'Dux in a Row

They say 40 is the new 30, whoever “they” are. Probably people who are uptight about being 40.

But two days shy of the big four-oh himself, Greg Maddux has been as stingy as ever on the hits with WHIP under 1.00 backing up a sub-1.50 ERA after two starts. With two fellow marquee starters on the shelf and a bullpen that’s already made some premature appearances, Maddux has followed both Cub losses with quality starts and impressive wins.

It pushes to the side a flash of something the Cubs have long needed, attacks from the basepaths. Before today I can’t even remember the last time the Cubs pulled off two double steals in a game, and Juan Pierre and Derrick Lee, the only two Cubs who have even attempted steals so far in 2006, did it their first two times up.

Pierre is the obvious name, but in Lee it’s refreshing to see a big name power-hitter who hasn’t taken that tool out of his arsenal, being one of the rare boomers who even had it in the first place. Great news, of course, Lee signing a five-year, $65 million contract extension at age 30. Eleven more extra-base hits than anyone else in MLB last season for the price it took the Dodgers to lock down Rafael Furcal.

Early aches and pains resulted in a new lineup today, with Hairston at second in the two spot and Angel Pagan in right batting fifth (fifth???), followed by Murton, Neifi Perez at third and Cedeno. Like Murton in the latter part of last season, Cedeno has been batting eighth with an average over .400.

Carlos Zambrano starts tomorrow's finale against Eric Milton and the Reds before the Cubs head to Pittsburgh to face the 3-7 Pirates.