Only 75 days until ...

... Baseball's opening day. I should be thinking about the Bears-Seahawks game Sunday, or even the Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks (I miss you Dustin Byfuglien). But somehow, it all comes back to the Cubs.

Trust me. If the Bears don't win Sunday, I'll be in mourning until pitchers and catchers report in February. But until then I can revel in the trade for Matt Garza and the other offseason moves they made -- signing Carlos Pena and bringing back fan favorites Kerry Wood and Reed Johnson. The Wood signing was especially sweet -- he can still close if Carlos Marmol falters. And Johnson is one of the guttiest players in baseball.

And thank God the Cubs did make some moves. The Brewers got Zack Greinke and they still have Fielder and Braun. The Cardinals still have Pujols. The Reds won the NL Central last season despite Dusty Baker. Notice I didn't mention the Astros or Pirates.

And watch out for the Nationals this year. They probably aren't going to the playoffs, but they are going to have a say in who does. Who woulda thought Jayson Werth would want to play in D.C.? Oh ... forgot about that $126 million check they flashed in front of him.

Oh well. No P90X workout today. I tweaked my right knee and I'm pretty sore from the last couple of days. Week 2 of Round 3 starts tomorrow.

And I might as well go ahead and make a prediction about Sunday's game.

Bears 31, Seahawks 9.

Please.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Josh and I went to Baltimore to celebrate Independence Day (Ed had to work) and had a great time. Josh had never been to Baltimore, a city Ed and considered moving to at one time. But the commute to the D.C. area was just too much so we settled in Lorton.

Anyway, we went up early and walked around the Inner Harbor for a while before settling in at the ESPNZone for a couple of beers. We then headed down toward the ballpark and had a couple of beers outside Pickles Pub. The whole area around Oriole Park is perfect for just meandering and having a good time.

Then it was time to head into the ballpark. We entered through Eutaw Street. The way Eutaw Street -- and the entire park for that matter -- is laid out you don't even have sit in your seat to have a good time. You can walk around and not miss any action.

It was Josh's second visit to a major league ballpark, with Nationals Park his first. One of these days we'll have to get him to Chicago to see THE BEST park in the world, Wrigley Field.

I've been to many ballparks around the majors, but to me, after Wrigley Field, Oriole Park at Camden Yards is the second-best place to watch a game in all of baseball. It had been a couple of years since I had been back. Gonna have to change that -- especially if the Nationals keep playing as badly as they have.

Fickle fans? Nah. The Cubs are still No. 1. But I could be swayed to change my No. 2 ...

The Washington Nationals

Ed and I really aren't very happy with this so-called Major League Baseball team. They just completed a horrible 1-6 homestand and seem to have lost their will. They were swept four games by the San Francisco Giants for gosh sakes.

Friday night, we went to Nationals Park to see what we thought was going to be a major league game against the Giants. It was anything but. The Nats had no spark, no energy, and by the bottom of the third inning the Giants already led 8-0. It was at that point that we started getting a little pissed off.

Manager Manny Acta sent pitcher Tim Redding up to pinch-hit for starting pitcher Jason Bergmann, thereby raising the white flag, and it was only the third inning. They had already conceded the game. We left in the fifth inning, along with about half the stadium. Think of the revenue that was lost, and could be lost if this kind of performance continues.

I wrote an email to the Nationals voicing my displeasure, but I'm sure it will fall on deaf ears. I told them that if this is what we can expect, then maybe we won't be renewing our season ticket package next year. We spend good money to go out and have what we hope will be a good time, despite the $7.50 beer, $8 hamburgers and $6 hot dogs -- and now the $4 per gallon gas to get there. I think we just like the atmosphere.

But I can spend a whole lot less money and enjoy the atmosphere at home if this is what we have to look forward too. It'll be interesting to see if I get a response from the Nationals. I'll post if I do ...

Cubs vs. Nationals

Two teams going in completely opposite directions. My beloved Chicago Cubs come to D.C. this weekend for their only trip to Nationals Park this season, barring a playoff berth for the Nats (stop laughing!).

After a 3-0 start the Nationals are now the worst team in the National League. Pitching was supposed to be suspect, but has actually been pretty good. It's the hitting and defense that have let this team down.

The Cubs, on the other hand, moved into first place in the NL Central yesterday after completing their sweep of the also woeful Pittsburgh Pirates. A 12-6 start was just what the doctor ordered. Pitching and defense have been there all season, and Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Kusoke Fukudome and Mark DeRosa have been blistering the ball.

