Fourth Time's No Charm, or Hurry Up and Wait

What is it about that first off-day that lets the air out of the balloon after a big opener? For the fourth year in a row, the Cubs scored a ton of runs on Opening Day. And for the fourth year in a row they failed to carry it over after the off-day, dropping to 1-1.

Picture yourself in the uniform. You’ve waited six months to see real action, and when you finally do, you and your team stomp the other guys into the ground. Wouldn’t you be champing at the bit to get back out there and stomp them again A-SAP?

But then there’s just that lull. It’s not a travel day. It’s not even the end of a series. And of all the times you really need an off-day, Day 2 isn't it. Even if you take BP on the off-day, it’s not like facing somebody’s number two starter in game situations. You don’t try to out-think a batting practice pitcher, you just swing away, which is what the Cubs did after the off-day.

They fell back into the old pattern of scoring all six of their runs on three 2-run homers and not drawing any walks. Glendon Rusch and Jerome Williams gave up eight hits and five walks as the Cubs found themselves down 7-2 after five innings, on their way to an 8-6 loss.

With the loss, the Cubs split the opening series with the Reds and fall a game and a half behind the Cards after only two games. And Thursday was another off-day.

After the first series do you sit back and think wow, we put up 25 hits and 22 runs in two games and still split; or wow, we gave up 15 runs in two games and still split? I try to keep optimistic. The Cubs fought back behind two rusty starters who blew early leads, and as long as they keep scoring early and often, enough guys from that overabundance of starting pitching will eventually get healthy enough and into midseason condition to put some wins together.

I look for silver linings, and there were some notable upsides. Seven Cub hits efficiently led to six runs. They fought back from a five-run deficit to within a run instead of rolling over and dying, like we’ve all seen too many times. The bullpen didn’t give up any earned runs once the Cubs started clawing back, and with three appearances between them, the new setup tandem remains at a combined 0.00 ERA.

Individually, Juan Pierre has leadoff extra-base hits in both games and got the Cubs on the board both times. Ronny Cedeno got a pair of hits and has reached and scored in both games. John Mabry hit a pinch-homer off of former Cub crybaby Kent Mercker, and D-Lee and Aramis Ramirez got their first homers out of the way.

So now the Cubs bring it on home to Wrigley for a too-early series against a Cardinals team that just took three straight from the Phillies. Greg Maddux begins his 21st season against Jeff Suppan this afternoon as Cub fans get their first look at the new bleachers. Check back after Sunday’s debut by Sean Marshall for an up-close and personal report on the right-field bleacher boxes as I check them out for myself.