Miracle Teams to make it to the Big Game Part 4

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MLB Playoff Power Rankings

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Make your World Series Prediction

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With the teams almost set, who do you want to see in the World Series?

NFL POINDEXTER: TEARS FOR FEARS NFL players get depressed too? Happens all the time

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Vince Young speaking to a team therapist? Big, strong, virile NFL players on anti-depressants? Tears? It doesn't surprise me. At different points in my career, my former teammates exhibited joy, anger, pain, depression—the accoutrement of real life. But I never expected these things, all these human things, would ever be openly discussed as unusual. The talk around Young's issues brought me back to Terry Bradshaw, crying … Crying! … on the air. It was September of '99, and Fox was showing a Bradshaw interview with Brett Favre. The Green Bay QB admitted to drinking too much and partying too much throughout his career. His told how his wife had given him an ultimatum and how he was overcome by the reality of his situation. After the piece aired, and all the Fox guys gave him props for his work, Bradshaw thanked the Favre family for their honesty. Then, to the shock of everyone on the set, he put his head down and wept. A few years after his on-set breakdown, I spoke to Bradshaw. He had just been diagnosed with clinical depression. He told me about the grief he received from crying that day. "Man, people gave me so much crap," he said. "'How could you do that?' I knew what it was like to lose my family. But people don't want to see that side of you." Paul Brown, the founder of pro football, had pondered the use of a mental health professional. So had longtime Chicago Cubs owner, William Wrigley. And that was back in 1929. In 1984, a psychologist named Robert Troutwine took things a little further when it cames to sports and mental health. After building a business that helped companies assess potential employees, Troutwine approached the Kansas City Chiefs with an idea for how he could give them insight into their prospective draft picks. "I knew there was a way to assess college players," says Troutwine. Chiefs coach John Mackovic bit on the idea. But Mackovic's interest, and the organization's interest wasn't so much emotional support, as it was the promise of clairvoyance. "I asked them what they were looking for," says Troutwine. "They wanted to know if I could tell what a player might do in the middle of the night. I told them there was no way to assess that. No test is that specific." Troutwine essentially started what is now called, in vague terms, "player development." Since the early 90's, the NFL Players Assistance program has made counseling available to each player. Each team has three vetted therapists available for support. To get the players comfortable with the idea of therapy, the first four sessions are free. If a guy is married then the first eight sessions are free. "Its high time teams started doing this," Troutwine says. But he thinks the program should go further. He says different people with different issues require different treatment. "There should be a network of people to provide support. You might have a player dealing with relationship issues, in which case you bring in someone who specializes in relationships—like a marriage counselor. Or you might have someone who deals with on field issues." Jeffrey Wildfogel deals specifically with on-field issues. He's what you call a sports psychologist. For the last 30 years, he's specialized in performance-based treatment. He agrees that different mental health folks have different skills. And as such, should not try to solve every problem. "Things get interconnected," says Wildfogel. "Someone will ask me to help him with his marital problems. Well, I don't have experience with that. If it's affecting his performance on the field, then I can help him." While Wildfogel accepted the fact that the playing field was too sacred a place to store negative energy, his patient couldn't accept the reality of his struggle. After one session, he told Wildfogel, "I should be able to do this by myself. If anyone ever finds out I'm working with you, I'll come back here and kill you." Wildfogel says dealing with athletes isn't much different from dealing with non-athletes—for the most part. "People don't like to deal with problems. This might be true of athletes more than non-athletes. How much I'm not sure." But he says that when he works with someone, he never uses the word "problem." He keeps it positive. Wildfogel recalls treating a player for the Oakland Raiders. The guy had some emotional issues that weren't related to football, but they would come out during the game. Wildfogel gave the player a visualization exercise. He told the player to imagine burying his negative thoughts into the field. But the player balked at the idea. "I can't do that," said the player. "The football field is holy ground." While Wildfogel accepted the fact that the playing field was too sacred a place to store negative energy, his patient couldn't accept the reality of his struggle. After one session, he told Wildfogel, "I should be able to do this by myself. If anyone ever finds

