Earlier this week, I joined up with Andrew Johnson and Will Brinson on the inaugural BaseCast to discuss the Cubs' unbelievably disappointing start to the 2009 season. To conclude the segment, I was asked if the Cubs can get things straightened out and win the division. I said that was an easy answer because of the word choice. Of course they can. Had the question been "will they?" I would have said no.
Just two days later, there are plenty of reasons on the horizon to believe they can head into the All-Star break not only in thick of things in the NL Central, but atop it. Wouldn't that be a weird sight -- seeing the Cubs in first place after such a disastrous first half.
I guess the Milton Bradley haters are all going to be basking in all their glory now. According to a report on Chicagosports.com, Bradley was taking out some frustration on the Gatorade cooler in the Cubs dugout when approached by his manager, Lou Piniella. Apparently the two exchanged "angry words" and Bradley was removed from the game.
In news much more disconcerting, though, Bradley was seen in street clothes leaving the stadium and is now gone from the premises. You might recall Sammy Sosa left Wrigley Field during the last game of the 2004 season and it was the last time he ever played for the Cubs. The Bradley situation will obviously conclude differently, because the Cubs signed him to a three-year contract this offseason and likely can't get a good return on him via trade.
Rookie Randy Wells, right, held the Braves hitless for 6 2/3 innings and took a 5-0 lead into the eighth inning.
It got a little dicey after that, but with one out in the bottom of the ninth, Chicago was up 5-3 with no one on base. Then Kevin Gregg (5.24 ERA) struck out Garret Anderson -- except the third strike got past catcher Geovany Soto and to the backstop, so Anderson reached first. And two batters later, Jeff Francoeur hit his first homer since May 1 to tie the game.
CHICAGO -- I'm actually a hopeful guy at heart, confident we'll one day have an economic recovery, peace on earth and better late-night TV from Jimmy Fallon. But my faith in humankind never has extended to the Cubs. Let me lay this out right here: They won't win another World Series in our lifetime or anyone's else, doomed like pork rinds, Vanilla Ice and the last U.S. president as irreversible national debacles.
On a cold, rainy Tuesday, it was Country Music Night at Wrigley Field, the perfect promotion for the saddest ongoing song in sports. Living here, I am sensing more than a smidgen of burnout in Cubdom, a world-weariness that suggests even the most loyal masochists in sports are sick of pledging their entire beings to a cursed cause -- only to be inevitably bludgeoned every autumn. The last two postseason crashes were particularly cruel, both ending in early three-game sweeps when there were legitimate dreams of breaking a championship rut that has reached 101 years and counting.
Baseball players use a lot of different techniques to get themselves mentally prepared to do their jobs on a daily basis. Some of them read self-help books and do Stuart Smalley-style daily affirmations to remind themselves that they're good people and that people like them. Others convince themselves that everyone hates them and is out to get them. Milton Bradley falls into the latter category.
Bradley caused a bit of a ruckus over the holiday weekend when he said he thought that umpires were targeting him after his run-in with Larry Vanover earlier this season, and that umpires are out to "ruin Milton Bradley." Well, now it's not just the umpires that are out to get Milton, it's that other destroyer of man -- the media -- as well.
In light of the recent offensive woes of the entire team -- namely Mike Fontenot, though -- Cubs manager Lou Piniella admitted it's a possibility to move Alfonso Soriano to second base. He did say it was a "last resort," but possible. You might recall Soriano played the majority of his early career at second, however, he's only played there for two innings since his move to the National League in 2006.
Moving Soriano to second base would give a huge boost to the Cubs' offense -- which just scored a meek two runs in a three-game series at St. Louis -- by enabling Micah Hoffpauir everyday at-bats in left field. Fontenot, along with Bobby Scales and Aaron Miles, would still be able to accrue at-bats at third base until Aramis Ramirez is healed.
Through the first 36 games of the season, it's been quite the bumpy ride for the Cubs. They've gone through as much adversity as they faced during the entire 97-win campaign that was the 2008 regular season. There have been myriad injuries, a suspension, many players suffering through extended slumps, excessive booing by the fans, bullpen meltdowns, and a much, much tougher division.
And yet, Lou Piniella's troops are 21-15. You know what their record was after 36 games in 2008? An identical 21-15.
Wednesday night in Houston, the Cubs prevailed, 6-3. During the process of the victory, they continually encountered a welcome circumstance: they were cheered the entire game by a large contingent of Cubs fans. It was definitely welcome after hearing more boos than cheers at home thus far this season, despite having an 8-6 home record and only trailing the Cardinals by 2 1/2 games -- and the fact that it's the first week of May.
Maybe the home fans need a break from the boys in blue, because the Cubs fans in the Houston area seemed to love the Cubs' every move. Alfonso Sorianohas a (really lame) theory:
Alternate title for this episode of The Dugout: "The Dugout: Carlos Zambrano, Power Hitting Clean-Up Man or Guy Who Should Be Batting Third In Cubs Lineup Because He Is Good At Hitting? You Make The Call, A Special Story" But that wouldn't fit on the line.
Carlos Zambrano has been doing it all for the Cubs. He can pitch better than anyone, he can hit better than anyone, he can run a short distance and tear his hamstring better than anyone. He can make Sweet Lou say things like "oh my gosh" better than anyone! He is a dynamo, and even on the disabled list he will fill your team with important statistical beef like FLORP and SNA.
The Cubs held a post-game press conference when Zambrano went down to explain their decision to make him run out onto the field with explosive devices like they did. What follows is a transcript of that conference. The Dugout is after the jump. Boing!
Earlier this week, I joined up with Andrew Johnson and Will Brinson on the inaugural BaseCast to discuss the Cubs' unbelievably disappointing start to the 2009 season. To conclude the segment, I was asked if the Cubs can get things straightened out and win the division. I said that was an easy answer because of the word choice. Of course they can. Had the question been "will they?" I would have said no. 
I guess the 
Starting Five
After the Cubs finally broke their crippling eight-game losing streak Tuesday, they made a 
CHICAGO -- I'm actually a hopeful guy at heart, confident we'll one day have an economic recovery, peace on earth and better late-night TV from Jimmy Fallon. But my faith in humankind never has extended to the Cubs. Let me lay this out right here: They won't win another World Series in our lifetime or anyone's else, doomed like pork rinds, Vanilla Ice and the last U.S. president as irreversible national debacles.
Baseball players use a lot of different techniques to get themselves mentally prepared to do their jobs on a daily basis. Some of them read self-help books and do Stuart Smalley-style daily affirmations to remind themselves that they're good people and that people like them. Others convince themselves that everyone hates them and is out to get them. 
In light of the recent offensive woes of the entire team -- namely Mike Fontenot, though -- Cubs manager 
Wednesday night in Houston, the Cubs prevailed, 6-3. During the process of the victory, they continually encountered a welcome circumstance: they were cheered the entire game by a large contingent of Cubs fans. It was definitely welcome after hearing more boos than cheers at home thus far this season, despite having an 8-6 home record and only trailing the Cardinals by 2 1/2 games -- and the fact that it's the first week of May. 
Alternate title for this episode of The Dugout: "The Dugout: 
