The Cubs are above .500 twenty games into the season for one reason and he's standing on the mound today with a 0.99 ERA. Greg Maddux is 4-0 to start the season, and the Cubs are 12-8. Without the unexpected resurgence, the Northsiders are their usually mediocre selves. But I'll take a little luck this early in the season, what with Furcal already ruining the Cubs 06 season twice since last November.

Today's match-up against the Brewers, a game between the 4th and 5th placed teams in the NL Central, sees both teams enter with a winning record. After Lee went down, I said that if the Cubs can hang around 2 or 3 games above .500 until Derrek returns they might be all right, but the division looks pretty stacked right now. Granted, they'll start to play each other and those win-lose totals will even out, but at this point the only thing holding totally true to form is the Pirates performance. They're already 11 games out.

Top of 1

While I can't see the game, according to the assuredly unbiased voice of Ron Santo, Maddux is getting squeezed in the 1st. C'mon, he's one of the premiere pitchers of our generation AND he's turned back the clock with a sub-1.00 ERA in the first month of the season. Isn't this enough to give him every borderline call there is?

But Maddux is nothing if not crafty. After loading the bases with 1 out, Greg gets a strikeout and a fly out to get out unscathed.

Bottom of 1

Glad to get out of that first. Due to their afternoon delight, I don't catch as many Cubs games as I'd like and I hate when I finally sit down to tune in and the game blows up in my face right away.

This Cubs line-up was less than intimidating with Lee in the line-up. Right now they're positively clawless. Seriously, who scares you in this order: Pierre, Cedeno, Walker, Ramirez, Murton, Jones, Perez, Blanco? Pierre's only valuable if he's on base, which he isn't often enough, Murton's been a pleasant surprise but teams are still writing the "book" on him, and Ramirez is barely hitting .200. Right now, I'd say Walker, but not in a power hitter sort of way, but more like a savvy veteran/consummate hitter role.

Top of 2

I just missed the entire top half of the 2nd writing about how punchless the Cubs are. That's a nice example of the typical Cubs experience, we spend so much time worrying about the Cubs that we only stop to take note when our woefully low expectations are met. (See: 2004, Bartman, 1984, the DL right now). The Brewers went down in order.

Bottom of 2

WGN just came out of the break to "Draggin' the Line." I think that's a good omen, time to score.

And they do. Back-to-back-to-back doubles from Ramirez, Murton and Jones and it's 2-0. Should I pick-up Murton for my fantasy team? I know there are at least 25 outfielders in the leagues who would be more valuable, but I'm in last place anyway, might as well get a guy I like.

According to Pat and Ron, 100 lucky fans received vintage jerseys today as part of a giveaway. Banks? Sandberg? Santo? Nope, they give away Babe Ruth jerseys! According to the Cubs website, they have four such Mitchell & Ness promotions scheduled for this season and only one of them will be an actual Cubs player, the 1971 Ken Holtzman jersey. He went 9-15 that year. (Clemente and Robinson are the other two.)

Top of 3

The inning goes quickly as Pat and Ron talk to the guy from Mitchell & Ness. He spends a lot of time talking about how great the Babe was, but never gets around to answering why they chose Holtzman to represent 1971 when Santo and Williams combined to hit .284 with 49 HRs and 181 RBI between them.

Bottom of 3

This was the type of small ball Cubs team we thought we were getting when Juan Pierre signed with the Northsiders. Pierre leads off the inning with a double, Cedeno reaches on an infield single and Walker drives Juan home. Ramirez, continuing to do his best to ensure my fantasy Skillet Lickers remain in the basement, pops out to leave Cedeno hugging third. Murton gets caught looking and Jacque grounds to first, big inning avoided.

Top of 4

Since the slightly shaky first, Maddux has retired the Brewers in order each of the past three innings. I really didn't expect a lot out of Maddux last season. I was just happy to have him back, even at an advanced age, and when he finished 13-15 I was more than willing to give him a pass and let him ride off into the sunset. But if he keeps up at this pace, I might have to get a #31 jersey.

Bottom of 4

I'm not sure how Maddux still does it. He reminds me of a couple of the grizzled slow-pitch softball veterans I used to play with back home. You know the guys, they have huge braces on both knees, been wasting their summer Tuesday nights on that moundless field since they were 19 and have somehow, through thousands of innings of work, concocted a way to underhand a pitch that, while imminently hittable, is always difficult to drive solidly. I don't know if they spun it, spit on it, shoved it, or stuck it, but whatever they did produced a ridiculously reliable number of groundouts to third in the ultimate hitters game. It's endlessly frustrating. That's what I imagine it is like for a major league hitter to face Greg Maddux.

