Chicago Cubs

As rookie Randy Wells made his first career start against the Brewers tonight, Aramis Ramirez left the game in excruciating pain in the third inning. Ramirez dove to his right and landed on the third base foul line.

Ryan Braun pulled a rocket ground ball to the hot corner, and Ramirez quickly dove and appeared to have made the play. But before he could get up and throw to first, he was doubled over in pain laying belly down on the ground.

So, the Cubs retired number 31 yesterday, worn by Fergie Jenkins and Greg Maddux. As the flags were raised on the left field foul poul, I pondered the same question I’ve been pondering for the past few years: will I ever see Sammy Sosa’s jersey number (21) flying from one of Wrigley’s foul poles?

Carlos Zambrano, the fiery Cubs ace, beat out a bunt single in the fifth inning on Sunday. Thanks to Derrek Lee's mammoth grand slam later that inning, he got a win. But because of his base running, he'll be on the disabled list for at least 15 days.

Zambrano pulled his hamstring running to first. He was removed for a pinch runner.

Issue Number One: Rich Harden pinch running? One pitcher gets hurt running so Lou Piniella uses another in his place on the base paths? And picks one that has a laundry list of injuries in his own past? Are you serious?

Some say happiness is a state of mind. As a rabid sports fan, I have to disagree. To me, happiness is your team's place in the standings.

Now that the Phillies and Red Sox have won the last two World Series, the title for most tortured fan base is up for grabs!

While fans in Cincinnati, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, and Washington can all make compelling arguments, the lack of expectations, poorly attended games and the "football first" mentality of these cities disqualifies them from the race for most miserable.

I wrote an article on Saturday http://bleacherreport.com/articles/166673-come-to-think-of-it-put-derrek-lee-on-the-disabled-list suggesting the Cubs should have put Derrek Lee on the disabled list.

Well, boy, am I happy they didn't listen to me (not that they read B/R).

Today, the Cubs honored two all-time greats by retiring the No. 31 jersey, worn by both Fergie Jenkins and Greg Maddux. I am not old enough to have seen Jenkins pitch with the Cubs, nor am I able to remember Maddox's first stint with the Cubs, but I am nonetheless glad to see proper respect given.

Jenkins will be remembered as part of the infamous 1969 Chicago team and for winning 20 games six years in a row.

Maddux will be remembered by most as part of the great Atlanta Braves teams of the '90s and for saying in a TV spot, "chicks dig the long ball."

After a cold, rainy and just plain dreary and disappointing month of April, the Cubs begin the month of May 2-0. The story of the game was Ted Lilly, on the mound and at the plate.

On the mound Lilly was great, striking out 10, and walking none. He gave up five hits, one of which was a solo home-run by Cody Ross. At the plate Lilly came through with a 2 run double of the right field wall with two outs in the third inning.

When the Chicago Cubs announced in March that on May 3, this Sunday, they will retire Ferguson Jenkins' No. 31, it made my day. Adding Greg Maddux to share the honor embodies the legendary words of Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks, "It's a great day for baseball. Let's play two."

Ferguson Jenkins, the pride of Chatham, Ontario and the only Canadian member of the Baseball Hall of Fame is finally getting a long overdue honor of being immortalized in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field, home of some of his greatest accomplishments.

Filed: April 30, 2009

Mike Fontenot and Aaron Miles turn two against the Marlins Thursday (Cubbie Nation/file)

Click here for the photo gallery of last night's game.

What did we expect?

On February 11th, three days before Valentine's Day, I expressed my lack of love for what I felt was an empty spending spree by Chicago Cubs' General Manager Jim Hendry. (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/122973-jim-hendry-the-worst-winter-in-baseball)

We're now one full month into the baseball season, and I have the underwhelming feeling I was right.