Extra Innings Heartache: Cubs' Rollercoaster Opener

Extra Innings Heartache

It’s only 1 game, It’s only 1 game, it’s only 1 game… I will repeat this to myself throughout today into tomorrow’s game.

The Lead Off Man

Last night's coverage? Seemed like ESPN took a deep dive into the life of Wyatt Langford. It's great to see players getting spotlighted, though I miss Pat Hughes calling the games.

As for our Cubs, it was a rollercoaster through ten innings against the Rangers, ending in a nail-biter 4-3 loss. Drama? Check. A pinch of heartache? Double check. And a gut punch with Steele hitting the ground? Bingo.

Sure, the sting of this one's sharp now, . What's harder to shake is the visual of Steele crumpling with that hamstring injury, the series of "huh?" moments courtesy of the umps, and Smyly being our unexpected last stand. Kicking off the season like this wasn't in anyone's playbook. The real takeaway is this game was a mess.

Forgettable? Absolutely.

And thankfully, in a month's time, that's exactly what it'll be—just another dusty game note in a long season.

The Game: Steele's Sudden Exit

Man, just when we were getting into the groove of the game, Justin Steele had to go and give us all a punch in the gut. There he was, suddenly on the ground, clutching his leg just above the knee. And yeah, that spot he grabbed? That’s got all of us a bit more worried than usual. I remember how Willson Contreras’s hammy issues were always a bit higher up? Different spot, different worries. But hey, at best—Steele could be back by May, all fresh and ready for the long haul. Plus, it’s his leg, not his arm, so let’s keep our fingers crossed.

Did anyone look good? Yep

A Leiter Surprise

So, flashback to me in Atlanta last season, shelling out some decent cash to watch Mark Leiter pitch. My initial thought? “Great, all this way and for what? This stinks.”

Turns out, the joke was absolutely on me—and I couldn't be happier about it. Leiter, in his relief role, has been nothing short of a revelation, proving me wrong one impressive outing after another.

Christopher Morel’s triple in the 2nd inning would have been a Home Run in 17 of 30 MLB parks!

Who’s riding the Struggle Bus

Nick Madrigal’s evening was a bit like ordering a burger and getting it with a frozen center—it seemed like a good plan but missing something.

Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ don’t look ready for the regular season at the plate. Nico took a close walk in his last at bat and Happ did work an 11 pitch plate appearance in the 8th but the swings are off. I’ll give them a week or two, Ryne Sandberg was notoriously horrible in April.

The Closer

Ah, the long wait since pitchers and catchers reported back in February, around Valentine’s Day, has finally paid off. That familiar cocktail of excitement, anticipation, and yes, a touch of nervousness, started stirring up all the "feels" again—and boy, does it feel good to have that back!

Today had it all: the highs, the lows, unexpected injuries, and yet another reason for my ongoing campaign to bring more tech into our umpire calls. It’s all part of the ride.

And the silver lining of a tough loss? We're back at it on Saturday. In March, there’s always the next game, the next chance to turn things around. I’ll be here for a Game 2 preview. Let’s regroup, recharge, and get ready to root for our Cubs once more. See you then!

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