Cubs opening day report

There's something that conjures a mass pagan ritual in baseball season's opening day. Maybe it is the tribal aspect of the ceremonial opening of the park, the first pitch (thrown by Robert Redford to Kerry Wood), the proud team colors—the desire for winter to end and spring to (really, this time) begin. For Cubs fans, this season is a time for renewed optimism—former ace closer Kerry Wood has come back to the fold and a Mike Quade has taken over for the retired Lou Pinella in the manger role. Quade is so little known and down-to-earth that he's been taking the L or walking to Wrigley—and apparently did so today.

The Cubs showed promise in the first trio of innings—taking an early lead in the first with Starlin Castro singling, then scoring on a Marlon Byrd grounder. Pitcher Ryan Dempster held off the Pirates at first and the Pirates defense looked shakey at best. Throughout the afternoon, the Pirates continued to make errors, letting infield fly balls fall, bobbling ground balls and the like. None of that mattered when in the fifth inning, the Pirates seem to become another team entirely, loading the bases for a grand slam blast from Neil Walker. In the steady rain, the Pirates seem to rise up like spectres from Davy Jone's Locker—Andrew McCuthen hammered a two-run homer to put the Pirates up 6-2

The Cubs attempted a rally—Barney scored on a Fukudome single, but it fizzled. In the ninth, the Pirates loaded the bases but Castro ended the inning with a killer double play. The Cubs put the tying run on base in the bottom of the inning—they seem to come alive for a minute, but couldn't convert. Final score: Pirates 6, Cubs 3.

Altogether, it was disapointment for Cubs fans—the Pirates beat the Cubs 15-10 games last year, but don't seem particularly potent. While the game had plenty of hitting, competent defense from the Cubs, Chicago could match those Pirate fitz of sluggery.

Despite a sold-out Wrigley, the stadium felt thinned out after the grand slam. Cubs tickets are the third highest average in Fan Cost Index at $46.90—but diehard fans anywhere have trouble enjoying a steady drizzle when there's a warm bar nearby. Baseball, in must be said, is best enjoyed on slowly unfolding, warm days—or breezy nights. It also helps, of course, when you're winning.