From question mark to Game 1 starter, Dempster leaves no doubt

Way back in spring training, when Ryan Dempster was boldly forecasting the Cubs to win the World Series, something he couldn't have predicted was himself starting Game 1 of the postseason.

But six months and a 17-6 regular season later, it will be Dempster taking the mound at Wrigley Field tonight when the Cubs begin their National League division series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

How Dempster would perform in a starting role after spending three years as the Cubs' closer was one of the biggest question marks coming out of spring training.

But Dempster answered all the questions with a career year, just as he quieted those critics several years ago who doubted he would succeed in a closing role.

"If you can pitch, you can pitch; it doesn't matter what role," said Dodgers right-hander Derek Lowe, who opposes Dempster in Game 1.

"I know the ability he has after playing with him and he hasn't surprised me," said former Cub Nomar Garciaparra, now with the Dodgers. "He's always been a competitor."

Lowe knows what's it like to switch back and forth between starting and closing, having done so with the Red Sox several years ago.

"I think as long as you know going into the following season that you're going to be a starter, it's no big deal," Lowe said. "Clearly if it was something done in the middle of the season it would be a lot harder.

"And he's clearly stepped in and done a tremendous job, especially here at home."

Dempster, who is 14-3 at Wrigley Field, got his motivation for a big season because expectations were so high for the team.

"Just coming into spring training and seeing how everybody was excited at the challenge of trying to go out and win a championship, that kind of, as individuals, pumped us all up," Dempster said.

"But I felt prepared for it. I felt like I worked really hard, physically. Mentally, I felt like maybe I was a little bit smarter and had a little better idea of how to pitch. Did I think I'd be sitting here getting ready to start Game 1 of the NLDS? Probably not, but I'm getting ready and I'm confident."

Cubs manager Lou Piniella was confident enough in Dempster to tab him for Game 1 over Carlos Zambrano and Rich Harden.

"We put him in the third hole, third starter coming out of spring training, so that meant that we felt pretty good about Ryan having a good season for us," Piniella said. "He's probably superseded our expectations (with) 17 wins. He's been very consistent all year."

Dempster started twice against the Dodgers in the regular season, going 7 innings and beating them 3-1 on May 26 in Chicago and getting a no-decision in a game the Cubs won 5-4 on June 5 at Dodger Stadium.

But this is a different and more dangerous Dodgers team Dempster will face with the biggest addition being Manny Ramirez in the middle of the order.

"They've gotten better since the last time we played them," Dempster said. "When you get Manny Ramirez on the team, it doesn't just add that one spot, it makes the whole lineup a little bit better because he makes the people around him a lot better hitters.

"He's as good a hitter, especially right-handed hitter, as we've ever seen, especially in my generation."