Scenery isn't the only change Cubs see: Cardinals' visit offers early chance to right an ugly '05 at Wrigley

Michael Barrett will have a combination of things to deal withtoday at remodeled Wrigley Field -- both at the plate and behind it.

Batters will face a new backdrop with the Batter's Eye Suite incenter field, where shrubbery once grew. A centerpiece of thebleacher renovation project, the suite's darkened windows were a finecanvas Thursday as the Cubs worked out before today's home openeragainst the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs catcher was impressed.

"It looks like a whole new ballpark to me," Barrett said. "We'llsee what it's like when the game starts and the lights are on inthere. Hopefully it doesn't affect us too much."

The greater concern for Barrett, starting pitcher Greg Maddux andthe Cubs will be the archrival Cardinals, still the favorites in theNational League Central. For Maddux, making his second home-openerstart since returning to the Cubs in 2004, the rivalry, the new look -- and even the predicted wet and cold weather -- make it an invitingassignment.

"It's always fun facing the Cardinals," he said. "It's always alittle bigger, always a little more exciting. They could have easilywon the World Series last season. They just came up a little short,and they have pretty much the same team back. They're tough to beat."

The Cubs come home with a 1-1 record after splitting their openingseries against the Cincinnati Reds. But coming home last season

wasn't the welcoming experience it should have been. The Cubs were38-43 at Wrigley Field in their disappointing 79-83 season -- oddly abetter team on the road than in the Friendly Confines.

"We certainly have to improve at home," manager Dusty Baker said."We didn't seem to have the team we wanted at home, and guyssometimes have a difficult time adjusting to Chicago [and a majorityof day games]."

Barrett admitted psychological factors might have taken a toll.

"This is the greatest place to play, but for some guys, it can bethe hardest place to play," he said. "For guys like LaTroy Hawkinsand Corey Patterson [former Cubs who were booed regularly], it was atough place to play. When things like that happen to your teammates,it brings everyone down. At times it was just a tough place to play.

"It's frustrating to go through that, but fans have a right to dowhat they do. It's their stadium. And the fans dictate who they'llforgive. The only thing we can dictate is how hard we play. Fans knowwhen someone is dogging it, and they don't appreciate it. The biggestthing, though, is as a team we didn't get the job done, period."

Baker plans one change in the lineup, using Neifi Perez at secondbase instead of left-handed-hitting Todd Walker to face Cardinalsstarter Jeff Suppan.

"Jerry Hairston is only 2-for-19 against Suppan, and I think we'llneed Neifi's defense with Greg on the mound," Baker said.

The rest of the Cubs lineup has produced well in the first twogames, from new leadoff man Juan Pierre to young starters Matt Murtonin left field and Ronny Cedeno at shortstop.

"It's good for us because we're counting on them," Baker said ofMurton and Cedeno. "They're on the team, and we feel they're ready tohandle it. The more success they have, the more comfortable theyfeel, and the more comfortable all of us feel."

The comfort zone for the Cubs is changing, though, with thefranchise's championship drought now at 97 years. It's the reasonmore than just the bleachers and seating area have changed at WrigleyField in the last two years.

"Fans have grown weary of the complacency that surrounded theCubs," Barrett said. "I know from my buddy back home. He's 42, andhe's been a Cubs fan all his life. He feels like he's going to have acoronary attack every time we lose.

"Cubs fans love this team. They're not front-runners. And now thatthe White Sox have won the World Series, the quest to win achampionship is on the tip of [Cubs fans'] brains."

NOTE: Kerry Wood threw a pair of 20-pitch batting-practicesessions Wednesday as he continues to build up his rehab schedule.Pitching coach Larry Rothschild said Wood will throw another sessionof closer to 60 pitches in several days and will be re-evaluated.

Mark Prior also is picking up his rehab pace and will throw offthe mound today.

"He's doing fine, and his recovery time [between throwingsessions] is being cut down," Rothschild said.

tginnetti@suntimes.com

ON DECK:

CARDINALS AT CUBS

Today: 1:20 p.m., Ch. 9, 720-AM. Jeff Suppan (16-10, 3.57 ERA in2005) vs. Greg Maddux (13-15, 4.24).

Saturday: 1:20 p.m., Comcast SportsNet, 720-AM. Chris Carpenter (1-0, 7.20 in 2006) vs. Carlos Zambrano (0-0, 9.64).

Sunday: 7:05 p.m., ESPN, 720-AM. Sidney Ponson (7-11, 6.21 in2005) vs. Sean Marshall (major-league debut).

The story line: The Cubs open their home schedule against theirbiggest rivals. Winning the series could go a long way towardavoiding the huge early deficits they have faced against St. Louis inthe division race the last two years. Suppan owned the Cubs lastyear, holding them to eight runs (five earned) on 24 hits in 26innings for a 1.71 ERA. Marshall's big-league debut comes on a prime-time, national TV stage.