The Cubs didn't play very well today.
Kerry Wood started poorly and was wild, walking five (though he also struck out seven -- much like Nolan Ryan in his younger years). The bullpen started worse -- Alan Benes looked the way I saw him in Arizona. They didn't take advantage of baserunners -- stranding eight.
Yet when all was said and done, there was the entire team at home plate, mobbing Alex Gonzalez, who hit his second game-winning HR in a week's time, this time a walkoff HR in today's exciting 5-4, 10-inning win over the Rockies, keeping the Cubs undefeated this year (3-0) in extra-inning games.
There were some good things too. Mike Remlinger threw lights-out today. So did Joe Borowski (BTW, Happy 32nd Birthday today, Joe), and that gave Dusty Baker the chance to show another one of the moves he seems to have patented. He rested Gonzalez today, starting Ramon Martinez in his place. Martinez also homered today. Then Gonzalez came into the game on a double-switch. There's no rhyme or reason as to why these moves work. But somehow for Dusty, they do.
The Cubs did play good defense today. Mark Grudzielanek made a nice play on a Jason Jennings grounder (and then later made a silly error, letting a ball through his legs, though that didn't result in any scoring); and Moises Alou made a leaping catch against the wall in left, turning it into a nifty DP.
I don't know how they're doing it, but they're winning. EVERY series; the Cubs have lost only two series all year. At 18-13, they remain tied for first with the Cardinals, who are suddenly hot -- and this may set up what is the first really crucial series of the year, next weekend at home vs. St. Louis.
One note I forgot to mention over the weekend -- Tribune Co. splurged and bought a couple of fluorescent light bulbs, and for the first time since last August, all the lights are working in the men's room in the bleachers.
Kerry Wood started poorly and was wild, walking five (though he also struck out seven -- much like Nolan Ryan in his younger years). The bullpen started worse -- Alan Benes looked the way I saw him in Arizona. They didn't take advantage of baserunners -- stranding eight.
Yet when all was said and done, there was the entire team at home plate, mobbing Alex Gonzalez, who hit his second game-winning HR in a week's time, this time a walkoff HR in today's exciting 5-4, 10-inning win over the Rockies, keeping the Cubs undefeated this year (3-0) in extra-inning games.
There were some good things too. Mike Remlinger threw lights-out today. So did Joe Borowski (BTW, Happy 32nd Birthday today, Joe), and that gave Dusty Baker the chance to show another one of the moves he seems to have patented. He rested Gonzalez today, starting Ramon Martinez in his place. Martinez also homered today. Then Gonzalez came into the game on a double-switch. There's no rhyme or reason as to why these moves work. But somehow for Dusty, they do.
The Cubs did play good defense today. Mark Grudzielanek made a nice play on a Jason Jennings grounder (and then later made a silly error, letting a ball through his legs, though that didn't result in any scoring); and Moises Alou made a leaping catch against the wall in left, turning it into a nifty DP.
I don't know how they're doing it, but they're winning. EVERY series; the Cubs have lost only two series all year. At 18-13, they remain tied for first with the Cardinals, who are suddenly hot -- and this may set up what is the first really crucial series of the year, next weekend at home vs. St. Louis.
One note I forgot to mention over the weekend -- Tribune Co. splurged and bought a couple of fluorescent light bulbs, and for the first time since last August, all the lights are working in the men's room in the bleachers.