DeRosa: Cubs expect to win
Second baseman Mark DeRosa said Sunday that the 2008 Cubs remind him of the successful Atlanta Braves teams for which he was a utility man in the late 1990s.
He remembered those teams coming to the ballpark every day expecting to win.
"I think we've reached that point -- at least I feel that way," DeRosa said. "I think we've got a good team. I think it's still early, but you've got to like the way we're playing. All our facets are doing well. Our lineup's deep, our starting pitchers are giving us quality innings and our bullpen's been strong.
"The only thing that has kind of let us down is our defense at home, I feel."
Likewise, Jim Edmonds sees similarities between the day-to-day attitude of this team and the confidence the 2006 Cardinals exuded en route to the magical postseason run that included a World Series title.
"Things are always positive and things are going well right now and we're making things happen," Edmonds said. "We just can't get too cocky or too crazy. I think everybody's keeping a pretty level head.
"It has to be the same thing every day, and that's how you have to approach it. It's got to be business every day."
Worth the price of admission: Home fans haven't been cheated this season at Wrigley Field, where the Cubs have won 26 of 34. But as manager Lou Piniella pointed out before Sunday's game, there are still four months to go.
"Look, this is a fun team to watch play," manager Lou Piniella said. "They play hard every day and you get your money's worth when you come to the ballpark, you really do. These guys get after it.
"But to be talking about the best team in baseball or the best record in baseball on the first of June, I think it's an overkill. Keep playing them one at a time and one series at a time and we'll see where we're at down the road."
When told by a reporter that Cubs fans aren't used to all this winning, Piniella replied, "Well, let's hope they stay used to it."
Not hitting the skids: The Cubs have yet to lose three games in a row this season, a trend closer Kerry Wood believes can continue.
"I don't think we're in a situation where we're going to lose four, five, six games in a row," Wood said before Sunday's 5-3 victory over the Rockies. "I just don't think we're that team. I think we can bounce back from that and end it before it gets to that point."
Scouting report
Cubs at San Diego Padres
TV: Monday and Tuesday, Comcast SportsNet; Wednesday, Channel 9
Radio: WGN 720-AM
Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Carlos Zambrano (5-1) vs. Cha Seung Baek (1-1) today at 9:05 p.m.; Jason Marquis (2-3) vs. Will Ledezma (0-2) Tuesday at 9:05 p.m.; Ted Lilly (5-4) vs. Greg Maddux (3-4) Wednesday at 9:05 p.m.
At a glance: The Cubs begin a stretch in which 23 of their next 32 games are on the road, beginning with a seven-game, West Coast trip. The Cubs took three of four from the Padres at Wrigley Field in mid-May. San Diego is 10-13 at Petco Park this season. Greg Maddux is 12-4 lifetime against his former team with a 2.71 ERA in 23 career starts. The Cubs defeated Maddux and the Padres 4-0 on May 15.
Next: Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, Thursday-Sunday