Opening Day 2008

By: Jon Kerr

Is there a better hooky day than a Monday baseball opener? Never before have the Cubs opened at home in March. I was not about to sit this historic day out.

6:15 I rise with this thought dancing in my head- which do I wear to the game…my vintage Moonlight Graham jersey or the Cubbie parka? I have four hours before I make my way to the park, so I let the thought percolate.

6:20 I turn on WGN TV to see what chubby, jolly weather guy Paul Konrad is predicting. It looks like rain, yet fairly mild for a Cubs opener, with a high in the upper 50’s. Definitely Moonlight Graham.

10:15 As I walk to the L stop to catch the red line to Addison, I stroll past my local catholic church. On the marquee, it reads “He is Risen?” The fact it is stated in a question fuels my optimism for this Cubs season. Just who is ‘He’ in the kingdom of Cubdome in 2008? I can’t wait to find out.

11:30 I try to get into Goose Island on Clark, only to be turned away for a private party. I walk into Bar Louie, only to be handed a Jager shot as soon as I put my ID away. I wish I was given this option every Monday.

1:10 We leave to head into the park. We glance at the TV, only to see a tarp filled field behind Cubs broadcasters Len Kaspar and Bob Brenly, realizing a rain delay is inevitable. So, we stroll over to the new Ernie Banks statute in front of the park. It is magnificent. My friend Don, who is old enough to have seen Banks play, points out how the statute is so detailed, you can see Ernie’s fingers hovering over the bat’s grip, just as he used to hold the bat when he played. One of the most beloved sports figures in Chicago history, the landmark is a long time coming. Speaking of landmarks, I am approached by a woman requesting I sign a petition protecting Wrigley Field’s landmark status with the city. I respectfully decline.

1:25 We get to our seats in Aisle 231. As we survey the field for the first time since last October, I few differences stand out. The field is flat. Yes, flat. No more sandlot baseball, my friends. No more complaining about those sightlines, Lou! We also notice our cup holders are painted red, sponsored this year by Bank of America. I think of how I may need to open up a Bank of America money market account to subsidize my adult beverage intake this season. With an introductory rate of 4% and no annual fee, that’s a slam dunk.

2:00 After a 40-minute rain delay, the first pitch is thrown by Carlos Zambrano. I fully admit, Z is my favorite Cub. He drives me crazy, especially in April, but he is such a gamer. No one wants to beat your ass like ‘Los. If I had a team of blackjack players like in the movie ‘21′, Z is the guy I’d have in the last chair, to the right of the dealer. He would know when to hit and when to stay, every time. On this day, he knows how to throw strikes, as he whiffs opening batter Richie Weeks, the first of his 5 strikeouts.

2:33 The Cubs new right fielder, Kosuke Fukudome steps into the batter’s box for the first time. He lines Ben Sheets’ first pitch over centerfielder Chris Gwynn. Standup double. This guy is already an upgrade over Jacque Jones.

2:55 Zambrano strikes out to end the third, which kicks off the second rain delay of the game. I decide to take advantage of the down time and make my way for the Wrigley urinals (you can’t really call them restrooms, can you?) Of course, the 30,000 other men in the park all had the same idea. As I waddle my way to the entrance doors, I look up at the concourse just above and see a Japanese photographer. He’s pointing his lens down at all of us, snapping pictures of the carnage. I turn my head in multiple directions to see if Bill Murray or John Cusak are in line with us (hey, celebrities have to pee too, right?). Otherwise, I’m not sure of the visual appeal. A picture of a rancher herding cattle in Saskatchewan would be easier on the eyes.

3:45 Play resumes. Zambrano has put long sleeves on. I actually remove a layer of clothing as in spite of the rain, it is the warmest opening day I can remember.

4:38 Seventh inning, still scoreless, and Big Z picks Corey Hart off at second. He leaves clutching his forearm. This falls into the ‘drives me crazy’ category regarding Big Z. This is a symptom of dehydration, and Zambrano has left games countless times because of “cramps”. The guy doesn’t like to drink water before or during games. As I see him walk off the field, I am tempted to buy a bottle of Aquafina, run onto the field and force feed it down his throat. But the idea of having to explain this behavior to a judge keeps me in my seat.

5:18 With the game still scoreless, our new closer, Kerry Wood takes the mound. He promptly gives up 3 runs, instigating the rally when he drills Weeks with his first pitch of 2008. This on the heels of Carlos Marmol throwing lights out in the eighth. More fuel for the Wood vs. Marmol in the closer role debate.

5:37 With two men on, Fukudome smashes a Eric Gagne fast ball into the bleachers in right center field, tying the game at 3. The Cubs haven’t had this much excitement over one player on opening day since Tuffy Rhodes hit three homers in 1994. Ironically, Rhodes is still playing in Japan and is the all-time leader for home runs in Japan by foreign-born players. If you believe in karma, this is a text-book example. When he takes the field to start the top of the tenth, you can see Fuk fever in full force. Fans in the right-field bleachers pay homage with multiple signs, spelling out his name in letters. I see a half dozen Japanese headbands being worn throughout the park. One dude looks eerily like Ralph Macchio’s character in the movie “Karate Kid”. If I can track down Mr. Miyagi, maybe he can sneak into the dugout and give Alfonso Soriano a quick pep talk, reminding him that the secret to hitting a baseball lies in the heart and mind, not the hands.

5:50 Derrick Lee flies out to end the game, which the Cubs lose 4-3. The Brewers score two of their runs via small ball - moving runners over, bunting - the little things that make a difference in tight ballgames. With the exception of Fukodome, the Cubs offense is non-existent.

6:55 After a quick post game drink at Sports Corner, I walk to the Addison Red Line station to head home. I remember previous opening days when the Cubs won handily, only to lapse into mediocrity. I fire up my IPod and the first song is Billy Joel’s “Keeping the Faith”.

This year, that won’t be a problem.

  • Subscribe to the CSR RSS feed today. Click here.
  • Subscribe to the SSNN RSS feed today. Click here.
  • Discuss this story here.

    • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Jon Kerr is a freelance writer. A graduate of Michigan State University, he is a former sportscaster at CLTV. He is also a Cubs season ticket holder and lifelong Chicagoan. Jon can be reached at jkerr1970@hotmail.com. He's got a blog, too.

    Share This Article

    No Comments

    No comments yet.

    Comment On This Article