They'll do it every time

This is the third Opening Day game of the last four in which the Cubs scored at least 15 runs - a 15-2 win over the Mets in 2003, a 16-6 win over the Diamondbacks last year, and now a 16-7 win over the Reds. And on the road, no less!

But here's the thing. I hate to be pessimistic about the Cubs, especially this early, but they always seem to have these stretches, usually early in the year, where they pile up a bunch of runs against mediocre opposition, and I get all excited. "Wow, look at this offense!" And then the bats shrivel up and Dustyball rears its ugly, non-base-stealing head.

I'm inclined to look more at the defensive problems - seven runs to the Reds? - than at the offense, which is probably less representative of future results than its counterpart potentially is. Zambrano, right now (and perhaps for the year) the "ace" of the staff, threw 105 pitches in just 4.2 innings, giving up 5 earned runs and tossing as many walks as strikeouts. Good start, Opening Day pitcher!

But a good start for Pierre (three hits, three runs), and for Murton as well (three hits, three RBI, two runs, dinger). At least that's something, but we'll see how well it holds up.