The Good & The Bad from Games 1 & 2

We're through two games and it is already time to break down the good and the bad from the Cubs season so far. The Cubs split the first two with Pittsburgh going into today's rubber match, which will see Matt Garza make his Cubs debut and Starlin Castro hit lead-off for the second time in his career. The Good:

• The back end of the bullpen (Marshall, Wood and Marmol) looked very sharp in yesterday's victory.


• Carlos Zambrano's first start was good enough to keep the Cubs in the game.


• Big Z's injury was nothing serious, only a cramp in his hand.


• Carlos Pena is already looking like a team leader.


• Geovany Soto came through several times yesterday.


• Blake DeWitt's performance of the bench to come through in a key pinch hit spot.


• Mike Quade's energy


• The Cubs ability to bounce back yesterday showing the resilliancy Q is looking for.


• The bullpen has yet to allow a run.

The Bad:

• Ryan Dempser's opening day shelling.


• The three walks that have come around to score runs already in the set.


• Jeff Samardzija struggles in his inning on Friday, although he escaped without allowing a run.


• The Opening Day loss to the lowly Pirates.


• The Cubs inability to cash in with men in scoring position all day yesterday until the 8th inning.


• They came close to dropping the first two game to the Pirates!

Today is the first must win of the season!