Road trips will serve as gauge for Cubs
The Cubs are more productive at home than Bob Vila after three cups of coffee.
Sunday's 5-3 victory over the Rockies at Wrigley Field added to the best home record in baseball (26-8), but the Cubs' road record remains a project under construction.
The Cubs are a mortal 10-13 through four road trips, a weakness in the armor they have the opportunity to correct in the coming month.
"After today we have 23 of our next 32 games on the road," manager Lou Piniella said. "By that time we'll have a pretty good gauge of where we're at."
The Cubs have more road games remaining (58) than any team in the National League. Between now and July 6 they will play road series against San Diego (three games), Los Angeles (four), Toronto (three), Tampa Bay (three), the White Sox (three), San Francisco (four) and St. Louis (three).
"Going on the road, we just have to stay confident," closer Kerry Wood said. "I think we have a clubhouse full of guys that have confidence right now and are playing good baseball, so I expect this road trip to be a bit better."
The Cubs haven't experienced a winning road trip since early April, when they went 4-2 against Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. A three-game sweep of Pittsburgh during that initial trip remains the only road series the Cubs have won in 2008.
"The goal is to win series, but at the end of the day you should play better at home," Mark DeRosa said. "You're in the confines of your own field, you've got your own fans, you get to bat last. It definitely gives you an advantage."
The Cubs have accomplished what they set out to do in spring training by taking advantage of a schedule that featured 34 of their first 57 games at Wrigley Field.
"It was important that we get off to a good start and we have," Piniella said. "We've gotten ourselves in good position, but that is all -- good position.
"After this next month or so of baseball when we get through this tough stretch of games, we'll know exactly where we're at. I anticipate we'll play well."