MLB power rankings By Aram Tolegian

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1 Cubs 85-50 1 1/13 The good: Aramis Ramirez has been relatively quiet this season, but perhaps his two-homer performance on Saturday means a stretch-run breakout is looming. The bad: Derrek Lee left Saturday's game with back spasms. The good: Aramis Ramirez has been relatively quiet this season, but perhaps his two-homer performance on Saturday means a stretch-run breakout is looming. The bad: Derrek Lee left Saturday's game with back spasms. Lee, like Ramirez, has been good, but not great this year. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy | Schedule 2 Rays 81-51 1 1/24 The good: The Rays have counted on Rocco Baldelli throughout the years only to get burned. But now with Carl Crawford gone and Evan Longoria hurting, Baldelli is actually coming through. The good: The Rays have counted on Rocco Baldelli throughout the years only to get burned. But now with Carl Crawford gone and Evan Longoria hurting, Baldelli is actually coming through. The bad: This should've been an easy upcoming week for the Rays, but the way the Jays are playing, there may not be a more feared team in the East. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy | Schedule 3 Angels 81-52 2 1/12 The good: We're not even to September and K-Rod has 50 saves. Let that be a sign the Halos will be just fine during close games in the postseason. The bad: The Angels rank in the league's bottom half in home runs, but that may not be an accurate indicator of the team's current capability since Mark Teixeira wasn't in the OC while the statistical damage was done. The good: We're not even to September and K-Rod has 50 saves. Let that be a sign the Halos will be just fine during close games in the postseason. The bad: The Angels rank in the league's bottom half in home runs, but that may not be an accurate indicator of the team's current capability since Mark Teixeira wasn't in the OC while the statistical damage was done. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy | Schedule 4 Twins 75-59 - 4/26 The good: We said last week that the Twins' performance vs. the Yanks was a stamp of quality. So what does their showing against the Angels mean? ChiSox beware. The bad: The Twins rank in the league's bottom 10 in home runs. The good: We said last week that the Twins' performance vs. the Yanks was a stamp of quality. So what does their showing against the Angels mean? ChiSox beware. The bad: The Twins rank in the league's bottom 10 in home runs. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy | Schedule 5 Brewers 77-56 - 5/23 The good: Despite a terrible first two months, J.J. Hardy has 20 homers and continues to thrive in the No. 2 hole. Chalk that up to Ned Yost making the switch. The bad: Ryan Braun's lower back issues don't appear to be going away. The good: Despite a terrible first two months, J.J. Hardy has 20 homers and continues to thrive in the No. 2 hole. Chalk that up to Ned Yost making the switch. The bad: Ryan Braun's lower back issues don't appear to be going away. That's an ominous sign for the stretch run and beyond. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy | Schedule 6 Red Sox 77-56 - 1/8 The good: Paul Byrd got his first Boston win last week. Byrd's arrival looks even better now that Josh Beckett is hurting/tingling. The bad: The Red Sox seem to lose their aura of invincibility a little more with each passing week. The good: Paul Byrd got his first Boston win last week. Byrd's arrival looks even better now that Josh Beckett is hurting/tingling. The bad: The Red Sox seem to lose their aura of invincibility a little more with each passing week. It's hard for us to believe this team is better than it was two months ago. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy | Schedule 7 White Sox 76-57 2 5/19 The good: The ChiSox lead the majors in homers and are in the top five in runs scored. The bad: The Twins are peaking at the right time and who knows just how long they can keep this going. The good: The ChiSox lead the majors in homers and are in the top five in runs scored. The bad: The Twins are peaking at the right time and who knows just how long they can keep this going. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy | Schedule 8 Mets 74-60 1 3/20 The good: Ryan Church is back after missing a significant chunk of time due to complications from multiple concussions. The bad: With Church's return, Fernando Tatis has been bumped back into a reserve role. The good: Ryan Church is back after missing a significant chunk of time due to complications from multiple concussions. The bad: With Church's return, Fernando Tatis has been bumped back into a reserve role. We're not sure Tatis isn't the better player. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy | Schedule 9 Cardinals 74-60 1 4/20 The good: Albert Pujols is giving every indication he'll finish the season with a rush. That's good news because there's no way Ryan Ludwick can be counted on to stay at this pace. The bad: If you're a believer that power pitching is what wins in the postseason, the Cards, who rank near the bottom of the league in Ks,

Dodgers trade 2 minor leaguers and/or cash.

