Today the Cubs officially opened their season against the Reds at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, losing 5-1.
An omen for things to come this season? I don't think so. The Cubs have rung up 16 runs during each season opener for the last two years, and we all know how those seasons turned out. I remember looking forward at last season with breathless anticipation after that season opener, only to watch the Cubs, paralyzed by devastating injuries and Dusty Baker's indifference, lose 96 of the next 161 games.
The best thing about starting the season with a loss (and a really bad one at that) is that Cubs fans like me get to avoid coming out of the starting gate with too much of that childlike anticipation and unwarranted optimism that has broken our hearts year after year. I have to get it through my head that I'm not watching Ryne Sandberg and Rick Sutcliffe anymore. After all, if you aren't expecting much, you can't be disappointed.
I know that it will take a few games for the Cubs to work the kinks out and gel as a team. After all, this is a completely different team and it may take a few games to settle in. Get it out of your system now, Cubbies, and let's get it done.
By the way, am I worried about Carlos Zambrano's poor start? Not in the slightest. Whether it's nerves or not, Big Z never starts season openers well. However, the rest of the season always turns out pretty darn good. I think Lou Piniella just learned his first lesson as the Cubs manager.
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