Baseball stuff

First, the good news: the Cubs are only 4 1/2 games out of first place. After just 15 games of the 162 game schedule, they are 6-9. If they keep up this torrid pace, they will finish just 46 games back causing all us true believers to stand proudly and shout, "Wait til next year."

Could this be THE YEAR, though? I mean, after all, doesn't every Cub fan deserve at least one winner in a lifetime? Quick answer: NO. I know a Yankee fan (actually three of them) and he often says, "My God, how long do we have to wait? We haven't won since last year!"

It is written that every team wins a World Series for its fans at least once a century. Cubs last won in 1908 so we've got one coming no later than 2099. Wow! I'm all 'goose-pimply' just thinking about it.

Speaking of baseball as a sport... and I have my doubts... poor Phelps High School. The Wisconsin team lost a semi-close one against Three Lakes a week or so ago. Actually, Phelps came in second so that doesn't sound too bad, does it?

At the end of one, Phelps had no runs, no hits, no errors. Three Lakes had a fairly good first inning.... 22 runs, 23 hits, 21 walks and 11 steals. First inning, I said.

Three Lakes pitcher Ben Wales was 6 for 6 while hitting for the cycle. He drove in 12 runs.  And oh, threw a no hitter.

The game was stopped after three with Three Lakes prevailing 45-0.  That's  too bad, actually. It robbed Phelps of the opportunity to record the greatest come-back in the history of any sport. (Rumor has it, the Cubs had a scout at the game and he signed all of the Phelps players to a major league contract on the spot. "They seem to fit our franchise," he told reporters.)

While I'm obsessing about baseball, did you know that on opening day:

• Babe Ruth pitched a three-hit shutout win for the Boston Red Sox in 1919 over the New York Yankees? Ruth won 24 games that year and lead the league with 35 complete games. And you thought all he did was drink beer, eat hot dogs, womanize, play for the Yankees and hit home runs.

• Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947. He went 0-3 for Brooklyn in his historic debut.

• Ted Williams, probably the best hitter baseball ever saw, hit .449 with 3 homers and 14 runs batted in in his 14 openers. The 'Splendid Splinter," as he was then known, is now, sadly, the "headless wonder."

• Bob Feller, Cleveland's ace, pitched the only opening day no-hitter, beating the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park, 1-0 in 1940 .

• Ernie Banks, the Cubs great shortstop,  said, "Let's play two today, every day.

I only relive my love for the game when I see Field of Dreams. That could change, however, if ever...
what's the expression... if ever pigs fly.