Game 42

• Friday May 16^th – Wrigley Field

• Cubs 7 – Pirates 4

• Record (26-16) – 1^st place in the NL Central

• Season-high 10-game homestand – (7-1)

The skinny: What a beautiful spring afternoon in Chicago, 70-degrees, blue skies and sunny. Unfortunately, I spent the majority of the morning inside the Randolph Center trying to renew my driver’s license.

You know you’re screwed at the DMV when they hand you a ticket reading F-661, the call numbers begin at A-100. Of course, there’s nothing I could do except to try another day, but I’ve already done that once this month.

So, I took my lottery ticket and sat down with a few hundred people in the waiting area. Everyone there appeared miserable impatient, like the way Cubs fans felt when Kyle Farnsworth entered a game.

Eventually my number was called and I made it from point A to point B in a timely three hours, no exaggeration.

Meanwhile, the Cubs were off to another fast start thanks to Soriano’s two home runs in two innings against Tom Gorzelanny (6 IP, 7-R, 7-H, 2-BB, 3-k and 4-HR) this afternoon. Seriously, the conversation about Alfonso moving down in the order should end.

During this homestand alone Soriano has ledoff with a dinger in three of the last four games. And for the month of May he’s right at .350 with 6 HR and 17 RBIs.

Plus, his ability to give the Cubs’ starting pitchers early leads in invaluable. Face it, the guy is comfortable in the one hole…leave him there!!!

Apparently, the same can be said about Geovany Soto in the fifth slot. The second year catcher leads the team in OBP (.430) and RBIs (30).

And while Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, and Fukudome have all shared some ups and downs, Soto (2-for-3, 1 RBI) is consistently linear in getting on base and driving in runs.

Hats off to Sean Gallagher this afternoon (6 IP, 1-R, 4-H, 3-BB and 3-K), who earned his first big league win. The right-handed followed Ryan Dempter’s lead of pitching ahead in the count and keeping the ball down.

Obviously, the walks are a little high for a guy who isn’t going to strikeout a lot of batters, but Gallagher only allowed one run.

Weeks ago I suggested the Cubs place Bob Howry on the DL, something isn’t right with the big right-hander: (0-2) 6.53 ERA.

Today he turned a comforting six-run lead into a high-wire act allowing two bombs and three runs total in two innings.

We’ve heard every excuse to this point with Howry: he’s a notorious slow starter, the cold weather, and the warmer weather, not enough work…whatever.

Bob is a very important bridge from the starter-to-Marmol-to-Wood. He’s got to get right and soon, we’re already one quarter of the way into the season!

Chad Fox, Jon Lieber and Michael Wuertz are not ideal set-up men. Neither is left-handed specialist Scott Eyre. A move needs to be made, Howry is not right on the mound and Marmol can’t be relied upon for two plus innings every ballgame.

Besides, today was the first time this year Woody has thrown in three consecutive games, and you definitely don’t want to overwork the closer either.

I don’t think it’s too early for the Cubs to start working the phones inquiring about trades for a set-up man. Remember, it’s better to fix the pitching too early than too late.

W: Gallagher (1-0) – Wood (9)

L: Gorzelanny (3-4)

• Notes: Soriano’s leadoff blast is the 47^th of his career and his third this week.

• Chicago has a perfect 7-0 record against Pittsburgh this year, they’ve also won 10 straight vs. the Peg Legs.

• The Cubs’ bullpen has allowed just four runs during this homestand, none came during the first five games.

• Chicago starters have made quality outings (20) in nearly half of all the games played (42).

• The attendance at this afternoon’s game pushed the Cubs total attendance past the one million mark this year, it’s also the fastest Chicago has reached this level in club history.

• St. Louis closer Jason Isringhausen pulled his best Kyle Farnsworth and is now on the DL.
  

• Carlos Zambrano and Jim Edmonds kissed and made-up on Wednesday, yeah!

Game 41

• Thursday May 15^th – Wrigley Field

• Cubs 4 – Padres 0

• Record (25-16) – 1^st place in the NL Central

• Season-high 10-game homestand – (6-1)

The skinny: Hanging around a Major League ballpark always seems to lift my spirit. It’s been that way my whole life. I just love everything about it, the smells, the sounds, the fans and the games.

So, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity this afternoon to watch Greg Maddux pitching against Cubs newbie Jim Edmonds. By 12:45 I was heading east on Waveland with Wrigley in site.

Particularly, I was interested to see how the Chicago fans would react to Edmonds’ introduction for the starting line-up – it was a mixed chorus of cheers and boos – and how Maddux would fare in what could be his final appearance at the Friendly Confines.

As you would have guessed, I clapped for Edmonds and cherished watching Maddux (4.1 IP, 4-R, 11-H, 0-BB and 1 K) work one last time.

Clearly, Maddux was the headline act, but Ryan Dempster (8.1 IP, 0-R, 6-H, 1-BB 12 K) stole the show.

