I am where you should be

The Cubs-Cards rivalry gets taken up another level this afternoon as I make my first appearance at the new Busch Stadium!

WOOT! WOOT!

Seriously, the Cubs better win today, especially after last night's debacle.

What's up with Rich Hill? Why can't he throw strikes any more? Why is he walking everybody? Why did he pick the game against the Cardinals to pitch like crap?

Kinda makes GM Jim Hendry look foolish for treating Hill as "untouchable."

...

Despite that, and his defensive blunder in the 7th inning, it was good to see Alfonso Soriano jack one out of the yard against Jason Isringhausen. I still think he has a 30-homer season in that bat of his, and I think he'll get better defensively as he gets back into the swing of everyday baseball.

He probably should have taken a rehab assignment or two, but according to my sources, he's seen what that has done for Lindsay Lohan and declined it.

And really, Skip Schumaker? I know the old adage is that you don't let their best player beat you, but I disagree.

I would rather lose on an Albert Pujols single than a Skip Schumaker home run.

Here's hoping the Cubs win today and tomorrow. The Cards have no business being in first place and the Cubs should be showing them why.

It's Theodore Roosevelt Lilly versus Kyle Lohse in game two. Here's hoping Mr. Neversmile gets his act together.

A rivalry renewed

Don't believe the hype, the best rivalry in baseball renew acquaitances moments from now.

As explained in today's Sports Banter, I believe the Cubs-Cards series is the best rivalry in baseball.

Why?

Because it doesn't need the media hype Red Sox-Yankees gets from ESPN.

In fact, markets that do not have a direct correlation between Chicago or St. Louis will probably brush it off as a Midwest thing.

But that's the point.

Cubs-Cards divides friends, families and the state of Illinois. Cities like Springfield and Peoria are split 50-50, while college campuses like SIU or the University of Illinois have the same kind of split among the students, faculty and staff.

It's a fan thing, and really that's what matters the most.

The players will come and go. Managers will get hired and fired. But the fans will always be there.

Sure, this edition of the rivalry doesn't have the player rivalry that Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire gave us.

It doesn't have the hate-filled managerial rivalry of LaRussa and Dusty Baker.

It doesn't have Steve Kline's hatred for Mark Prior.

But it does have two teams, battling for their constituents for bragging rights, and that's what a rivalry is all about.

Cubs in 1st. Pujols at 2nd. Who's on third?

Today was a strange day in Midwest baseball.

The Chicago Cubs extended their NL Central Division lead over the St. Louis Cardinals to 1.5 games with the combination of the Cubs' win against the New York Mets and the Cardinals' extra-inning loss against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Cubs have been on a scoring spree lately. The North Siders have scored 41 runs in their last five games, all wins.

Manager Lou Piniella is getting contributions from all 25 guys. Derrek Lee is playing like the MVP candidate he was in 2005. Ronny Cedeno is playing out of his mind, showing flashes of the player that posted a .900 OPS in what would amount to a full season at triple-A.

Carlos Zambrano is pitching much better this April (compared to last year) and the bullpen duo of Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood are looking good out of the pen.

And even though the Cubs apparently missed an opportunity to acquire Mets ace Johan Santana, the Cubs are playing like they are the team to beat in the National League.

More on Johan in tomorrow's blog.

On second thought, I'm not sure why I'm even writing this. They're gonna screw it up in the end. Right, Marty?

As for Cardinals superstar Albert Pujols playing second base, it shows me that Tony LaRussa is dumb! Absolutely dumb!

Pujols has never played a professional game at second base, and even though it didn't cause the Cards the game ... LaRussa f*cking around with new infield combinations is dumb.

The smart move would have been putting Pujols at third base (where he's played before), Troy Glaus at shortstop (where he's played before) and Yadier Molina at first base (where he's played more than Jason LaRue who ended up at first).

Speaking of first baseman, Prince Fielder is totally not living up to his name. His power numbers are down and short-arming the scoop on what would have been a game-ending double play cost Eric Gagne another blown save.

Erin Andrews Watch:

This isn't breaking news, but I am in love with ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews. As for the pseudo breaking news: this will likely be a regular feature.

Today on The Watch, EA gets an opportunity to pen an article in Men's Health magazine about what she wants in a man.

Long story short, she wants me.

End of story.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

A note about your picture of the day:

From the left, it's starting pitcher Ted Lilly, utility man Mark DeRosa and closer
Kerry Wood. Awful Announcing has their create a caption thing and the winners were good, but click the picture to see which captions were good enough to win.