Road Warriors

Is something that nobody is going to call the 2008 Chicago Cubs. At least not at this point into the season.

After going 8-2 during their last homestand, the Cubs took all that momenteum onto the road and turned in a 2-4 trip, losing 2 of 3 to both the Houston Astros and the Pittsburgh Pirates, a team that the Cubs had been 8-1 against going into the series.

And the beginning of the Pirates series started well, with the Cubs clobbered the Pirates 12-3 during the first game Friday night. But two extra inning losses later, including a miscue in left on Sunday by Alfonso Soriano and a blown save by Kerry Wood on Saturday, have to leave the Cubs coaching staff on what they can do to improve the Cubs fortunes on the road.

Winning at home hasn't been a problem for the Cubs. In fact they have one of the best home records in baseball. But the problem is that if the Cubs have any hopes to win the World Series this year, they have to play better on the road, even against the bad teams. Right now, they are playing below .500 on the road and need to start playing better.

Of course, what happens in the Cubs first game after this road trip at Wrigley Field in Monday? Ryan Dempster pitches a marvelous ballgame, Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez hit homers and Kerry Wood saves a 3-1 win. Something tells me this is going to be a long season.