First-half effort puts Cubs at the head of the class

When the Cubs bring home their first-half report card, look for a lot of A's.

Unless they get stuck with a stingy teacher grading on a curve against the '27 Yankees, how could they not?

Eight all-stars, a 4-game lead in the NL Central, league-leading run-differential and on-base percentage - it all adds up to sharing the best record in baseball with the Los Angeles Angels (57-38).

"We've had a lot of adversity to overcome," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "(Alfonso) Soriano has been on the disabled list twice, (Carlos) Zambrano was on the DL, we lost (Rich) Hill for basically the whole first half. And the team is still functioning and holding its own. It's a credit to our players. There's some chemistry here and it's shown in our performance."

All those wins cover up some numbers that aren't so pretty.

"I think winning solves a lot of problems. I know myself personally when I look at some of those numbers they are mind-blowing," said Mark DeRosa, calling his 71 strikeouts 'ridiculous.' "Winning cures all that."

Feeling better: Closer Kerry Wood, out with a blister on his right index finger, hopes to be back Friday against Houston. He said he felt better Sunday after soaking his finger again Saturday night.

"It started three weeks ago and gradually got worse," Wood said. "I'm dealing with it every day, trying to get it ready."

He ripped the blister open last weekend against St. Louis, and it has "been pretty sensitive since."

Numbers game: Already with a 13-man pitching staff, the Cubs face another decision after left-handed reliever Scott Eyre continued his rehabilitation assignment by pitching 2 innings for Western Michigan on Sunday.

Manager Lou Piniella said he isn't sure what the Cubs will do with a bullpen that already has lefties Sean Marshall and Neal Cotts.

Piniella is more certain about his rotation. Ted Lilly, Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster will start the second half, followed by Rich Harden and Jason Marquis.

The rotation is lined up for the two teams chasing the Cubs in the NL Central. Lilly, Zambrano, Dempster and Harden are scheduled to face Milwaukee July 28-31, and Lilly, Zambrano and Dempster will get St. Louis Aug. 8-10.

Blame the wind: The Cubs haven't lost much at Wrigley Field this year. Their 37-12 start at home is their best since they started playing at Wrigley in 1916.

But when they do lose, it usually is with a crosswind, either blowing from the southeast or northwest. The wind blew from the northwest Sunday and the Cubs lost, dropping them to 5-5 with a cross wind.

They are 10-3 when the wind blows out and 22-4 when it blows in.