N.L. Central

Sporting News, The, May 24, 1999

Mr. Consistency

Through all of the ups and downs endured by the Cubs' offense this spring, there remains one constant: Mark Grace.

That should come as no surprise. Consistency has been the hallmark of Grace's big-league career, which began in 1988. A .310 career hitter entering '99, Grace was batting .342 through Saturday. In the seven seasons before this one, he has hit below .300 only once, and that was .298 in the strike-shortened '94 season.

There are a few reasons for Grace's consistency. He has a smooth swing and isn't afraid to hit the ball to all fields. Grace hit his first career grand slam May 4 against the Rockies' Darryl Kile. Usually a patient hitter, he rode Kile's first offering over the wall in left for an opposite-field slam.

That ties in to the other strength of Grace's game: the mental approach. Like most good hitters, Grace can adjust to pitchers from at-bat to at-bat. Like the few great hitters in the game, he also can adjust from pitch to pitch.

Grace, 34, has plenty of motivation to keep it going. He's in the final year of his contract, which pays him $4.1 million in 1999. A career Cub who says he wants to stay ones Grace rarely has been motivated by money. In spring training, he talked about having his eyes on a prize worth more than cash.

"I'm going to get my 2,000th hit this year," he said. "If I can play for another five or six years, I'm going to make a run at 3,000, and the ultimate shrine--Cooperstown. Is it a realistic goal? Not really, but I've always set high goals. I was never supposed to make the big leagues. Here I am in my 12th year, so I can aim high." --Bruce Miles

Chicago

17-16: 2nd

Beck's troubles put Cubs in a difficult situation

RHP Rod Beck's ineffectiveness in dosing out games has left the team frustrated and Beck questioning his abilities. The problems have occurred with Beck's slider and forkball. He hasn't been able to get the slider over the plate consistently, and the forkball has stayed up in the strike zone. The results have been predictable--blown saves, a losing record, and an uncharacteristic 9.45 ERA through Saturday. He's also giving up nearly two hits for every inning pitched. Pitching coach Marry DeMerritt also plans to work with Beck on his leg kick to see if mechanics are at the root of his straggles. Beck still says he is healthy after missing three weeks of spring with a bad back. With Beck not completely reliable, manager Jim Riggleman might use him as the second or third option when the game's on the line. Setup LHPs Terry Mulholland and Felix Heredia might take the ball in the ninth as the first two options while the Cubs attempt to nurse Beck through his various problems.

CHANGING SPOTS: RHP Scott Sanders-O-3 as a starter--may have found his niche in the bullpen. Injuries to the staff had pushed him into the rotation, but Sanders may be most effective in relief, as he has the most trouble with facing batters more than once through a batting order.... 2B Mickey Morandini usually bats second against righties, but Riggleman dropped him to eighth recently to take advantage of the hot hitting of SS Jose Hernandez, who batted second. Morandini responded with a 4-for-4 afternoon after trying everything to bust out of a slump. Morandini is trying to mm on pitches more and pull them to right field.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: CF Lance Johnson has let it be known many times in the past: "I'm a leadoff hitter, not a leadoff walker." True enough, Johnson is up there hacking again this year as the No. 1 hitter in the lineup. In five at-bats in one game at Cincinnati, Johnson saw only 11 pitches. Riggleman always has supported Johnson's approach at the plate, saying he didn't want to mess with success. --Bruce Miles

GRADING OUT

OFFENSE B

Cubs hit Maddux and Glavine around at Wrigley and are showing signs of consistency.

PITCHING C

Back-to-back complete games by Lieber and Trachsel help out beleaguered bullpen.

DEFENSE B

Defense is settling down. Executed perfect relays against Dodgers and Braves.

CUBS

                  AVG     G    AB      R    H   HR   RBI    OBP
Houston( )       .435    21    46      6   20    3    12   .480
Grace( )         .342    33   120     25   41    4    18   .438
Rodriguez( )     .337    25    83     11   28    3    12   .382
Alexander        .300    12    20      1    6    0     4   .391
Hernandez        .296    32   115     25   34    5    16   .396
Sosa             .277    33   130     24   36    9    23   .360
Blauser          .269    16    26      5    7    0     0   .345
Morandini( )     .246    31   114     14   28    1    10   .323
Johnson( )       .244    32   127     15   31    0     8   .329
Santiago         .217    31   106      9   23    4    16   .317
Goodwin( )       .211    25    19      0    4    0     2   .250
Gaetti           .181    28    83      4   15    3    12   .245
(*)Porter        .000     3     1      0    0    0     0   .000
(*)Brown( )         -     0     0      0    0    0     0      -

                  SLG   SB    K      BB   E
Houston( )       .717    0    8       4   4
Grace( )         .492    2    8      23   2
Rodriguez( )     .518    2   19       6   0
Alexander        .450    0    1       3   0
Hernandez        .496    1   36      16   4
Sosa             .544    4   38      17   1
Blauser          .346    0    5       3   1
Morandini( )     .360    3   17      10   1
Johnson( )       .307    6    7      16   1
Santiago         .425    0   19      14   2
Goodwin( )       .263    0    6       1   0
Gaetti           .325    0   19       6   5
(*)Porter        .000    0    1       0   0
(*)Brown( )         -    0    0       0   0