Quick Stop In Chicago: April 22nd-April 24th

Now, if you have been following along at home and I hope you have been, you would know that so far in this replay, the Chicago Cubs are 11-8 so far on the season. The real life Cubs were 12-7, so were only a game off their pace. Not a bad start to the season. Now, onto the series with the San Diego Padres.

Before the 2002 season, Matt Clement was just a starter in the majors. Now, saying someone is "just a starter" isn't really as much of an insult as it seems. Only about 150 players or so a season can start and there are many, many more people out there who wish that they were. But something in that 2002 season clicked for Clement as he had his best season as a pro. He reached a career high in strikeouts, a career low in walks, WHIP and opponents average against. And it looks like he may turn 2003 into a better season even still. Clement goes the distance, striking out 12 Padres while cruising to a 9-2 victory. Hee Seop Choi provides some power again, slugging his 5th homer in 6 games and is starting to make me rethink the platoon and whether he should start everyday. I'll continue to trot out Eric Karros vs lefties, but I'm not sure how much longer that will continue.

We come out flat for game 2 and were not in contention the entire game as we lose easily 8-1. We managed only 3 hits off Jake Peavy and the Padres bullpen as Mark Prior falls to 3-2 on the season.

After scoring 6 runs in the first 2 inning during game 3, Wood cruises to a 7 inning win, striking out 12 along the way. He did walk 3, which he will do from time to time, but for the most part, pitched about as well as one would expect him to pitch. So far one of the most disappointing sights on the season is LF Moises Alou. Alou is only hitting .225, with 0 hrs and 11 RBI on the season. Hopefully he can get hot soon and start to hit like we need him to.

With the win, we head into Colorado with a 13-9 record, but in 3rd place, a game behind both Cincinnati and Houston, who are tied for the Division lead. The Rockies are 11-11 coming into this series and with Colorado being the homer paradise that it is, maybe a couple of our bats can wake up during this 3 game set. Sergio Mitre will be starting game 1 and will be sent to the minors after the game as Carlos Zambrano is due back during the San Francisco series. Kyle Farnsworth will come up and take his place till we get to San Fran to give us an additional arm in the bullpen. Shawn Estes will pitch game two and Matt Clement will go in game 3. Colorado counters with Aaron Cook, Nelson Cruz and Jason Jennings.