Mirror, mirror on the wall, who are these Chicago Cubs afterall? That’s the question of the month for those of us in Cubdom, and I’m pretty certain, for the Chicago brain trust as well.
After six weeks of Chicago Cubs baseball I think it’s safe to say that no one knows whether this 2008 version is coming, going - or both. I’m guessing Cub players are wondering the same.
Are they the Cubs that reeled off winning streaks of five and six games in April or are they the club that’s been dazed and abused for the past two weeks, losing eight of their last 11 as of Tuesday?
Despite this six-week roller coaster of a season, surprisingly, major league baseball pundits are standing by their predictions - which even more astonishingly, includes the Chicago Cubs. Sports Illustrated, John Kruk and Steve Phillips of ESPN, and Kevin Kennedy of Fox Sports have all gone on record picking the Cubs - some as far as the World Serious.
Evidently, this group didn’t read the scouting report that includes a five-man starting rotation of three, a closer who’s ability to get the save is as suspect as his arm, and a left fielder who not is an outfield liability, but is hitting less than he weighs. And that little list doesn’t include a sometimes shaky bullpen and Cub management’s continuing search for a center fielder - preferably someone who swings from the left side of the plate.
Oh yeah. Then there’s the defense. In dropping a 5-3 decision to lowly Cincinnati, Monday night, Cub fielders committed two errors, accounting for all five unearned runs.
”Like I told my guys after the ballgame, ‘Make the other team beat you. Just don’t give it to them,”’ manager Lou Piniella said following the loss. ”And I know they’re not trying [to give it away]. At the same time, you play like that, you’re going to lose most of the time.”
Not that there hasn’t been individual bright spots. Derrek Lee looks to have returned to 2005 form (has it really been that long?), while Carlos Zambrano is letting his pitching do all the talking. And what sweet music it has been.
Geo Soto is hitting and catching his way into Rookie of the Year candidacy, even topping the performance of every Cubbie’s favorite Japanese player, Kosuke Fukudome.
But individuals don’t win World Series championships. And neither does a team with more holes than a side street after winter.

After pounding 





Pictures of Lilly
I doubt when members of the Who were penning the song, “Pictures of Lilly,” they had Theodore Roosevelt Lilly in mind. Then again, I wonder how many of us in Cubdom had heard of Ted Lilly the pitcher before his arrival to the Chicago Cubs?
But in two seasons, spanning less than a year, Lilly the pitcher has left us with a pair of indelible impressions that in essence sum up the frustrations - and the hope - of Chicago Cubs baseball.
Cub fans grimaced at, and with, the sight.
For that game, that moment, symbolized much more than the impending end to the Cubs 2007 World Series run. Most of all it showed the desperation and the pressure Chicago Cub players felt to win.
Then there was the Lilly of yesterday - and possibly of all of the tomorrows that this season will bring. In facing the D’Backs for the first time since that 8-4 loss last October, Lilly responded with his arm, his bat and with all the determination of a champion.
Just as the NLDS loss showed the vulnerability of Lilly’s character, yesterday’s performance re-established his resolve. Lilly’s seven-inning, three-hit effort propelled the Cubs to a much-needed win, but in the process possibly exorcised the Ghosts of Diamondbacks past.
To think yesterday’s showing wasn’t crucial to his present and future success would be to wholly and solely miss the point. Lilly may have said publicly last year’s meltdown didn’t effect this year’s efforts, but I believe privately he gave a different answer.
“Maybe a little bit,” Lilly said whether he thought back to last year’s NLDS performance. “I don’t want to admit it too much. You sort of let it go, but you don’t forget. And at the same time not try to come out of your game and do anything crazy.”
The only thing Lilly did “crazy” yesterday was shrug off the slag of a lackluster 2008 start.
There still may be ghosts lingering in Lilly’s closet. But for now, they’re hiding behind the curtain. And they just may stay there if Lilly continues to execute his pitches as he did yesterday.