Cubs-Red Sox Series -- Heartache for one, euphoria for another

Finally, major league baseball is picking up some steam.

The Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox are in first place, right where they should be. After all, it is April.

For all the hoopla surrounding injuries to stars such as Trot Nixon, Nomar Garciaparra and Mark Prior, the Sox and Cubs have weathered the storm remarkably well.

Both have done it with great starting pitching, but the Cubs have done it with the stick too.

Moises Alou, Sammy Sosa and Aramis Ramirez have been on a tear, while Kerry Wood continues to hold down the fort while his fellow thoroughbred, Mark Prior, remains on the DL.

The Cubs have won six straight somewhat under the radar as all the attention has been given to the seven April games between the Red Sox and Yankees.

Less than a year removed from the fateful October night in the Bronx-a night that cost the Red Sox their first world series trip in nearly 20 years-the greatest rivalry in sports has picked up right where it left off. Well, sort of.

The Red Sox have done precisely what it has needed to do, namely, make an early statement that they are a team to be reckoned with.

It is the Red Sox whose psyche is precarious, and for both the players and fans an early season statement was needed to provide the belief that this is the year the Yankees will be dethroned as the AL East juggernaut.

By winning six of the first seven meetings of the year, the Red Sox have made a statement that this year will be different than any in the storied rivalry's history.

The addition of Curt Schilling and Keith Foulke has given the Sox a swagger I have yet to see in my lifetime.

Schilling gives the Sox four superb starters who can shut any team down. Foulke meanwhile, gives the bullpen as good a closer there is, and allows the other three bullpen stalwarts-Mike Timlin, Alan Embree and Scott Williamson to shut opponents down in innings seven and eight.

The pitching staff has done exactly what Peter Gammons said it would do -- carry the Sox while the lineup is depleted. Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz and Bill Mueller have given the Red Sox enough pop in their lineup while the pitching has made that support hold up to get Boston out to the kind of start it sorely needed.

Make no mistake, Boston will need Nomar and Trot Nixon to break the 86 year old curse, but as much distance the Red Sox can put between them and the Yankees in the meantime will mean a more relaxed and fully recovered right fielder and shortstop.

As for the beloved Cubbies, the Astros will be nipping at their heels the entire season barring some unforeseen catastrophe. The key for the Cubs will be to shadow the Stro's as long as Prior is hurt.

Once Prior returns, if the Cubs remain in striking distance, the NL Central will be there's to lose.

Think of it, the Red Sox and Cubs in the World Series. Ted Williams must be smiling at the thought of it.