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LOS ANGELES -- Greg Maddux is back in Los Angeles for another stretch drive. The Dodgers announced Tuesday that they have reacquired Maddux and received cash from San Diego. The Padres will get two minor league players to be named or cash. Greg Maddux Maddux The 42-year-old first came to the Dodgers late in the 2006 season, when he went 6-3 with a 3.30 ERA in 12 starts to help them win a wild-card berth. This time, Los Angeles is dueling Arizona for the NL West lead. Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, who put together the trade that sent Cesar Izturis to the Chicago Cubs and brought Maddux to Los Angeles on July 31, 2006, obviously was pleased to have the right-hander back. "It's very rare that you get the opportunity to add a pitcher like Greg even one time, let alone twice," Colletti said in a statement. "He's one of the greatest pitchers of all time and we've already seen what he can add to a team both on the field and in the clubhouse." Maddux is 6-9 with a 3.99 ERA this season, and has 353 career wins. His record with last-place San Diego this season includes 11 no-decisions. He had indicated to the Padres before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline that he wanted to rejoin the Dodgers, but Los Angeles was unable to reach a deal then. Maddux, who has a home south of Los Angeles in Orange County, had to waive the no-trade clause in his contract for the new deal to go through. His salary with San Diego this year was $10 million. He will replace Brad Penny, who went on the disabled list with a shoulder injury last Thursday, in the Dodgers' rotation. Maddux will probably make seven or eight starts. He becomes the latest addition to the much-improved Dodgers, bolstered by the acquisition of Manny Ramirez and Casey Blake over the past month. Los Angeles has been below .500 much of the season, but remained in contention in baseball's weakest division. Winners of six of their last seven as they headed into Tuesday night's game against Rockies, the Dodgers have improved to 64-60 and were tied with the Diamondbacks atop the West.

