Tony DeMarco

It's good being Lou Piniella these days. The standings say he is managing the second-best team in baseball, and questions directed his way mostly concern winning streaks, statistical league leaders and historical victories for the Cubs franchise.

So hang around one of Piniella's pre-game media briefings, and you can hear an exchange like this: Asked about the fact that his hitters lead the league in the number of pitches per plate appearance, Piniella responded: “Boy there are so many statistics in baseball, aren't there? When are they going to come up with (a) 'patience for managers' (stat)?''

When asked what his patience rating might be, the now-mellower Piniella smiled and quickly replied; “I'm at the top of the scale.''

Yes, when your team is 17-10, that's how it is. The Cubs are off to their best start since 1969. And if that year evokes the bad memory for Cubs fans of a second-place finish behind the miracle New York Mets, then keep in mind that the other time the Cubs got out of the gate this well was 1932, which ended with a World Series loss.

Yes, there are those magical words again, the inevitable mention of the streak that won't end. The franchise that won its 10,000th game on Wednesday night hasn't won a World Series in 100 years. Starting pitcher Ryan Dempster was bold enough to predict in spring training that the streak will end this October, and hot-hitting Ronny Cedeno said recently that the Cubs are at least thinking World Series now. Twenty-two games isn't even a month, let alone a season, but the early returns make those thoughts legitimate and reasonable.

The Cubs lead the major leagues in runs scored (171) and the National League in batting average (.286) and on-base percentage (.375). Derrek Lee has eight home runs. Aramis Ramirez reached base in the Cubs' first 21 games. Cedeno had 13 RBI in limited duty. Dempster (4-0, 3.16 ERA) is making a successful transition to the rotation. Kerry Wood (four saves, 12 strikeouts in 13 innings) is making a successful transition to the closer role.

On and on we could go, so Piniella isn't trying to do too much.

“That's our philosophy anyway,'' he said. “We let these guys play, and we stay out of the way. We pitch everybody, and let everybody play so they feel like they're a part of the team. But we just let them play. We're not trying to reinvent the wheel with this team.''

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That said, this is a different bunch of Cubs. Led by Kosuke Fukudome and late-spring pickup Reed Johnson, the lineup has become more patient at the plate, and willing to take walks. In fact, only the Cardinals have drawn more among NL teams. Fukudome also has injected some speed, fundamentally sound play and much-needed left-handed production.

“He knows the strike zone well,'' Piniella said. “He's very relaxed at home plate. Obviously, he's got a lot of confidence in his hitting ability. He's got great hand-eye coordination. He can decide pretty quickly whether it's a ball or a strike. He can work the count as well as anybody in baseball.''

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Johnson, let go by the Blue Jays after they signed Shannon Stewart, has lessened the need for Felix Pie to develop immediately into a regular contributor. Meanwhile, young catcher Geovany Soto continues to prove he belongs in the lineup with a .300- plus average and .400-plus on-base percentage.

And keep in mind that this hot streak has been accomplished without Alfonso Soriano, who is supposed to come off the disabled list May 1st. But in Soriano's absence from the lineup, a new, more-confident feeling has developed.

The perfect example was a 7-6, 10-inning victory over Colorado in late April, when the Cubs blew two different leads, and withstood a Wood blown save before winning on Ryan Theriot's RBI single.

“When they came back, you just had the feeling that somehow we were going to come back and do it again,'' Theriot said. “Last year, it was almost a deflating feeling. But this year, it's more of an excitement, a 'let's-see-if-we-can-do-it-again-type-deal'. And that's the mark of a team that enjoys playing together and trusts each other.''

Added Piniella: “These kids are confident; I can tell you that.''

But nobody is getting too carried away just yet. After all, October still is six months away.

“It's too early to start reading into it too much,'' Theriot said. “We're just trying to play hard, win ballgames and have fun. Hopefully, we can just continue to put good games together. It's a lot of fun. It builds momentum.''

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