Not So-Sorry Soriano

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Alfonso Soriano is the third Cub in the last 41 years to hit 11 or more home runs in the team's first 28 games.

Mr. April

Gordon Wittenmyer, in Monday's Chicago Sun-Times, pointed out that Cubs right fielder Kosuke Fukudome hit .383 (23-for-60) and is a .345 (101-for-293) hitter in his four seasons with the Cubs. But entering Monday's game, Fukudome was hitting just .244 (275-for-1,129) after April.

Life on Top

According to the preseason prognosticators, one of the Cubs' glaring weaknesses was supposed to be the leadoff spot.

Taking Off the Cubbie Blue-Colored Glasses

I understand that it's too little, too late, but the recent Cubs surge has been a pleasant change of pace from the constant drumbeat of losing that we Cubs fans have been subjected to for most of the season. But I admit that I may have gotten carried away during a recent post when I wrote that Alfonso Soriano could bounce back and produce a 30-homer, 100-RBI season next year.

Joel Reese, editor-in-chief of the Cubs Fan Report (one of my favorite Cubs Web sites other than my own), wacked the Cubbie blue-colored glasses right off my face.

Colvin Has Shot at Cubs Rookie Home Run Mark

He may not be the best rookie on his team, but Tyler Colvin has a great shot at breaking Billy Williams' 49-year-old Cubs rookie home run record. If Colvin avoids injury, plays regularly, and continues to hit home runs at his current frequency, the mark will belong to him.

Castro A Hit, But Defense Needs Work

Starlin Castro, whose eighth inning RBI double snapped a scoreless tie in the Cubs' 4-0 victory at Washington on Wednesday, is now hitting .315 and is five plate appearances shy of qualifying for the National League batting championship.

Every Day's an Adventure with Marmol

In his most recent "Stat of the Week," John Dewan of Bill James Online (subscription required) decided to find out if he could statistically predict whether the "good" or "bad" version of Carlos Marmol had shown up after the Cubs closer had thrown 10 pitches.

Thumbing My Nose At Sabermetrics

I'm sure Tony La Russa had has reasons for deciding to bat his pitcher eighth back in 2007, but I was suspicious of his motives.

Midseason Awards

As a kid, whenever I had a bad day, my father would remind me that "the sun will come up tomorrow."

Hitless Wonders

The Tampa Bay Rays on Friday became the first team since the 1965 Cubs to get no-hit twice in the same season with one of the no-nos being a perfect game.