day off.

"When Sori isn't in the lineup you have to have some creativity," Sveum said before the game. "Valbuena is swinging great so he's a logical choice to get into that spot. You have to be creative when you get your normal lineup out of there."

Valbuena hit his fifth home run of the season on Tuesday, surpassing his total from all of last season. The lineup also features Starlin Castro batting fifth for the first time this season.

Here's the entire lineup that will face former Cub Andrew Cashner:

1. David DeJesus, CF
2. Julio Borbon, LF
3. Valbuena, 3B
4. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
5. Castro, SS
6. Nate Schierholtz, RF
7. Dioner Navarro, C
8. Darwin Barney, 2B
9. Scott Feldman, P

CHICAGO -- So here is the question for the consumer: Will you still buy a ticket to a see a Chicago Cubs game from a rooftop if the sightlines are impacted by proposed renovations to Wrigley Field?



Because that appears to be the only option the Cubs are exploring.

"One thing that we really need to make this thing work for us is the signage inside the ballpark, not outside on the rooftops," Cubs spokesperson Julian Green said on Wednesday. "Our particular position on this is firm."

It means the 6,000 square foot video board, as well as other signage slated for the outfield, will most certainly block some sight lines. Left field rooftop viewers, for example, could have issues seeing plays in center and right while center field fans won't see as much in left. The Cubs are justifying this to their rooftop partners by telling them it could be worse.

"We wanted to do more," Green said. "Trying to be accommodating to our rooftops partners we've reduced the number of signs. We also took due care in terms of putting them in a place that creates minimal impact for rooftops."

But going from no impact to minimal impact is still an impact. And no one knows for sure the impact until the signs and video board go up. Tom Ricketts said on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000 Wednesday afternoon that he thinks the video board won't block any views because it will be pushed back from the bleachers, and the Cubs will try to limit the impact with the signs in right.

Previously, the rooftop owners proposed a plan in which static and LED signs would be placed on their buildings but run by the Cubs. All profits would be kept by the team as well. But Ricketts says to maximize revenue those signs need to be in the ballpark and estimates they would bring in $20 million a year.

"We hope as we move forward we'll sit down and talk with them and come up with a solution that works for everyone," Green said.

CHICAGO -- April was arguably as strange a month as the Chicago Cubs will have. Their first 25 games were decided by four runs or less, making it the second-longest such streak to start a season in baseball history. They almost made it a full month of close games if not for Edwin Jackson's performance in a 13-7 loss on Tuesday night. He had the rare bad start in a month of good ones by Cubs hurlers.

The outcome on Tuesday was much more predictable than the first 25 where games were won and lost in the strangest of fashions. Errors, home runs, bullpen meltdowns and wild pitches were the norm. And a look inside the numbers truly tells how weird the first month of the season was for the 10-16 Cubs.

They hit 35 home runs in the first month, or 26 more than they did last April. Combined with lowering their ERA from 4.21 to 3.78 those numbers should equate to more than just a slight increase in their winning percentage from .348 to .385. But it didn't. Why not?

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Chicago Cubs reliever James Russell is going to take some questions from ESPN Chicago readers. Click here to submit a question and then check back later this week for his answers.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs starter Edwin Jackson is supposed to be a mainstay.

He was the first major free-agent signing in the Theo Epstein era, someone who wasn’t just brought in as a stop-gap. He’s here for the long haul, supposedly to help lead the Cubs into a winning era, if not this year then very soon.

“It’s been a pretty disappointing month from my standpoint -- to myself, to the teammates, to the organization and to the fans, but it’s a test of character,” Jackson said after getting pounded for eight runs in a 13-7 loss to the San Diego Padres on Tuesday. “It’s one of those times where you can crumble and fold or fight and bounce back. And I definitely have not been one to be known to fold.”

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Here’s a quick look at the Chicago Cubs' 13-7 loss to the San Diego Padres on Tuesday at Wrigley Field.

How it happened: The Padres got out to an 8-0 lead before the Cubs got on the board. San Diego scored two in the second on three straight hits, added one in the third on a sacrifice fly, then batted around in the fifth when they produced six hits and five runs. Yonder Alonso homered that inning as did Carlos Quentin in the next. Eight runs were charged to Edwin Jackson as he failed to get out of that fifth inning. The Cubs put a four-spot on the board in the bottom of the fifth with home runs by Luis Valbuena and Starlin Castro. David DeJesus also homered in the seventh. San Diego's Nick Hundley added a three-run blast in the eighth inning that landed onto Waveland Ave. and the Cubs' Cody Ransom went deep in the ninth.

What it means: It’s really the first time this season the Cubs weren’t in the game until the end and that’s thanks in part to their $52 million investment in Jackson. He’s been anything but a good value through the first month. His location was awful and he failed to battle through any rough innings as his ERA rose to 6.27. It’s hard to know what the issue is, but hopefully it’s not complacency after finally getting a big contract and bouncing around for so many years. The rest of the starting staff has been more than adequate, it’s time for Jackson to earn his keep.