The Cardinals are not as good as their record and the Brewers are ... well, the Brewers. So a second consecutive playoff berth is definitely possible. I know, the whole 100-year thing. But if there was ever a year the Cubs were going to do it, it would seem to be 2008.

But then I said that in 2003, when with five outs to go Steve Bartman and Moises Alou ... oh God, I don't want to relive that. You live, you learn, you move on.

Anyway, Cheryl and Val are coming from Iowa on Friday morning. We have five tickets to all three games, but there's some softball thrown in there too, so we'll see if we actually go to all three.

Cheryl, Val, Josh (pictured at his first-ever baseball game, at Nats Park) and I are huge Cubs fans. Ed is too, but I think he'd like to see the Nats pull the upset. It'll be the only time all year I cheer against the Nationals. A sweep would be wonderful. There's probably going to be more Cubs fans in Nationals Park than Nats fans. Would love to see 40,000 people break out in Go Cubs Go, Go Cubs Go, Hey Chicago whaddya say! The Cubs are gonna win today!

Nothing like a Cubs victory and an Old Style beer. Saaaaweeet!

Oh, yippee

As if Opening Day of the Washington Nationals new ballpark won't be enough of a zoo comes word that the first pitch will be thrown out by none other than President George W. Bush.

He did the same when baseball return to the District in 2005. Ed and I were at that game too. Luckily we were there a couple of hours early because many people didn't get into the ballpark until the third inning.

So now Ed and Josh and I will have to figure out what time we'll leave for the game that day. Game starts at 8, but the park opens at 3:30 for people to just mill around have a looksy. Hopefully the Navy Yard Metro is done by then too. Trying to get 41,000 people off of South Capitol Street and into the ballpark by first pitch is going to be tough.

And now with "Mr. Mission Accomplished" paying a visit, it's going to be that much tougher.

Thanks W. For nothing.

Little brown bears and gnats

So baseball season is upon us, with Opening Day only a month away.

So far so good in the Cubs camp, though Mark DeRosa's heart procedure -- he had an irregular heartbeat -- does concern me, even though the team says he'll be back on the field next week. Makes me wonder how long GM Jim Hendry will wait before finally pulling the trigger on getting second baseman Brian Roberts from the Orioles. If, of course, owner Peter Angelos signs off on it.

And the Washington Nationals are counting down to the opening of their brand spanking new ballpark. There are still a lot of issues to be resolved -- like traffic, parking and a so far unfinished Navy Yard Metro stop. We have tickets to the exhibition game on March 29 against the Orioles and the opener the following night against the Braves on ESPN.

There could be mayhem.

It's the start of Fantasy season, too. I'm in a league again with my friend K.C. and sister Cheryl. My team name this year is "Got Fuku?" I got the idea from some t-shirts I saw for sale on bleedcubbieblue.com after the Cubs signed Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome.

And if it ever warms up, we might be able to get out on the practice fields for softball.

I guess I need to remember it's still winter.

Opening Day

It's only January, but baseball is already in the air for me, especially with such a disappointing football season now in my rear-view mirror. And the fact it's been 70-75 degrees the past few days in the D.C. area.

According to bleedcubbieblue.com, Opening Day for the Chicago Cubs is a little more than 82 days away; the first spring game is only 50 days away.

And the Washington Nationals are getting ready to move into their new ballpark. An exhibition against the Baltimore Orioles kicks things off on March 29, followed by the nationally televised (ESPN) opener the following night against the hated Atlanta Braves.

I didn't think the new park would be done in time, but by golly it looks like the $611 million was spent wisely and correctly. Check out this cam shot of the new digs. Pretty cool...

End of an era -- sort of

So Ed and I are going to RFK Stadium tonight to see the Washington Nationals face the Philadelphia Phillies in what's supposed to be the next-to-last baseball game ever played at RFK Stadium. They say the new ballpark will open next April, but there's a lot of work yet to be done, so we'll see.

Lots of good times at RFK, even though the teams haven't been very good. The Nats did tease us in 2005 when they actually had a shot at the playoffs in September, but other than that, a lot of losses.

We're going to tailgate one last time -- not many parking spaces at the new ballpark, which is a shame. But it's going to be a nice park. I just hope they keep some of the ambiance of RFK -- like the moving seats along the third base line, Sweet Sixth, the Presidents races.

