100 years in the waiting

Woe are the Cubs, 100 hundred years since the last World Series victory. Woe is Wrigley Field, the venerable baseball field has never seen a World Series victory. Woe are Cubs fans, they have had so many close calls that have ended in heart ache and a bitter winter.

Well, so far in 2008 the Cubs are the best team in baseball. The Cubs have been amazing at Wrigley Field, threatening to break the record for home wins in a season, and, well, just like everybody else on the road. They have the biggest positive difference in runs scored and runs allowed.

The statistics reflect the dominance too. Chicago ranks near the top of MLB in almost every important offensive and pitching category. Alfonso Soriano and Derrek Lee highlight a very balanced lineup. Nobody’s numbers are MVP worthy, but several are All Star worthy.

Carlos Zambrano has continued his role as ace of the pitching staff superbly and Ryan Dempster has re-emerged a starting pitcher after years being relegated to the bullpen. Not that there is anything wrong with the bullpen, especially the Cubs’. Kerry Wood came out of the three man closer-by-committee to take the lead in saves and comfort fans in bleacher seats at Wrigley at the end of games.

It is still very early, the MLB All Star game is still about a month away and the Cardinals are quietly putting together a fine season in the shadow of Chicago, but the Cubs fans are already starting to inquire about World Series tickets.

Chicago is pretty blessed this season actually. After the Bears crumbled and the Bulls demise, the Chicago MLB baseball teams may be the only hope for salvation for locals. The Cubs and the White Sox will vie for bragging rights in interleague play this season and over the course of the summer as both teams are great positions to make it to the World Series.

MLB may not be thrilled by an all Chicago World Series, everyone outside of New York immediately forgot about the post season in 2000 when the Yankees and the Mets played each other, and an all Chicago series threatens the same effect.