NL Central

The Cubs are a team that is currently strapped for cash as far as their payroll is concerned, but with the contracts of Kosuke Fukudome, Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Pena, Carlos Silva, and John Grabow all coming off the books at the end of the season, they could be in line to make a splash this off season.

Another option could be dealing for one of a handful of top players that will be hitting free agency this season, in order to get a jump on re-signing them to a long term deal, and to contend this year.

The Pirates will be making their 2011 PNC Park debut today at 1:30 pm against the Colorado Rockies.

This is arguably the first opener that has had a buzz since the stadium opened in 2001. The Pirates are bringing a 4-2 record home to Pittsburgh.

This team is still a work in progress.

The baseball season isn't even a week old yet. They have only played six games out of 162. The weather in Pittsburgh hasn't even broke 60 degrees yet. We know that.

Just when it seemed like all was well on the north side of Chicago, down go Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner.

Wells has a strained right forearm, which he felt Tuesday, the day after his start; Cashner has a mild strain in the back of his right rotator cuff.

Both pitchers had MRIs that revealed no structural damage in their arms.

While this is good news, they will both likely miss two weeks of action.

Continuing my springtime tradition, I will give my thoughts on the upcoming season for the Cincinnati Reds. Again, like last year, I am a little late getting started. The Reds have jumped out to a 4-0 start as I write this.

The Cubs pulled off two miraculous comebacks in the first two games against the Diamondbacks.

That wasn't the case in Wednesday's matchup.

As amazing as the comebacks for the Cubbies were, they were still fighting from behind.

In all three games of this series, and pretty much this season so far, the Cubs dug themselves a hole that they then had to climb out of. It skewers the comebacks and creates an illusion.

Many people are hating against the Chicago Cubs. Only three analysts out of 40 picked the Cubs to win the central division. Only three! 

The Cubs get no love.

Yes, I understand they are a pretty good bet to lose. I understand they have gone over 100 years without a MLB Championship. That doesn't mean they aren't talented. 

The Cubs deserve more love. 

Starting Pitching

Don't deny it, the Cubs can pitch. Pitching has never been their fault. 

The city of St. Louis is in shambles.

The St. Louis Blues are wrapping up a blunder of a season, the Rams were 60 minutes away from a Wild Card berth but couldn’t seem to top a backup quarterback at best, and general manager John Mozeliak and the rest of the Cardinals front office accomplished virtually nothing during the offseason when dealing with the best player Major League Baseball has seen in decades…maybe ever.

Following a horrendous spring training in which Jamie Garcia gave up 37 hits and 15 earned runs in his final 17 innings, many questioned whether or not Garcia would be able to build on top of his impressive rookie campaign, where he accumulated 14 wins.  

Last season, the Cubs struggled all year in one-run ball games.

Today, the Cubs' fortune seemed to be on their side as they sneaked past the Arizona Diamondbacks, 6-5.

Tyler Colvin's two-run home run and three RBI helped the Cubs get their third win on the season.

The Cubs struck first in the second inning when Darwin Barney scored on a Miguel Montero throwing error and Starlin Castro followed with an RBI double to score Koyie Hill.

What's up with the Cubs?

They're actually on a hot streak and they now are in a position to realistically sweep the Diamondbacks at Wrigley.

Again, it looked as though the Cubbies were going to fumble the game away late, they were able to contain themselves and bag their second straight win.