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Cubs begin 100th season since last title

Mar 31, 2008 - 12:54 PM Milwaukee (0-0) at Chicago Cubs (0-0) 2:20 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Jack Brickhouse, the legendary Chicago Cubs' announcer before Harry Caray, once remarked that anyone can have a bad century.

The Cubs begin their 100th season since their last World Series title in 1908 when they host the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday.

Chicago provided some hope for its long-suffering fans last year, rallying from a slow start to win the National Central title in Lou Piniella's first season as manager. But the Cubs flopped in the playoffs, getting swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the division series. Prior to Monday's game, the team will honor Ernie Banks - "Mr Cub" - by unveiling a statue of the Hall of Famer outside Wrigley Field. Banks, who played for the Cubs from 1953-71, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and lead the crowd in the seventh-inning stretch.

Chicago is 73-57-2 in season openers since 1876, including 29-20-2 when it opens at home. The 73 victories are the most Opening Day wins in major league history. The San Francisco Giants are second with 69.

Carlos Zambrano, a two-time All-Star who won a career-high 18 games last season, gets the Opening Day start for Chicago. In August, Zambrano signed five-year, $91,5 million extension that keeps him under contract with the Cubs through 2013.

The Brewers counter with the oft-injured Ben Sheets, who was limited to 24 starts last season and finished 12-5. He suffered a strained hamstring in mid-August that forced him to miss the remainder of the season.

Milwaukee was in first place for most of the season but Sheets' absence was one reason why the Brewers couldn't hold on over the final month. They finished in second place with an 83-79 record, two games behind the Cubs.

Sheets will be making his sixth Opening Day start in seven years.