Schedule highlights: Season opens with champs versus King James

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The NBA's 2008-09 schedule is out ... and you know what that means. An equally anticipated document has to go with it: ESPN.com's first rundown of must-see games for the coming season to immediately input into your electronic calendar of choice. Oct. 28: Opening Night An earlier-than-usual launch to the season starts with a tasty TNT doubleheader, leading off with the new champs from Boston hosting LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers on ring night and capped by Greg Oden's long-awaited NBA debut in Blazers at Lakers. Oct. 29: Opening Night (continued) Elton Brand makes his 76ers debut in the same game that Jermaine O'Neal makes his official Raptors debut: Toronto at Philadelphia. Furtherm ore:Michael Beasley makes his pro debut at Madison Square Garden (along with Dwyane Wade's official return from injury) in Heat at Knicks, Ron Artest makes his Rockets debut in Memphis at Houston, and Oklahoma City makes its debut as a full-time NBA city with a visit from the Milwaukee Bucks. And ... ESPN dishes its own doubleheader doozy: Phoenix at San Antonio to renew year after year of recent playoff pleasantries, followed by Lakers at Clippers in a fitting bow for the Clips' new Angeleno point guard: Baron Davis. Oct. 30: Houston at Dallas (TNT) The Mavericks are one of two teams (along with Charlotte) that must wait until Thursday for their opening game, giving Mavs fans more time to fret that the Rockets' acquisition of Ron Artest reduces Dallas to the third-best team in Texas. Oct. 31: San Antonio at Portland (ESPN) The best of the Halloween fare, at least in NBA terms, is unquestionably Oden matching up with Tim Duncan. Nov. 1: Washington at Detroit (NBA TV) The league is still sorting out its full 96-game NBA TV schedule, but Wizards-Pistons has been confirmed as the opener of NBA TV's maiden doubleheader, which concludes with a Portland-at-Phoenix nightcap. [+] EnlargeJesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images If Yao can stay healthy, this could be a preview of the 2009 Finals. Nov. 4: Boston at Houston You don't have to wait long for a look at the NBA's reigning threesome of doom (Garnett, Pierce and Allen) throwing down against the new trio on the block (McGrady, Yao and Artest). P.S. How much playing time will the twins get in Phoenix at New Jersey ... also known as Robin Lopez at Brook Lopez? Nov. 5: Charlotte at New York Larry Brown returns to Madison Square Garden with his (latest) new team. We'll spare you the dates on Larry's returns to Denver, New Jersey, San Antonio, Los Angeles, Indiana, Philly and Detroit. Nov. 6: Houston at Portland (TNT) Yao Ming and Oden go toe-to-toe for the first time. Health permitting, of course. Nov. 9: Houston at L.A. Lakers The denizens of Lakerland who so badly wanted to see Artest in purple and gold will get their first dose of torture early. In L.A.'s first Sunday home game of the season, actually. Nov. 10: Portland at Orlando Oden will have lined up against Shaquille O'Neal (Nov. 1), Yao and Dwight Howard in a span of 10 days by the time he gets through this one. Health permitting, of course. Nov. 12: Atlanta at Boston Are the Hawks and Celtics rivals now because of what happened in the first round of the playoffs? Better question: Shouldn't Olympiacos be required to swing through Atlanta as part of the usual October spree of exhibition games against top European clubs? Nov. 13: Dallas at Chicago (TNT) Mavs owner Mark Cuban could know by this point whether he has won the race to buy the Cubs, which would make this somewhat of a home game for him and certainly spice up his relationship with Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, since Reinsdorf owns the White Sox. Nov. 14: Detroit at L.A. Lakers (ESPN) What sort of reception awaits Kwame Brown at Staples Center? Just a hunch: If history is any guide, Kwame needn't expect (or want) any mention of a cake. On the undercard: Kareem Rush's Philadelphia 76ers visit brother Brandon Rush's Indiana Pacers. Nov. 18: Cleveland at New Jersey LeBron and Jay-Z! In the same building! Exactly one week before LeBron goes to MSG to hang with Spike Lee and the Knicks! Cavs fans will want to avoid online consumption of the New York tabloids for a good few days before Thanksgiving. Nov. 20: L.A. Lakers at Phoenix (TNT) Kobe, tell me how many times do you think you and Shaq will be asked about recent rapping exploits? Detroit at Boston, incidentally, isn't exactly a bland appetizer for TNT. Nov. 21: Boston at Minnesota A hamstring strain prevented KG from playing in his first visit to 'Sota as an ex-Wolf last February. Hard to see him missing two in row, though. In Philadelphia, meanwhile, Baron and Elton will be in the same building for the first time since they did not end up on the same team as so many of us expected. And over in Oklahoma City, New Orleans is in town to play the OKC TBAs for the first time, which makes

which division in the mlb is the strongest

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FTF: MLB Power Rankings

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Zambrano (shoulder) says he's ready to return to Cubs' rotation