Outside the box: The Cubs' string of 25 consecutive games decided by four runs or less was snapped. ... Valbuena eclipsed his home run total of last season, hitting his fifth on Tuesday, while the Cubs finished the month with 35 long balls overall. They hit only nine home runs last April. ... The DeJesus home run hit the LED board over the fence in right field and needed to be reviewed after initially being called a double.

What’s next: The four-game series continues with Game 3 on Wednesday night when Scott Feldman (1-3, 3.92 ERA) takes on former Cub Andrew Cashner (1-1, 3.26) in a 7:10 p.m. CT start.

CHICAGO -- Even if the Chicago Cubs have a spot on their roster for rehabbing third baseman Ian Stewart he may not be ready to return to the major leagues just yet.

“Right this second, I don’t think I’m ready,” Stewart told the Des Moines Register after going 0-4 on Tuesday for Triple-A Iowa. “That’s just me being honest and knowing myself as a player.”

Stewart has been out since early in spring training with a quad injury. He’s been rehabbing in Iowa Since mid-April, but per the collective bargaining agreement position players only have 20 days of rehab time before they have to be recalled -- although the Cubs could option him right back to the minors. Friday will be Stewart’s 20th day there.

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CHICAGO -- Sometimes the value of a player is never appreciated more than when he's not in the lineup. That theory most definitely applies to Chicago Cubs second baseman Darwin Barney. The lone Gold Glove winner on the team missed the first 12 games of the season with an injury and lo and behold the Cubs defense suffered.

Coincidence or not, his return has coincided with an uptick in play in the field for the Cubs. It helped them win Monday night, 5-3, over the San Diego Padres.

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Here’s a quick look at the Chicago Cubs' 5-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday at Wrigley Field.

How it happened: Bottom of the order guys Cody Ransom and Darwin Barney had back-to-back two-out hits in the sixth inning to break a 3-3 tie after both contributed with RBIs earlier in the game. Ransom hit his second home run of the season in the second inning; it was preceded by a Scott Hairston blast for back-to-back jacks. Barney doubled home a run with two outs in the fourth before doing the same in the sixth. Both Barney and Ransom flashed their gloves at third and second with key defensive plays in the seventh to keep the Padres off the board. Jeff Samardzija lasted only five innings, giving up all three Padres runs while throwing 101 pitches. He walked four and struck out eight. Kevin Gregg earned his fourth save for the Cubs.

What it means: Samardzija’s pitch counts continue to be an issue. He’s thrown 619 pitches in six starts, that’s fifth most in the league. It prevented him from going deep into this game. He hung around without his best stuff but, staked to a 3-1 lead, he could have been better in the fateful fifth. He nibbled too much, walking two that inning and four overall in his outing. ... Good news for the bottom of the order as hitters 6-8 had five hits and all five runs batted in. That will take the pressure off the main guys if it can continue. Barney has been solid on defense while his at-bats have been getting better and better. Gregg is the new closer. He’s come out of nowhere to nail down the job, going 1.1 innings for the save. He struck out two in the ninth for his third 1-2-3 save.

Outside the box: All 25 games the Cubs have played this season have been decided by four runs or less. That’s the second longest streak in baseball history to start a season behind the Detroit Tigers' 33 in a row in 1914. ... The Cubs won for the first time this season when their starting pitcher did not throw a quality start.

What’s next: The 10-15 Cubs take on the Padres in Game 2 of the series on Tuesday night when Edwin Jackson (0-3, 4.76 ERA) faces Edinson Volquez (1-3, 6.39) in a 7:10 CT start.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum downplayed star prospect Jorge Soler's latest incident, which put him back in the headlines at Class-A Daytona. Soler didn’t hustle on two hit balls in a game on Saturday against Lakeland and was subsequently benched for Sunday’s contest.

“Not everybody is going to run every single ball out at 100 percent,” Sveum said before the Cubs took on the San Diego Padres Monday night. “That’s just part of the game but you get a grip on it and hold people accountable and move on.”

Soler signed a nine-year, $30-million contract last season and was noticeable in spring training for his power and patience at the plate. But this is his second time making negative headlines at Daytona in just the first month of the season. He ran towards an opposing dugout with a bat in his hand during a game earlier this month but was stopped by teammates before causing any damage to anyone or anything. He was suspended five games for the incident.

“We have 125 minor league players, I’m sure he’s not the only player to not run a ball out,” Sveum said. “These things get escalated because of who he is and what just happened a few weeks ago too.

“You say something, get a grip on it and then you don’t see it again. You let people know they’re held accountable for everything, and everybody is the same no matter how much money you make or what.”

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CHICAGO -- As the Chicago Cubs return home for the second half of their 20 games in 20 days stretch of baseball their opposition will slowly rise back-up the competitive ladder.

First the San Diego Padres come to town for a four-game series beginning Monday and sport the identical record (9-15) as the Cubs, although they've won four in a row. The Cincinnati Reds are here this weekend followed by a make-up game with the Texas Rangers. Finally the homestand concludes with a two-game set against the St. Louis Cardinals on May 7-8.

Before we look forward, let's take a look back at five things we learned during the first 10 games of this stretch, all coming on the just completed road trip:

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