President Bush waltzed into the clubhouse Monday morning and asked Cubs manager Dusty Baker the same question fans have been asking each other for the last 98 seasons.
“This is the year, right?” Bush said with the faintest hint of sarcasm.
The president then gripped Baker’s hand as cameras snapped away, instructing the manager to smile.
“I’ll do what I got to do,” Baker replied, flashing a smile.
After the photo op had ended and the president had departed, the Cubs blew a five-run first-inning lead before bouncing back for a 16-7 Opening Day victory over Cincinnati.
So is this really the year?
“We’re really, really in a positive situation where we control our own destiny over the course of the season,” said Will Ohman, who threw only four pitches but earned the win in relief of an erratic Carlos Zambrano.
On a cold and windy day at Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati didn’t just mail it in, the Reds express-mailed it. Left-fielder Adam Dunn was charged with only one error, but he also made two other glaring miscues to let the Cubs blow the door open in a seven-run sixth.
The last time the Reds allowed 16 runs on Opening Day was in 1877, in a 24-6 loss to Louisville. Dunn was not responsible for any of those runs.
Matt Murton’s three-run homer and Todd Walker’s three RBIs paced the Cubs, who survived a game that one Cubs executive described as “excruciating.” It lasted 3 hours 33 minutes and included 10 walks by Cubs pitchers.
A 33-minute first inning was a harbinger of things to come. Pierre started his Cubs career with a triple down the right-field line off Reds pitcher Aaron Harang, putting his subpar spring in the rearview mirror.
“I talked to Lou Brock once, and he said being leadoff [man], you can change the complex of the game right off the bat,” said Pierre, who had three hits and scored three runs. “That’s what I try to do every day, and today I was pretty successful at it.”
The Cubs scored five runs in the first, seven runs in the sixth and four more in the ninth. Even with a seven-run lead, the Cubs could never feel too comfortable. Scott Williamson loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth inning, walking back-to-back hitters, before Scott Eyre got out of the jam with only one run scoring.
CUBS GET PRESIDENTIAL VISIT
The presidential visit to the Cubs’ clubhouse before Monday’s game was a memorable experience for everyone, though for some the memories will be bittersweet.
President Bush greeted every player and tried to personalize every greeting. It didn’t always work, as in the case of Todd Walker.
“I said, ‘Hey, how ya doing, my name’s Todd Walker,’ ” he said. “He said, ‘Hey, Tom, how are ya?’ So I don’t guess I made too good of an impression. But it was a neat thing.”
Bush asked Cubs first-base coach Gary Matthews about his son, Gary Matthews Jr., who plays for the Texas Rangers, which Bush once owned. The president briefly discussed his faith with left-fielder Matt Murton, who also is a born-again Christian.
Murton said the meeting compared favorably to a clubhouse visit from Vince Vaughn, one of his favorite movie stars.
“It was the coolest thing ever,” Murton said. “To get a chance to meet a guy who leads your country.”
The only snafu from the presidential visit occurred beforehand. Manager Dusty Baker and relief pitcher Bob Howry had knives taken from their bags at Great American Ball Park as security tightened for the visit from the president.
Asked why he had a knife with him, Baker replied: “It’s a pocketknife that you use for stuff–cutting apples, doing whatever, tighten a screw or cut some tape off a box, cutting string, anything.”
– – –
NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING OFFENSIVE
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. The Sox Hand spent Sunday night basking in the glory of a World Series, although I still think Japan’s World Baseball Classic title trumps them. No matter.
I will spend it chronicling the first game of what could very well be a Cubs championship season. Stop laughing at me, and start laughing with me.
1st
Juan Pierre leads off the season with a triple, and the Cubs rack up a 5-0 lead with zero outs. Too early to plan a World Series ring ceremony next April? Maybe, maybe not. The first inning feels like it took about an hour.
Score: Cubs lead 5-1
2nd
Just noticed Reds outfielder Adam Dunn went blond this year. That’ll cost 15 to 20 homers at the plate. AND PIERRE FLASHES THE LEATHER! Love the contract year guys, just love them.
Score: Cubs lead 5-1
3rd
Cubs’ bats cooled off, then Dunn saw his bat shatter into the infield on a single. Mark Prior was nowhere to be seen, and I still yelled, “DUCK, MARK! DUCK!” And there’s a Reds’ three-run homer. Super.
Score: Cubs lead, 5-4
4th
Every time I see the Cubs in
Cincy, I think about that time Kyle Farnsworth tackled the charging batter. Ah, Kyle. Wonder how life is for him in the WWE these days.
Score: Cubs lead, 5-4
5th
No sight of any rain delay.
TAKE THAT, WHITE SOX! Really, it’s so sad how pathetic I am, and as I type those words, Dunn homers to tie it. He should’ve been forced to bat with that broken bat.
Score: Tied 5-5
6th
Bases loaded for Cubs, no outs, Angel Pagan steps in, and I start praying to no one god in particular when Pagan bloops one to score a run. The floodgates are open and still no outs! Forget praying–now my fingers are doing the wave.
Score: Cubs lead 12-67th
What’s the proper reaction to Derrek Lee dropping an easy double-play toss at first? In my book, throwing the TV out the window is acceptable as long as you make sure it’s all clear down below.
Score: Cubs lead, 12-7
8th
I speak for all Cubs fans when I say, “We’re only up five runs, so the Cubs could use some insurance here.”
No dice. For my next trick, I’ll hypnotize the Reds batters. You’re getting sleeeeepy and … Zzzzzzzzzz.
Score: Cubs lead, 12-7
9th
A four-run ninth! Now when we plan the Cubs’ World Series parade, let’s take it all the way to the river but stop on the north bank, then turn our backs to the South Side. Don’t think I didn’t notice that last October, Sox parade planners.
Score: Cubs win 16-7