The Cubs go quietly.

Top of 5

Shawn Mullins' "Lullaby" brings us back from break. It's one of those songs that is great for just such a purpose, coming in and out of break because it has a pretty good bass-line and it takes you a few seconds to start singing the lyrics in your head before you realize, "wait a minute, this song sucked!" A quick check of Mullins website turns up that he has a new album out called 9th Ward Pickin' Parlor, that actually sounds pretty good. Sorry I ever doubted you Shawn, I'm sure I'll pay for it now.

Maddux promptly gives up four straight hits, and I am now buying "Lullaby" off of iTunes in a desperate attempt to pay restitution. Before the song is even fully downloaded, Cedeno and Perez work some magic and get the inning ending double play. Karma is dangerous.

3-2 Cubs.

Bottom of 5

Pierre gets things started again for the Cubs with a bunt single. I really am fine if he tries to do this every time he's at the plate. If he doesn't take a full swing for the rest of the season, I'll consider it smart baseball.

Atta baby Ronnie! Cedeno leaves the yard to reclaim the two runs the Cubs gave up last inning. I haven't seen enough of Cedeno yet to be totally excited, but Vin Scully sure was a few weeks ago calling the Cubs new shortstop his frontrunner for ROY.

Walker follows with a single and the top of the Cubs order is a collective 6 for 9 today. Good thing as the still slumping Ramirez  continues slumping. 5-2 after five.

Top of 6

Missed most of this half inning looking for that awesome action shot of slow-pitch softball in Hawaii.

Bottom of 6

The boys in the booth are speaking with two of Babe Ruth's family members right now. Apparently the Babe was a marvelous dancer. Did not know that.

Top of 7

Maddux gives way to Bob Howry. The line for Greg: 6IP 8H 2ER 1BB 6K. Vintage Maddux performance. Scatter your hits, make big pitches when you need them and don't walk batters.

Bottom of 7

There are two places where accomplished vocal talent is not appreciated: karaoke and 7th inning stretches. Ruth's grandson's vibratto seemed a tad overdone during "Take Me Out..." The only reason he was afforded the opportunity to sing the song was due to the fact that Harry slurred it so badly for so many years that a trip to Wrigley ain't complete if someone doesn't sing it. But it's time to move on. Can we please put an end to this "tradition?"

Another hit for Cedeno, he's got three on the day. Walker walks and another chance with runners on base for Aramis. He's already left three, and I'm now requesting a refund from Baseball Prospectus for putting Aramis on the cover of their 2006 guide. Every at bat's an adventure...this is what fantasy sports does to people. Mercifully, Ramirez walks. I'm not even asking for RBI anymore, just don't ground into a double play.

Murton fouls out with the sacks stacked. Still 5-2 good guys.

Top of 8

I'm a fan of any player whose nickname translates to "The Horse." Carlos Lee, you can play for me any day. Now "Prince" is another story...I don't care if you are hitting over .360.

Eyre gets through the 8th and we're three outs away. Get Dempster up.

Bottom of 8

This is the first of 17 straight games for the Cubs. God, I love baseball season. Cursed be the off day! I won't see or hear most of these, but it's just nice to be able to have something to watch for every night on SportsCenter. Eleven of those 17 are against teams currently at or under .500, so this is a chance to gain some ground. I say 11-6 would be great, 10-7 acceptable.

Jones homers to shelve Dempster. 6-2 Cubs. The Bleacher Bums have been all over Jacque early, but I can't say that I'm surprised to see him struggle. While I was cautiously optimistic after hearing of the Jones signing, he did hit .249 last year for the Twins.

The Yun' Ball Coach had an interesting solution to losing Lee. Why not see if Darin Erstad is available? He's in the last year of his contract, he could fill in at first until D-Lee returns and then either split time in the outfield with Jones or simply take over for good. I like it, let's get this done Jim.

Top of 9

Despite Pat's best attempt to jinx the Cubs chances by talking about Maddux's fifth win before it was over, the Northsiders set the Brewers down in order to close out a 6-2 win. Nothing spectacular, just good baseball. A few bunts, a couple of homers, one big double play and a nice division win. I could start worrying about Rusch's start tomorrow, but it is Friday...I think I'll just enjoy raising the white flag.