From the sideline
Could the Cubs Overcome the Curse?
From The Sideline
Could the Cubs Overcome the Curse?
By BRANDON FINLEY
Sports Columnist
Boston became the originator of the curse reverse, but the Cubs of Wrigley may be next in line. As of Father's Day the Cubs stood with the best record in baseball and twenty games above the .500 line. For a team that missed the playoffs last year, what's changed?
Most of the faces remain the same, but Lou Piniella has the Chicago boys believing. Most of all the Cubs believe with their bats. The Cubs top seven batters are hitting an average of .296 from the box. Derek Lee has remained as consistent of a presence at first base as one can find in the NL. Until the recent injury of Alfonso Soriano, he'd batted in 40 runs and hit 15 homers.
As good as the hitting has been, the pitching has been just as impressive. Both Ryan Dempster and Carlos Zambrano possess ERA's under three. Both have identical 8-2 records, and they will easily make the All-Star game; one could start.
It may have been expected from Zambrano coming into this season, but Dempster is easily the surprise of the year for the Cubs. Making the change from closer has served Dempster well, and it looks to be a change for good as Kerry Wood has reversed his role as well.
Wood was supposed to the next Nolan Ryan, but a load of injuries has forced him into the closer role for the Cubs. It's a role that has suited him quite well. With eighteen saves and a 2.48 ERA, Wood has positioned himself into one of the leagues best closers.
The Cubs have a 3.5 game lead on the St. Louis Cardinals as of now, but they won't lose sight anytime soon. This is a franchise that knows what it means to choke it away. Maybe this time, they'll be for real.
