Well, the Cubs looked a lot better today than they did on Tuesday. Scoring 10 runs is a big deal for a team that last year finished seventh in the National League in runs scored.

Other encouraging signs: Corey Patterson continued his late spring training and opening-day success by going 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. Maybe he won’t be all hype, after all. He’s batting .714 and has even walked three times.

Kerry Wood was wild but went five innings and only gave up two runs while striking out 10.

Todd Hundley came through with a two-run home run — the Cubs need some production out of the catcher’s spot if they are going to compete for the Central, not to mention the wild card. It’s also good to see that Baylor started him on opening day and the next day.

Hundley’s confidence was badly shaken by Baylor’s lack of confidence. I don’t blame Baylor, since Hundley played terribly, but what are the options? Neither Girardi nor Machado has anywhere near Hundley’s offensive potential, and neither has a $24 million contract, either.

A not so encouraging sign was Antonio Alfonseca, who struggled in the ninth inning, giving up two runs, a hit, a walk and looked very unsteady. That comes on the heels of Jeff Fassero‘s pathetic, losing outing on Tuesday, in which he beaned three guys in 1.2 innings. The Cubs may well rise or fall with their bullpen.

Lieber also didn’t burn it up on Tuesday. Is the Cubs’ vaunted pitching staff not all it’s cracked up to be? Will Alou be plagued by minor injuries that prevent him from getting into a groove and giving the Cubs the kind of 3-4-5 pop they need?

We’ll start to get the answer to another burning question tomorrow when Juan Cruz pitches. He impressed with his strong showing when called up last August to help shore up the starting rotation when Wood went down, going 3-1 with a 3.22 ERA. That he added 14 pounds to his svelte frame is good news.

For the Red Sox, things look much worse. Pedro Martinez, arguably the pitcher most valuable to his team (though Randy Johnson and Mariano Rivera are up there), got shelled by the Blue Jays on opening day. He says he feels fine, physically, but his first start (three innings, nine hits, seven earned runs, three walks, two hit batters) doesn’t augur well for the Sox’ season.

And neither does Dustin Hermanson‘s leaving in only the second inning tonight with a strained right groin. Pedro can’t be the lone wolf this year — the Sox need another starter to pitch some quality innings and keep some heat off a bullpen that was scorched last year down the stretch.