Can't wait.

The pictures above are an artist's rendering of the new stadium, and a picture of Ed when we were allowed down on the field last season. Click here for a look at the construction of the new park.

The Cubs and Nationals

I'm very conflicted right now. I absolutely adore the Cubs, who once again are on the way to letting me down. But at least they are not going down without a fight -- literally. If they aren't fighting amongst themselves (Carlos Zambrano/Michael Barrett, Barrett/Rich Hill), they are fighting the Braves and Padres, as this picture of Derrek Lee and Chris Young from Saturday shows.

But they are killing me. I was so excited about them this year, especially after they hired Lou Piniella as manager. And they are in the right division, the very weak NL Central. The Brewers (THE FRICKING BREWERS -- are you kidding me?) are leading. So while I haven't given up on them yet, time's a wasting. I still think they can and will make a move. But if they don't soon, I may be cheering for the Nationals when the Cubs visit for four games over the July 4 holiday.

And speaking of the Nats, they are playing some inspired baseball, going 6-3 on a just completed road trip through Minnesota, Baltimore and Toronto. Not bad for a team that was predicted to lose more than 100 games and possibly be the worst in history. Their record is already better than A LOT of teams, including the Orioles, who just fired manager Sam Perlozzo today.

And the Nationals have a new stadium that is scheduled to open next April. Can't wait for that. Ed and I are hoping our seats will be above the Nats bullpen, but we'll be happy wherever our seats are located.

As for the Orioles -- Joe Girardi, if you are the man, you've got your work cut out for you. Good luck working for owner Peter Angelos.

Brawl photo by Nam Y. Huh, Associated Press

Cubs up, Nationals down

Things are looking up for my beloved Chicago Cubs. It's early, but the offense is making a lot of noise and the pitching has been a surprise (until today's outing by Wade Miller).

Cheryl and Val attended yesterday's 6-3 victory at Milwaukee. Carlos Zambrano and Aramis Ramirez were the big guns. Glad those two got to see a well-deserved victory. I was supposed to go, but because I went to the NFC Championship Game in Chicago (well, a bar close to the game), I couldn't go to the Cubs-Brewers game.

Things aren't looking so hot for my second favorite team, the Washington Nationals. Ed and I attended opening day (a loss). After Sunday's 3-1 loss to Arizona -- which completed a four-game sweep for the Diamondbacks -- the Nats are a pitiful 1-6. And if it hadn't been for a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth against the Marlins, they'd be 0-for-the-season.

I just have to keep telling myself that the new ballpark opens next season. But we still have to get through another 154 games. Oh my.

Thank God for the Presidents Races. They are about the only thing to look forward to at RFK this year. Maybe we'll even get to see Teddy Roosevelt win a race (he's 0-for-2 seasons). Or not.

Nationals Presidents Races

Man would that be fun. The Washington Nationals are looking for part-time performers to run in their famous Presidents Races that they do between innings at RFK Stadium. Kind of a takeoff on the Racing Sausages at Miller Park in Milwaukee. If my schedule allowed it, trust me, I'd be there.

But I can say that the Nationals mascot, Screech, is one of the worst in professional sports. When you say Screech, how many people think of Saved by the Bell? Exactly. It's supposed to be a baby Eagle, but it looks like a fat, furry gremlin. Here's a picture of both. You decide.

*Speaking of baseball, and I'm always speaking of baseball, it's 47 days, 17 hours 40 minutes until Opening Day and 15 days, 19 hours, 35 minutes

until the first spring game. Can't wait.

Just Jack

This is Jack Munz with his dad Chris. They live in Maine with mom Julie Munz. Chris is Ed's little brother. I can't wait to finally meet Jack, who I of course consider my nephew.

Jack appears to be a very happy child, though I know he -- and his father -- would look much better in Bears shirts. The Nationals hat Chris is wearing is a good one, though it's sad that the Nats are probably going to have a 100-loss season in 2007.

Pitchers and catchers are only 7-10 days away from reporting. It's 18 days, 21 hours, 10 minutes until the first spring game and 50 days, 19 hours, 16 minutes until Opening Day. This information courtesy www.bleedcubbieblue.com, the best Chicago Cubs blog on the planet.

And check out Chris' blog at www.therecreationist.blogspot.com.