Gotta Love The Cubs!

Since beginning this blog, I have not written much about baseball. I have mentioned watching the Cubs while writing a couple times (not today), but I have not gone into any long discussions about the smell of the grass and ivy covered walls.

You have not been bored with my childhood stories of watching Billy Williams, Rick Monday and Don Kessinger. You have not read of my excitement when the Cubs finally made the playoffs in 1984. You have not had to skim past a discussion of who I was more upset with in 2003: Bartman or Alou.

Nor have I issued my predictions for 2006, or shared my feelings of jealously regarding the 2005 Chicago White Sox.

Sometime, I will talk about all those things. Today, however, I want to talk briefly about how proud I am of the 2006 Chicago Cubs.

Today, the Cubs lost. Pittsburgh beat them, at Wrigley, eight to nothing. I am still proud of this team.

Let’s start at the top: Jim Hendry. For those of you not acquainted with all things Chicago baseball, Hendry is the Cubs’ general manager. That means, among other things, he is responsible for staffing this team. He signs players, makes trades and makes the final decisions regarding who is in the clubhouse. He gets input from various sources, including his field manager, Dusty Baker, but the onus is on him regarding whether the championship lands on the north side.

He has done well. He has provided nearly all the current team members since taking over as general manager. He has worked hard to ramp up a minor league system that hadn’t been providing much young talent.

This year, two starting pitchers expected to lead the club started the season on the disabled list. Sean Marshall has stepped up to fill a role alongside Carlos Zambrano and Greg Maddux. I can’t say enough about Marshall. He has the chance to be a leading member of this staff for years to come.

Jerome Williams and Glendon Rusch were both expected to help out. Both gave it their all, and at times looked very sharp. Still, as they have stepped aside, Hendry has young talent waiting. Angel Guzman had one good start although he didn’t look as great today. Rich Hill, who looked good last fall, will be stepping in to help until Wood and Prior return. If either of these to miss the mark, Jae Kuk Ryu is waiting for his chance. Hendry still has another card up his sleeve with former Houston star Wade Miller rehabbing and expected to be back by July 4th.

If pitching is the name of the game, Hendry has provided a ton of depth.

Not only that, he stocked up the weak bullpen of 2005 with veterans Howry and Eyre to go with Dempster and Williamson both of whom, like Miller, were signed while injured.
The Cubs needed a leadoff man and found one in Juan Pierre. He’s not hitting 300 yet and hasn’t stolen twenty bases, but he is providing a much needed spark for an offense used to waiting for a big home run.

Speaking of which, the two biggest bats in the lineup are currently silent. Derrick Lee was injured in a horrible play a couple weeks ago and likely won’t return until July. Aramis Ramirez has not been hitting like we are used to seeing in recent years. Still Ramirez has been contributing with his glove and it is only a matter of time before the bat comes around.

In the meantime, Michael Barrett and Matt Murton have been picking up the slack. Ronny Cedeno and Todd Walker, who so many worried about during spring training, have both been hitting over .300. Jacque Jones has been hot and cold but is still fun to watch.

Let us not forget the big man in the dugout: Dusty Baker. What I love best about Dusty, many people feel is a shortcoming. Dusty does not attack his players. He does not complain while they are playing for him or when they go.

You know he was mad at Sammy Sosa, but he only made a few vague comments. He hardly said anything discouraging about the disappointing Corey Patterson. He hasn’t said much about Barry Bonds from his San Francisco days.

Dusty is positive to the press and I believe he is positive behind closed doors as well. Does he get on his players? You bet! Recently, he read the riot act to Michael Barrett after he hurt his finger sliding into second base. Did he do it in front of cameras? Did he do it on television or radio? Not that I saw or read.

Nearly, to a man, this club is fun. They play hard. They rarely give up, even when losing thirteen to nothing.

The team lost today. No matter. They are still over .500. There is still a lot of baseball left in this season.

You never know. This may be their year. But then, I have said that before. Just not here.