Chicago Cubs Baseball

What a wonderful, wild ride the 2007 Chicago Cubs have delivered us fans this last week. Heading into today’s game with Atlanta, the Cubs have compiled a 5-1 record, outscored their opponents 39-14, and outside of Ted Lilly’s performance, have received brilliant pitching efforts from both their starters and bullpen.

So why haven’t I caught Cubs fever? Or has the better part of 99 years of frustration and failure made me just another Cubs cynic?

Maybe I just know these guys. Sure, the names have changed, but aren’t they still the Chicago Cubs?

Let’s just go back a year to 2006 when the Cubs had a mere $94 K payroll. In case you don’t remember, from May 18th to May 28th, Chicago’s North siders lost nine of 10 and were 18-31 overall. On June 2, the Cubs went on a mini-run, winning six of the next 10 and appeared to turn the corner.

Of course, we know how the rest of 2006 played out - a 66-96 record.

What about 2005 when the Cubs finished 79-83? On today’s date two years ago, Chicago was 31-27 and had just finished a stretch where they had won nine of 10 from May 27th to June 5th. At 40-37 at the end of June, the Cubs appeared to be in good shape to make a run at the playoffs.

Again, we know how the remainder of 2005 finished - losing 46 of their next 85 ballgames.

For a more recent example, how about last month? Remember the Cubs started out 5-0 and Alfonso Soriano had connected for his first two homers in a Chicago uniform. Soriano finished with four dingers on the month and the Cubs - well, they finished with a 12-15 month.

It’s possible this is a different Chicago club and this current win streak is a sign of good things to come. It’s also possible we could all be dancing to the same old tune.

Speaking of which, in capsulizing this current Chicago winning string, I can’t help but recall a great line from a Doors tune: “Well, I’ve been done so long, it looks like up to me.”