Matt Murton

There was a time in the not-so-distant past when Wrigley Field began emptying out after Sammy Sosa's last at-bat. Times change and teams change. Monday night at Wrigley, most in the crowd of 39,965 stuck around until the eighth inning of Cincinnati's 9-...

The Cubs' rotation goes on trial this weekend at PNC Park with three starters trying to prove they belong there for the long haul. Rookie Sean Marshall made his opening statement Friday night in an 11-6 victory over Pittsburgh, pitching five solid...

Future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux and rookie right-hander Carlos Marmol now have something in common. Both Cubs pitchers won their major-league starting debuts in Cincinnati against the Reds. "I remember mine. It was here in Cincinnati," said the 40-...

Instead of breaking in his new glove by soaking it in linseed oil or shaving cream, or by placing it under the front tire of his car and running over it a few times, Ronny Cedeno stuck his glove in a microwave oven before moving to his new position....

Greg Maddux closed a chapter in a long and storied rivalry Wednesday night and earned the right to return for his 20th season in the major leagues. Maddux led the Cubs to a 2-1 victory over St. Louis in their final game in Busch Stadium, and surpassed...

With general manager Jim Hendry's evaluation period for the Cubs beginning at the All-Star break Monday, the team finally has shown signs of life. Carlos Marmol followed Sean Marshall with the second straight strong performance by a rookie starter to...

If Cincinnati is looking for a motto for its 2006 club, it may want to borrow the tagline of pro golfer John Daly. "Grip it and rip it." The Reds play defense like the ball had a contagious disease and their pitching staff is as suspect as a Las Vegas...

Greg Maddux has begun his finishing kick. He hopes his teammates follow him. For the second start in a row, Maddux was masterful. He worked seven strong innings on only 70 pitches Tuesday night as the Cubs beat the Houston Astros 4-1 before 31,963 at...

Ernie Banks was at Wrigley Field on Friday, but his trademark "Let's play two today" would have been a bad joke. The Cubs are having a hard enough time getting through one, as they proved with a 3½-hour, sleep-inducing, boo-producing 10-5 loss to the...

President Bush waltzed into the clubhouse Monday morning and asked Cubs manager Dusty Baker the same question fans have been asking each other for the last 98 seasons. "This is the year, right?" Bush said with the faintest hint of sarcasm. The president...

Juan Pierre and Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins are considered two of the best leadoff hitters in the game. Now the Cubs must consider whether Pierre deserves a Rollins-type contract to keep him in town beyond September. Rollins delivered the Phillies a 2-...

While St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols may be gone for several weeks with a strained oblique muscle, the Cardinals appear better equipped to handle the loss of their superstar than the Cubs were when Derrek Lee was lost with a broken wrist. Plugging...