Ex-Cub Factor

The ex-Cub factor affected both Chicago baseball teams today. Greg Maddux and the San Diego Padres defeated the Cubs in a 14 inning game at Wrigley Field this afternoon 4-3. This evening Sammy Sosa and the Texas Rangers played at U.S. Cellular Park and won 8-1.
Sammy had a good game against the Sox. A 2-for-4 night with a 3-run homer. Maddux pitched 5 innings and allowed 3 runs in a no decision. When he left the game with a no decison, this allowed my friend Greg to cheer again for the Cubs. While he's a huge Cub fan, he's an even bigger Maddux fan. I used to be the same way in the early days of Maddux's Atlanta playing days because the Cubs front office made a huge mistake in not signing him to a deal. Once he got his WS ring in 1995, I didn't care as much. After that, when he beat the Cubs, it was just a painful reminder of what could have been. Of course the Cubs signed him in 2004 when he was past his prime, but it was still good enough to average 13-14 wins a year.

The way the Cubs are playing, I can see Lou Piniella adding more players to the ex-Cub factor list.