Bulls, Cubs: What One Game Means

So what conclusions can be drawn from the outcomes of the Chicago Cubs season opener and the Boston Celtics-Chicago Bulls game of Thursday (April 5)? Well, for starters, the Cubs lost and the Bulls won. That’s the kind of insight you get around here. Pretty impressive, no? Oh.

A photo of Jennifer Hugunin will have to serve as a consolation prize today for Cubs fans. Or anyone else for any purpose. Credit: Bersano Photography

Speaking of starters, Cubs right-hander Ryan Dempster crafted a masterpiece with 10 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings. He allowed only two singles. Reliever Kerry Wood on the other hand (or right arm, as the case may be) walked three batters to force in the Washington Nationals’ first run, and Carlos Marmol allowed a run in the ninth inning for a 2-1 loss at Wrigley Field.

“One of those days,” Wood said. “Ryan pitched great, deserved a win. We deserved to win. I don’t think I had a three-ball count in the spring, and then I walked three guys in a row.”

“I’m always comfortable handing the ball over to ‘Woody,'” said Dempster, who threw 108 pitches.

The Cubs had a runner on third and one out in the ninth but pinch runner Joe Mather was out at home on a grounder to third.

And so began the Theo Epstein era for the Cubs, who have not won a World Series since 1908. As president of baseball operations, Epstein is in charge of ending that drought. The game also was the first with the Cubs for manager Dale Sveum.

If nothing else, Sveum had to be pleased with his starter.

And still speaking of starters, Bulls guard Derrick Rose, the NBA’s reigning MVP, still was not starting — meaning he wasn’t playing — against the Celtics. Even so, the Bulls prevailed 93-86 at the United Center. Rose sat out his 12th consecutive game because of a strained groin. He has missed 22 games this season because of injury with the Bulls going 15-7 in his absence. They are 8-4 in Rose’s latest time out of the lineup.

“Our team has shown all year that we have great fight and we believe we can win with whoever we have out ther