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Pairs who've really shone

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It's late June in a presidential election year, and you know what that means: lots of campaign fundraising trips, sniping via surrogates and wall-to-wall vice-presidential speculation. Will Barack Obama and John McCain opt for geographical balance, ideological compatibility or electoral math in choosing their running mates? Only time and the vetting process will tell. At the risk of torturing an analogy until it screams, synergy is an equally valuable commodity in the baseball world, where double plays, doubleheaders and ground-rule doubles are part of the lexicon. The biggest difference is that baseball puts an end to the suspense in October rather than November. In this week's installment of Starting 9, we pay tribute to the game's best dynamic duos of 2008 -- guys who feed off each other and make each other better. The individuals mentioned below are all very good in their own right. But like a ballpark hot dog and a frosty cold beer, they're more effective in tandem. Maddon Friedman Best performance by a general manager and manager: Andrew Friedman and Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay We really wanted to cite Baltimore's tandem of GM Andy MacPhail and manager Dave Trembley for their fine work. Trembley has injected the Orioles' clubhouse with a sense of energy and purpose, and MacPhail's fleecing of Seattle in the Erik Bedard deal looks better every day. But when it's late June and the Rays are 45-31 with baseball's second-lowest payroll, how can you ignore Tampa Bay? Maddon creates a productive environment for young players by giving them the freedom to fail, provided their mistakes are aggressive. He's shown he won't back down from the Yankees or the Red Sox, no matter how daunting their mystique, and lately it seems he's had a knack for pushing the right buttons. In a 4-3 victory over Houston last week, Maddon used three straight pinch-hitters in the ninth inning, and Eric Hinske and Dioner Navarro both reached base before Gabe Gross produced the game-winning double. You also have to love a guy who refers to an umpire's strike zone as "slightly amorphous" and to hyperintense pitcher Matt Garza as a "recovering emotionalist." Friedman is building an impressive body of work with assistance from consigliere Gerry Hunsicker. With the exception of Josh Hamilton's departure through the Rule 5 draft, it's hard to find a blemish on his résumé. In the past year alone, Friedman has made moves to fortify the Tampa bullpen (Troy Percival), defense (shortstop Jason Bartlett), starting rotation (Garza) and bench (Gross and Willy Aybar). In Tampa these days, nobody is lamenting the departures of Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes. Friedman acquired Dan Wheeler for Ty Wigginton, Navarro in a deal for Mark Hendrickson and Toby Hall, Edwin Jackson for Danys Baez, and workhorse middle man J.P. Howell for Joey Gathright. Carlos Pena, who hit 46 homers last year, was a non-roster invitee. Hinske, the team leader in homers and RBIs, signed for $800,000 in early February. Three years into his tenure with Tampa Bay, Friedman's résumé is starting to look like one giant heist fest. Honorable mention: MacPhail and Trembley, Baltimore. Santana Saunders Best starting pitching duo: Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana, Angels There was a reason Seattle emerged as a fashionable AL West pick late in spring training. With John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar out for an extended period with injuries, the Angels' big advantage -- depth in the rotation -- was all but nullified. Then Saunders and Santana stepped in and put an end to that nonsense. With the help of pitching coach Mike Butcher, they've tightened their mechanics and posted a combined 20-6 record with 21 quality starts. Most impressive, in a brutal year for road teams, they're 11-2 with a combined 2.57 ERA away from Anaheim. Saunders throws a fastball in the low 90s, makes deft use of his changeup and breaking ball and rarely throws anything down the middle. Santana routinely hits 96-97 mph on the gun and complements his fastball with a terrific slider. His stuff is so overpowering, you wonder how he went 7-14 last year. "A lot of teams are kicking themselves for not ponying up for Santana," said an American League executive. "I think if you were willing to trade value for value, you could have gotten him, but a lot of teams tried to pay 75 cents on the dollar. Who'd have guessed if you had stepped up on Cliff Lee and Ervin Santana this offseason, you'd have two All-Stars?" The best news of all for the Angels: Lackey has been superb since his return from a triceps strain, and Escobar is about to head out on a rehab assignment in his comeback from a torn labrum. Honorable mention: Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster, Cubs; Brandon Webb and Dan Haren, Diamondbacks; Roy Halladay and Shaun Marcum, Blue Jays. And feel free to raise your hand if you predicted that Kyle Lohse and T

