Wrigley vibe unmistakably cool

CHICAGO - It was stocking hat weather.

In May.

Yes, bitter cold, 41 degrees and falling at game time, and the wind gusting in from right field at 7 mph.

Perfect conditions for an offensive explosion, right?

Didn't matter as the Cubs broke out several cans of whoop-up and sent the Padres' Randy Wolf to the showers after the first seven runners reached in the fifth inning.

The electricity started with a Carlos Zambrano double off the wall and an Alfonso Soriano home run to deep center. That's when I found myself high-fiving 6, no, 7, no 8 different strangers sitting in our section.

Then Aramis Ramirez singled home Ryan Theriot and NL Player of the Month Geovany Soto drove home two more.

The "Friendly Confines" were in rare form, as the bubbly was flowing and the jubilation in the stands was continuous. Perfect strangers were transformed into instant BFFs.

The guy in front of us even offered me a drink of his cold one.

Before even checking for floaties, I politely declined.

Finally, after 13 hits and 12 runs, in what was now sub-40 temperatures, the cold had vanished and the mistress that is baseball had captivated nearly 40,000 bundled up Cub faithful.

My voice was hoarse and my hand was starting to burn from all the celebration.

This may not be the year the Chicago North Siders break their 100-year drought, but you would have no way of knowing that on this magical Monday night at the corners of Waveland and Sheffield.

"Meet you back here soon," my new beverage-guzzling confidant said, as we left section 218, row 11. "World Series."

Far-fetched as it once may have sounded, I paused and let the words linger for just a moment.

World Series? At Wrigley?

After a brutally cold night, with a vibe like this swirling, you can't help but start to believe.


QUICK HITS

Alex Rodriguez still isn't completely healed from the quad injury but is looking at next Tuesday for his return.

John Lackey makes his long-awaited debut Wednesday against the White Sox. He's been throwing well in rehab and he's pitching at home so start him with confidence.

Gillero Mota picked up the save for the Brewers Monday night, but Eric Gagne insists that he's ready to regain the role, just days after he said he doesn't belong in the 9th inning. I think he had it right the first time. Mota may be the best cheap save option right now, but don't count out Salomon Torres, who has 30 career saves.

Fausto Carmona threw a 5-hit shutout against the Blue Jays Monday. Carmona did walk 4 runners, which is still a concern, but 5 hits over 9 innings shows his sinker is sinking quite nicely again. The shutout was overshadowed by Asdrubal Cabrera's diving unassisted triple play, only the 14th in MLB history (you'd think it would be more). Ironically, the Indians have three of those.