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"I think about all the great players who have played the game, and they all played great defense and offense," Baylor said. "Johnny Bench, Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron...Willie Mays...In the modern era, we've gotten away from that, with the DH and all." Baylor, the Cubs' new manager, left no doubt that he considered Sosa a significant part of his club's problems as well as a key to its solution. Sosa's 129 home runs during the past two seasons have turned him into an international sensation but have hardly helped the Cubs, who finished 67-95 in 1999, last in the NL Central. "Why is he wearing 21? (Because of) Roberto Clemente," Baylor said. "Roberto Clemente was one of the greatest players to play right field. He won batting titles." Baylor has determined that Sosa could be a better right fielder and a greater threat on the bases. Sosa twice has exceeded 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season but stole just seven bases in 1999, when he was caught stealing eight times. By the time Sosa arrived in camp Sunday, he had little choice, he discovered, but to accept Baylor's challenge. For the moment at least, Sosa is embracing his new manager's ideas. "I'm going to have a green light now and I'm going to have an opportunity to steal more bases," Sosa said. "I'm going to work on my defense. I'm not a bad outfielder, but if he wants me to work on my defense, I'll do it. I'm an employee and I'm here to work." Sosa insisted that Baylor's confrontational approach had not damaged their relationship. "I like Don," Sosa said. "I'm a tough guy. I'm a guy who's going to die for him. I'm a guy who's going to go out every day and play hard. Me and him, we get along good. Pretty much I don't have a problem." Cubs players have noticed Baylor's handling of Sosa and have interpreted it as a sign that he will be a far more proactive manager that his predecessor, Jim Riggleman. Mark Grace, entering his 13th season with the Cubs, acknowledged that Riggleman "pretty much lost control" of the club last year. "Baylor's one of those guys I don't think will ever lose control," Grace said. "He'll be in your corner, but he wants you to respect the game, respect him and respect yourself. "He wants Sammy to go back to being a complete player. He wants him to be the right fielder he was. Look at the three big guys last year: McGwire, Sosa and Griffey. None of them made the playoffs." Baylor, who was fired by the Rockies after the '98 season and spent last year as the Braves' hitting coach, insists that he merely wants his players to confront reality, from Sosa to his 25th man. He reminds them that opponents have scouting reports detailing all of their flaws. "Everybody attacks the weakness of every element of everybody's game," Baylor said. "...We are the worst evaluators of ourselves. When someone else does it, you either get ticked off or try to change it."
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New
manager, Don Baylor issued a challenge to Sammy Sosa this spring:
Become a more versatile player and demonstrate greatness instead of
grandeur.|
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