June 25th MLB Rankings

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1 Cubs 1 - 1/13 The Cubs bounced back from being swept in Tampa to take their weekend series against the South Siders. There was talk last week of Alfonso Soriano returning earlier than expected from his broken hand. The Cubs have to hope Soriano isn't rushing back just to be a part of the All-Star festivities in New York. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 2 Angels 3 (+1) 2/12 If Ervin Santana keeps this up, he'll pitch his way into the AL Cy Young argument. Santana completely baffled the Phillies last Friday in a park where not many visiting pitchers can say that. The Halos' schedule lightens up a bit this week with sets against two sub-.500 clubs in the Nats and Dodgers. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 3 Red Sox 2 (-1) 1/3 Anything Curt Schilling gave the Sox this season would've just been gravy. So officially losing him for the season doesn't really change things. Taking a series in Philly without a healthy lineup was pretty impressive, but it didn't carry over into the weekend against the Cardinals. Dice-K's back, but he'd better improve off of Saturday's showing. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 4 Rays 4 - 2/24 The Rays are getting downright scary at home. Only Boston and the Cubs have a better home winning percentage. You can bet the Marlins will be looking for a little revenge this week after the Rays swept them at the Trop last weekend. Who knew a Marlins-Rays series could be so interesting? Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 5 Cardinals 5 - 4/20 What a fickle game baseball is. The Cards took their weekend series against the Red Sox, looking very much like a playoff-caliber in the process. But they spent the early part of the week being swept by Kansas City. Albert Pujols is scheduled to return this week in time for a revenge set against the Royals. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 6 Phillies 6 - 5/16 The Phils haven't won a series since taking a set against the Braves in early June. Granted, the competition has been stiff as the Phils have played arguably the toughest June schedule of anybody in the league. It only gets tougher this week with road tests at Oakland and Texas. With no clear No. 2 starter, it's obvious what the Phils need to do at the trade deadline. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 7 Brewers 11 (+4) 6/23 Ryan Braun has driven in a run in all but six games this month. But he hasn't been the catalyst to the Brewers getting over .500. That's been Russell Branyan, who has 10 homers this season. Starting Branyan over Bill Hall may have saved Ned Yost's job. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 8 White Sox 7 (-1) 7/19 The weekend set at Wrigley didn't go according to plan, but it's no fault of Jermaine Dye, who hit five homers last week. Pitching would be a better place to put the blame. Jose Contreras is giving every indication his hot start was an aberration. Perhaps the ChiSox will fare better at home this weekend vs. the Cubs. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 9 Athletics 8 (-1) 7/25 Friday's win over the Marlins was a perfect microcosm of the A's season. Just when you think they're done, they come back ... and it's usually from an unexpected source. It gets tougher this week with the Phillies hitting town before another weekend set against their Bay Area rivals. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 10 Marlins 9 (-1) 6/29 Dan Uggla is getting ridiculous. Raise your hand if you thought he'd cool off three weeks ago? Well, he hasn't. Uggla has quite honestly played his way past Chase Utley, but that doesn't mean he'll start ahead of him at the All-Star game. The Marlins get their chance at revenge this week when the Rays come to Dolphin Stadium. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 11 Yankees 12 (+1) 3/23 Nobody thought the Yanks' winning streak would last forever, but dropping a series at home to the Reds? The Yanks are still within striking distance in the East and the hitting is good enough to make it an interesting summer in the Bronx . But unlike the Red Sox, who seem to just absorb injuries and move on, we don't see the Yanks simply overcoming the loss of Chien-Ming Wang. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 12 Twins 16 (+4) 12/26 The Twins caught the Nats on a rare winning streak and quickly put that fire out with a sweep. They then took a series against Arizona, which isn't hard to do these days. This interleague stuff has worked out pretty well thus far and a set at punchless San Diego this week should continue the trend. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 13 Diamondbacks 10 (-3) 2/13 Eric Byrnes is nearing a return and that has some people grumbling that Justin Upton may be sent down when it happens. Upton's struggles over the last two months have hurt the D-backs. He was hitting .327 entering May and is now in the mid-.240s. But the D-backs have to take the good with the bad while starting such a young roster. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy 14 Orioles 13 (-1) 12/30 The O's swept the Astros with two one-run wins and a two-run win. Closer George Sherrill, who has bee

MLB power rankings as of June 22nd 2008

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Do you agree?

