Cubs early suprise

When the Cubs season began three-plus weeks ago, I was nervously optimistic. The team had brought back every important piece from the division winning team of a year ago, except for Jacque Jones, a solid but very inconsistent player, and Cliff Floyd, who is on the decline of his career. They had elevated Geovany Soto from number three on the depth chart to starting catcher, moved Ryan Dempster from closer to starter and signed maybe the best free agent on the market, Japanese rookie Kouske Fukudome. Various magazines and newspapers were picking them to not only win the Central again, but also make the World Series.

But they are the Cubs, the same franchise that hasn’t won a World Series in 100 years and falls flat on their face more often then a dancer with two left feet. Carlos Zambrano was still the ace of the pitching staff, and as we all saw a year ago, that can be both a good thing (5-1 record, 39 innings and 1.38 ERA last June) and a bad thing (0-4 record, 29 innings, 7.06 ERA last May). Alfonso Soriano was still batting first, meaning a lot of strikeouts and not a lot of stolen bases. And the bullpen was still a bit of a question mark, with Kerry Wood attempting to go a full, healthy season as closer for the first time in his life.

So how has the year turned out thus far? Let’s just say I couldn’t have asked for anything more, except for maybe a dry Opening Day. The team is 15-6, winners of nine of their last ten games. First basemen Derek Lee, who struggled at the start of the 2007 season, is back to his spot as one of the games best hitters, as he leads the team in batting average (.378), home runs (7), RBI (18), and runs scored (20). Dempster has been good as a starter with three victories already, and Big Z has an ERA under 3.

But by far the most impressive player has been Fukudome. Not only with his statistics, which have been outstanding (.351 average, 17 walks, 17 runs scored), but more so in the way he plays the game. It seems that he never swings at the first pitch, always works the count and makes the pitcher get him out. Plus he runs the bases hard and has a great arm in the outfield. #1 has already become #1 to the right field bleacher faithful, and amazingly, Ron Santo has yet to curse on the air attempting to say his name. If Fukudome, and the other 24 guys on the squad, keep playing at the level they’ve been at the past three and a half weeks, this hot start might translate to a completely hot season.

Other random thoughts on the world of sports

- As I said in the last post, I was very much looking forward to the Suns/Spurs first round NBA Playoff series. And while the two games did not disappoint (though my TiVo did, as I missed the two overtime periods in Game 1), I have to say I’m kind of surprised the Suns will leave San Antonio without a win. In Game 1, the Phoenix had the lead at the end of regulation and the first OT, only needing one stop to win the game. And both times, first by Michael Finley and then by Tim Duncan, the Spurs were able to get clean looks at the hoop to tie up the score. Then in Game 2, the Suns dominated in the first half, but then fell apart in the third quarter, allowing the defending champs to take a 2-0 series lead. I’ve always stated a best-of-seven doesn’t really start until a road team wins a game, so there is still a chance that Phoenix will come back this weekend, play well for all 48 minutes, and tie this thing up. But the Suns need to turn it on quick or else they will be playing golf next week.

- Now I’m a huge Chris Paul fan, and I think he deserves to be MVP for this season. And he has been absolutely amazing in the Hornets first two games against Dallas, with an average of 33.5 points and 13.5 assists in the two New Orleans victories. But (you knew there was a but coming) I’m still not convinced he’s a better player than Jazz point guard Deron Williams. Now perhaps I am a homer because Williams went to Illinois (Actually, that’s not a perhaps, I’m definitely a homer) but I see the two as equals. D-Will’s numbers may not equal CP-3’s- Williams is putting up 21 points and 7.5 assists in the two Utah wins- but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Williams is a much better defender, has already taken his team to the Western Conference Finals and tends to dominate head-to-head matchups with Paul. Either way you look at it, Paul and Williams are the two best point guards in the NBA. I just happen to like Deron more.

- Finally, the NFL Draft is thins weekend, and I just couldn’t resist commenting on what the Bears should do. A lot of mock drafts have them selecting an offensive tackle, either Vanderbilt’s Chris Williams or Pittsburgh’s Jeff Otah. And while I think upgrading the O-Line should be the #1 priority, I’m not sure taking the third or forth best tackle’s available is the right way to go. If one of the elite players, such as USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis or Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, is still on the board at #14, the Bears should grab them. If not, take the offensive tackle, and then in round 2, try and get the running back that slips out of the first round, either Oregon’s Jonathan Stewart, Arkansas’ Felix Jones or East Carolina’s Chris Johnson. The Bears have a decent team, and if they can find a couple of impact players in the draft (like in 2006 when the picked up Devin Hester and Mark Anderson), they have the look of a sleeper playoff team.

- One more thing on the draft: If you find yourself this weekend believing everything the so-called experts on TV say, remember they are wrong more than they are right. Here’s what ESPN’s Todd McShay said about the Bears ’06 draft
Worst pick: Devin Hester, RS, Miami. This pick would have been fine had the team not taken Danieal Manning (Abilene Christian) earlier in the second round. Manning was a decent value because of his potential versatility as a free safety/cornerback tweener with experience in the return game. Hester is more explosive in the return game, but he doesn't have a position on offense or defense. So the team essentially used its second of two picks in Round 2 on a return specialist when it could have gotten production in that area from Manning. Better options with the 57th overall pick would have included Western Michigan tight end Tony Scheffler or Fresno State DC Richard Marshall.