Chicago Cubs Baseball

Ho hum. Another Chicago Cubs victory. Another reserve coming through in the clutch.

Yawn.

In Sunday’s 8-5 win over Pittsburgh, it was Reed Johnson’s turn to rescue Chicago Cubs baseball. His two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning broke a five-all tie and gave the Cubs the series win in the rubber match game.

It isn’t the first time in 2008 Johnson has played the hero for Cubs baseball - at the plate or in the field. His amazing catch against the Washington Nationals in late April was undoubtedly one of the top outfield plays of this or any other season.

Not bad for a player Cubs general manager Jim Hendry plucked from the waiver wire for a paltry $1.3 million. I think anyone would agree that through the 74 games he’s played in this season Johnson has been worth every penny.

But he hasn’t been the only reserve to snatch a win for Cubs by the hairs of Johnson’s chinny chin chin. One could easily point to any one of the Cubs bench players as one of the primary reasons this is becoming a season like none other.

At least in the last 100 years.

The Chicago Cubs entered tonight’s game with division rival Houston with a 67-55 record - not only the best in the National League but the first time since 1989 the club has been 22 games above the coveted .500 mark. Their 41-15 record at Wrigley Field is simply the best ever since the club began playing in the Friendly Confines in 1916.

That’s a lot of success to think it’s solely been on the backs of the key eight players. As well as the main eight has played, it’s doubtful that the Cubs would be in the position they are today without Johnson, Mike Fotenot, Jim Edmonds, Ronny Cedeno, Henry Blanco and yes, even Daryle Ward.

I currently have a poll running on this blog asking the question, “Who is the Cubs most valuable reserve?” Sixty percent have voted for Fotenot with 30 percent choosing Johnson. A case could be made for Edmonds (whom I mistakenly left off).

Personally, I’m fond of catchers so I’m part of the five percent that chose Blanco. I believe no position player has a greater impact on the game than a catcher. See Chicago Cubs pitching staff for proof.

Whether it’s Fontenot, Blanco, Johnson or whomever, I’m 100 percent certain the club’s future success depends on its reserves to keep the Cubs tank full.