Boxscore

That didn’t take long. There’s been a lot of optimism and positive vibes for the Cubs this year. They decimated their competition and appeared to have assembled the best Chicago team in my lifetime, if not ever. So how would they do when they reached the playoffs? So far, it’s the same old story as the last 99 years. And this time they didn’t even need Dusty Baker’s mismanagement.

Ryan Dempster started game 1 for the Cubs and was the Dumpster Reds fans have come to know and love. Dempster was bad. He allowed 4 runs in 4 2/3 innings, walked 7 and struck out 2. 2 of those walks were to the pitcher. Not a good first game. (Incidentally, I blame the guy wearing a Dempster jersey at my wife’s office. If that’s not asking for some kind of baseball punishment, I don’t know what is.)

Like the Brewers, the Cubs find themselves in a hole, but also like the Brewers, they have a better pitcher starting their next game. Well, arguably better. Carlos Zambrano will try to right Chicago’s ship. Considering his often erratic, emotional behavior, I would be nervous were I a Cubs fan.