Marmol | Christopher Endrinal

In what is becoming an annual tradition, I'm sporting my Cubs "BELIEVE" bracelet.

Ah, Opening Day. The best day to be a baseball fan, no matter which team claims your loyalties. The Cubs championship drought has been well-documented, so I won’t get into that again. But what makes Opening Day so great, especially for us Cubs fans, is the hope that this year is THE year. We all hope that “next year” is finally here. And at the start of this day, our team is in first place and poised to make a title run. It’s plainly obvious from the picture and from previous entries that I’m die-hard, lifelong Cubs fan. And to that end, I DO BELIEVE that this year is the year. We say it every year, but looking at the numbers, it’s tough to see the Cubs not making it deep into the postseason, let alone winning the whole thing. The Cardinals are going to challenge the Cubs for the Central title, which is think is good for the North Siders. But in the end, the Cubs starting rotation is too deep and the lineup is much more balanced than last year’s 97-win team. The bench is pretty deep, too. My only concern is middle relief; the back end of the ‘pen, anchored by Marmol (MARMOL!!) and Gregg, is killer; it’s just a matter of getting to those two guys.

And I’m not alone in my prediction of the Cubs going all the way. Click here for yet another reason why I like Tim Kurkjian, of ESPN‘s Baseball Tonight.

“Go Cubs, go! Go Cubs, go! Hey, Chicago, whaddaya say? The Cubs are gonna win today!”

I was out of town on the 12th, but managed to take pictures of the day. Here’s my July 12 of 12, however belated.

1:21pm – We ate a late lunch that consisted of my dad’s adobo and sinigang (not pictured). Yum.

1:53pm – After lunch, my dad started making leche flan for the party later that night. Again: Yum.

1:55pm – While my dad was making the flans, I helped iron his shirt. I’m so my father’s son it’s ridiculous. Notice the new 2008 FSU football “Unconquered” t-shirt. Go Seminoles!

2:15pm – Marty and I chilled on my dad’s couch and perused The Secret. This book is, in a word, amazing. And not in the good way.

3:17pm – Had to check on the Cubbies. I logged on just in time to witness Marmol blow a 5-run lead. The Cubs managed to eek out an 8-7 victory and Rich Harden struck out 10 in his Cubs debut, so it was all good.