By Colleen Kane
The Cincinnati Enquirer

When Chicago center fielder Corey Patterson knocked a home run into Great American Ball Park's stands just four pitches into Monday afternoon's game, the Cubs nation finally could release its collective breath, if only for the moment.

One of the most hyped seasons in recent Chicago history began with a 7-4 win over the Reds, and the Cubs officially can step past the predictions of a 2004 National League Pennant and World Series title and focus on actually getting there.

"All the talk everybody's done in spring training should be pretty much over, just let the games and the outcomes speak for themselves," Monday's starting pitcher Kerry Wood said. "I think all the hype, commotion and the coverage we saw in the spring will die down. I know we're not going to see 10 camera crews in here in the second game. It will be nice to get back to the old routine and get back to some normalcy."

Wood, who started his season allowing four earned runs and five hits in five innings, has been at the center of the preseason chatter, along with the rest of the Chicago pitching staff. His picture, next to the words "Hell Freezes Over," graced the cover of Sports Illustrated's baseball preview, which picked Chicago as its World Series champion. He claims to have not really looked at the issue.

"I'd rather stay away from the jinxes to be honest with you," Wood said.

It always comes back to the curses.

The Cubs will try this year to post their first back-to-back winning seasons since 1970-71. They have not participated in back-to-back postseasons since 1907-08. Right fielder Sammy Sosa said he doesn't know the last time the Cubs were consistently good.

"But all the things they said about Chicago are going to be over soon," Sosa said. "We know we have everything it takes. We have a team that has a 99 percent chance to win."

On Monday, the Cubs showed off some of those weapons, starting with Patterson, who has come back from last July's season-ending knee injury to hit home runs in his first at-bat at the spring training opener, and on Opening Day.

He bats second in an offense that Cubs manager Dusty Baker said is "new and improved."

The Chicago bullpen also "fell right into place" Monday, Baker said, allowing only one hit and no runs. And the Cubs finally will get a chance to see their biggest offseason acquisition Wednesday, when Greg Maddux takes the mound.

Maddux, part of a pitching staff that must operate without Mark Prior, who is on the disabled list, might be the one most at ease with the preseason hype.

"I don't think it's any secret that when I was in Atlanta, we were always expected to win. I don't see this team as being any different," Maddux said. "They came very close last year, and this team improved in the offseason, so the expectations should be there."

From his days in San Francisco, Baker is the other Cub who is used to this rare build-up, but he swears he's paid no attention.

"The best time of the day for me is after the national anthem. When I don't have to talk to anybody, I don't have to explain anything. We just play baseball," Baker said. "... It's past getting ready now, or at least you've got to fool yourself that you're ready if you're not. Because the race is on. The gun sounded at 2:10 this afternoon."

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E-mail ckane@enquirer.com