Wait till this year: 10 reasons Cubs could go all the way

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Chicago Cubs reliever Carlos Marmol plopped down on the billowy leather recliner in the visitors' clubhouse, leaned back in one of those "ahhhhh" moments … and then fell head over heels backward. Reliever Scott Eyre, talking on his cell, let Marmol struggle for a few seconds, leaned the phone to the side and said, "Hold on a second. Marmol just fell over." And then he helped drag Marmol from the recliner. On the opposite side of the clubhouse a handful of Cubs, as well as general manager Jim Hendry and team chairman Crane Kenney, watched as LSU mounted a ninth-inning rally against Rice in the College World Series. Hendry is a close friend of LSU coach Paul Mainieri. [+] EnlargeAP Photo/Nam Y. Huh Kerry Wood's career looked close to the end, but now he's closing out Cubs victories. Just before the game-winning, bases-clearing double that won the game for LSU, closer Kerry Wood sprinted back toward the players lounge. That's where shortstop Ryan Theriot, an LSU alum, was watching -- and dying -- with every pitch. After the LSU rally, Wood walked back into the clubhouse with a smile as wide as the on-deck circle. "When the guy hit the ball, I turned the TV off," he said, laughing. Kids. This is what happens when you have the best record in baseball. Or maybe this is part of the reason why the Cubs have the best record in baseball. Anyway, if you're worried about the Cubs' doing an '07 New York Mets this season, don't. I know: Carlos Zambrano and his right shoulder have a Friday appointment with an MRI machine. And Alfonso Soriano is already on the DL. And Reed Johnson's back is barking. And Jim Edmonds left Wednesday night's game with a sore foot. And the Cubs were just swept out of Florida by the Rays. But it's time for Cubs followers to take deep, calming breaths. It's going to be OK. Probably. I'm not saying team officials are already preparing the parade route through The Loop, but there are reasons -- 10 of them, to be exact -- to think the Cubs can still keep holding hands with their favorite letter: W. 1. The NL Central Pittsburgh, Houston and Cincinnati already trail the Cubs by double digits. Milwaukee can hit, but do you trust the Brewers' pitching staff and defense? I don't. St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan is a genius, but unless he can heal Albert Pujols' injured left calf, the Cardinals eventually will be wheat toast. 2. Circle of Friendship Yeah, they're 18 games over .500, which helps, but the Cubs sure act as if they like each other. "The mark of a good team is when something goes wrong, someone else is there to pick you up," Theriot said. This applies to everyone but Marmol. They just let Marmol lie there. But you get Theriot's point. The Cubs' clubhouse hasn't always been the happiest place on earth. "I think we all are genuinely pulling for each other and care for each other," Theriot said. 3. The Great Switch Kerry Wood went from starter (when he could actually lift his right arm) to closer. Ryan Dempster went from closer to starter. No offseason move has had more of an impact on the Cubs' success. Dempster is 8-2 with a 2.76 ERA. Wood has 18 saves. "We felt [Wood] was made for this job," said Hendry, who compared him to a Goose Gossage-type of closer. "Putting Demp in the rotation and putting Woody at the back end kind of made everything flow a little easier," first baseman Derrek Lee said. "Now you can go to [Bob] Howry in the seventh, Marmol in the eighth and Woody in the ninth. That's like lights out. So you're making the game like a six-inning game now. It's been kind of fun to watch. We get a lead going into those innings and we feel like we're going to win it." 4. The Fukudome Effect You can make the argument that right fielder Kosuke Fukudome is the best free-agent signing by the Cubs in a long time -- at least, during Hendry's nearly seven-year tenure. Fukudome is like your first beer; he's an acquired taste. The more you watch him, the more you understand why he matters so much to this team. [+] EnlargeJonathan Daniel/Getty Images The Cubs outbid a number of clubs for Kosuke Fukudome, and so far the investment is paying off. He didn't come cheap ($12 million per), and he doesn't hit for much power. But gone are the days of the Jacque Jones 16-hopper throw to second base. Fukudome plays Wrigley Field's confusing right-field winds and wall angles as if he grew up on ivy and brick. Plus, he's a left-handed hitter in a predominantly right-handed lineup. Plus, he gets on base, takes pitches, hits to all fields, and can bat almost anywhere in the order (he was moved to leadoff Wednesday, and will stay there until Soriano's return). And best of all, he hasn't told any boring Chunichi Dragons stories. 5. Depth

So how do you like the Cubs having the best record in baseball?

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Soriano hopes return from injury takes less than six weeks

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Griffey simply breathtaking in his prime

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Ftf Blog : MLB Power Rankings

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NFL Power Rankings: May 2008 edition

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Pats still # 1 and the Giants at 6?

Maddux becomes ninth pitcher in MLB history to reach 350 wins

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