All year the red-head has been brimming with confidence on the mound, staying ahead in the count, limiting walks, and above all else, pitching well consistently.

Even during spring training I reminded myself not to get too high on Dempster’s return to the rotation. If the metamorphosis didn’t work I certainly wasn’t going to cry about it all summer.

However, I don’t think anyone expected Dempster would be dealing like an ace with a (5-1) record into mid-May. I know I didn’t.

Maddux, on the other hand, was lucky to reach the fifth inning. Had the Cubs not helped Greg out of a couple of early jams by rapping into two double plays and Aramis’ base running gaffe, the legend may have been pulled after two frames.

Nonetheless, the Cubs finally put everything together in the fifth with a four-run rally: all the runs they needed.

My boy Ronny Cedeno was one of four Cubs with a multi hit game. And don’t look now, but Aramis had three more hits this afternoon pushing his average to .294.

It’s about time for the big man to break into a sizzle at the plate and this could happen against Pittsburgh’s three starting left-handers over the weekend.

Plus, God willing, the weather might actually peak above 50-degrees (of course I’m bitter; its 45-degrees in the middle of friggin’ May).

Plus, this stat won’t get the attention it deserves, but Chicago is leading the entire league in OBP (.399). In turn, the team also leads the league in runs scored; again showing OBP and RS go hand in hand.

Edmonds arrival truly puts the finishing touches on this potent line-up. In fact, it’s very American League-like when viewed top to bottom: no breathers. Heck, even Dempster knocked in an RBI this afternoon.

Man, it was weird seeing Edmonds (1-for-4) sporting blue pinstripes and trotting out to center. It’s not like I haven’t seen players switch teams before, but this was different.

I started thinking about this weirdness during the game, what player moves would have been the equivalent of Edmonds playing for Chicago?

My list: Barry Larkin in a Mets uniform (that nearly happened, by the way), Edgar Martinez in an Oakland uni, Tony Gywnn in Angels gear or perhaps, Bonds in Dodgers’ blue.

Of course, I’d be interested in hearing some of your suggestions on this topic, maybe something more current like Jeter playing for Boston or something.

Anyway, today’s visit to the ballpark definitely lifted my spirit. Although, another part of it is the team’s victory and my overall good feelings for this club right now.

W: Dempster (5-1) – Wood (8)

L: Maddux (3-4)

• Notes: Dempster was two outs away from his first complete game in six years.

• During one stretch this afternoon he retired 15 batter in a row.

• The Cubs are now 7-2 when the right-hander starts.

• At 25-16 the Cubs are off to its best start since 1987, sharing identical records (25-16).

Game 40

• Wednesday May 14^th – Wrigley Field

• Cubs 8 – Padres 5

• Record (24-16) – 1^st place in the NL Central

• Season-high 10-game homestand – (5-1)

The skinny: If you’re still undecided about Alfonso Soriano leading off for the Cubs, you haven’t been paying attention the last two games.

Soriano’s leadoff blast against Shawn Estes yesterday reminded us he’s most comfortable hitting in the leadoff spot.

Tonight Alfonso drove the point home with another leadoff job, this time smoking Jake Peavy to left centerfield.

In his following at bat Soriano plates two more runs with a single to left field.

Score: Alfonso 3 – San Diego 0.

Some of us prefer Coke over Pepsi, Budweiser over Miller or deep dish over thin crust.

Soriano likes to leadoff, so leave the guy in the one hole where he wants to be, and especially while he’s 11-for-23 with 8 RBIs in his last five games. Money.

Behind Soriano the Cubs did an excellent job of working Peavy (4 IP, 4-R, 7-H, 2-BB and 8 K), the defending Cy Young Award winner.

Through the first two innings the right-hander had thrown more than 50 pitches and allowed three runs, a far cry from his 2.47 ERA entering tonight’s contest.

Plus, he was yanked after four innings pitched: his shortest outing of the season (87 pitches).

On the flip side, Ted Lilly was wonderful striking out 11 Padres on his way to evening his season record at (4-4): he’s (3-0) during the month of May.

Lilly retired six of the first 10 batters he faced via strikeout, walked one and left after six innings. You can’t ask for a better outing against one of the game’s best pitchers (Peavy).

Speaking of which, the ol’ master himself, Greg Maddox goes tomorrow for San Diego. It’s possible this could be Greg’s final hurrah in Wrigley Field. Now I have a reason to purchase a ticket and go to the game!

W: Lilly (4-4)

L: Peavy (4-3)

• Notes: Alfonso Soriano’s leadoff home run is the 46^th of his career, good enough for third all-time in the category.

• Rickey Henderson has the most career leadoff blasts (81), followed by Craig Biggio (53).

• Kosuke Fukudome had previously faced Peavy during the World Baseball Classic.

• Tonight’s 11 strikeout performance marks the first time in Lilly’s career he’s thrown consecutive double-digit strikeout games, he fanned 10 batter against Arizona in his last outing.