Notes from the front lines of the Cubs-Sox battle

What a perfect symbol for this series between two struggling teams that ought to be marketed as "The Fight For .500."

As White Sox closer Bobby Jenks strode to the mound for the bottom of the ninth on Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field, a muscular young Sox fan stood up in Section 26 and brandished an old weight belt that he had transformed to look like a 2005 World Series championship belt.

Though an usher scolded him to knock it off, the fan couldn't resist flaunting the gaudy WWE-worthy object each time Jenks retired a Cub.

And when Jenks finished his perfect inning that capped the White Sox' 4-1 victory, the fan held it aloft one final time to show it to the White Sox as they slapped hands and headed contentedly toward their clubhouse.

The omen

"To take the first one," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said with a laugh, "at least you know you're not going to get swept."

Actually, Ozzie, it's a much better sign than that.

In each of the last 11 years (interleague play began in 1997), the team that won the first intracity game fared no worse than a 3-3 split for the season series.

Cheer up, Cubs fans

Wednesday's best news happened before the gates opened at Wrigley Field.

Third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who dislocated his shoulder on May 8 and wasn't expected back until after the All-Star break, fielded several grounders during batting practice and did some "soft toss" hitting in the cage.

The Cubs hope Ramirez' accelerated recovery will allow him to do a brief minor-league rehab stint and get his bat into the lineup before the All-Star Game on July 14.

Ozzie being Ozzie

If you're a street vendor selling a Cubbie-blue T-shirt that reads, "OZZIE MOWS WRIGLEY FIELD" and depicts the White Sox manager doing just that, who would you expect to be the last person to buy your product?

It would've been priceless to capture the vendor's expression when Guillen plunked down $20 for a shirt.

Of course, Guillen wore his new shirt proudly before and after Wednesday's game.

Best chant

After Paul Konerko bounced into a 6-4-3 double play to short-circuit a promising third inning for the White Sox, a lot of Cubs fans unleashed a sarcastic version of the "Paul-ie! Paul-ie! chant commonly heard on the South Side.

It turned out to be their only chance to celebrate all day.

Sights seen

Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley said his side didn't put up much of a battle on the field, but eagle eyes spotted a couple of fights in the stands.

That included one in the Loge boxes near the Cubs dugout as a White Sox win became increasingly evident.

Apparently not deserting the sinking ship

Overheard: A member of the Cubs' security team discussing Ozzie Guillen's frequent rants about the rats inside Wrigley Field:

"He knows what he's talking about."

Some "Z" scuttlebutt

Maybe this is just an episode of "Telephone" that's getting out of hand, but there's a whisper going around that Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano just might plunk one of the White Sox in Thursday's game.

Why? Because Sox pitching coach Don Cooper allegedly uttered an unkind word about Big Z during an outing.

Considering Zambrano has hit one batter in 63 2/3 innings this season, it should be easy to detect if there's anything to this.