Illinois

After his quick start to the season was delayed by a nagging wrist injury, Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez plans to take loafing into uncharted territory this season by playing third base while resting comfortably in a hammock.

The putrid Cubs offense exploded Monday night for a season-high 14 hits, including three home runs, en route to an easy 12-4 victory over the visiting San Diego Padres. Cliff Floyd, who entered the game in the fifth after Alfonso Soriano injured his hamstring diving for a line drive, ignited the Cubs offense with two hits, including a towering home run to right, and three RBI. Jason Marquis pitched six solid innings for the win and added two hits at the plate.

C.C. Sabathia wore number 42 Sunday, as did more than 150 other players to honor of the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's first game for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Sabathia's show of reverence for the man who broke the color barrier did not go unnoticed by the Sox, who decided to give the Cleveland pitcher a Jackie Robinson Day gift, letting Sabathia get a win despite having his team only muster one hit.

Cubs fans who forgot about last year's team were quickly reminded this weekend at Wrigley Field as the North Siders dropped two of three to the Cincinnati Reds. The only difference from last season came from the Cubs' new manager, Lou Piniella, who showed un-Dusty Baker-like emotions by yelling at a reporter for asking an idiotic question of what went wrong after an embarrassing pitching meltdown on Friday.

With the Cavs hot on their heels for the second seed in the East, it seemed like the perfect weekend for the Bulls to drop two in a row against sub-par teams and begin their annual downward spiral into post-season oblivion.

The Cubs avoided an inevitable three-game sweep by the Houston Astros Wednesday, thanks to Mother Nature, who brought an onslaught of snow and sleet to the Chicago area. The game will most likely be rescheduled for July 12. The Cubs/Astros series in July, which takes place immediately following the All-Star break at Wrigley, will be a nice spring board for Houston to start the season's second half on a four-game winning streak.

It seems with every new Cubs baseball season comes a new player fans collectively hate. Todd Hundley is an all-time favorite. LaTroy Hawkins held that dubious distinction in the 2005 season and Jacque Jones felt fans' ire last year. However, Jones may breathe a sigh of relief as new outfielder Cliff Floyd is on pace to be the most hated Cub of the 2007 season.