Sosa-Baylor: Hot-Air War in Windy City

Peace in our time? It’s more like Don Baylor and Sammy Sosa have agreed to peace for the moment. They came out of a postgame meeting smiling and hugging, but there must be some wounds after the midweek blowup in which Sosa accused his manager of being classless and overly critical of his superstar--Sosa’s term--right fielder.

It’s a complicated situation in another dismal season for the Chicago Cubs, who entered the weekend with baseball’s worst record of 60-107 since last June 9, a span in which Sosa had hit 60 home runs, illustrating he may not have as much impact on the Cubs’ success as he thinks or the Cubs have far too many problems for one player to overcome.

Sosa reacted heatedly this week after an unnamed Cub official was quoted in the Chicago Tribune as saying, “Sammy might drive in 150 runs, but he might let in 45.”

Sosa accused Baylor of saying it and then mocked Baylor’s denial. Chicago sources say the quote didn’t come from Baylor, but the strong-willed Baylor is what he is, and said, “I’m not changing my personality. It’s just the way it is. That’s me. I’m always pushing players to be better.”

At the heart of this, many believe, is that the proud and sensitive Sosa thinks Baylor has failed to show him proper respect, from failing to visit him in the Dominican Republic after being hired to suggesting in spring training that Sosa could steal more bases and be more of a complete player. Sosa also believes there has been a lack of respect from the Cubs in failing to conduct meaningful contract negotiations, even though he has a year left at $11 million and the two sides hold a mutual option on 2002 at $12 million.

Would Sosa walk away from $12 million? Hard to believe.

His St. Louis Cardinal buddy, Mark McGwire, has already picked up his mutual option on 2001 at $11 million, although he could probably get much more on the market.

Could Sosa better $12 million? Well, he does lead major league right fielders with five errors, which doesn’t measure his limited range and arm. However, he is on pace to drive in 146 runs, and it’s doubtful he’ll let in 45, as limited as his fielding is.

In a media hotbed, Sosa’s attack on his manager spawned incidental cross-fire.

Columnists at the Chicago Sun-Times accused the Tribune Co., owner of the Cubs and the paper of that name (and which has nearly concluded a merger with the Los Angeles Times), of an underground attempt to turn the city against the popular Sosa, painting him a pop-off, ingrate and incomplete player, making it easier to reject his contract wishes and possibly trade him. Wrote Jay Mariotti, in the Sun-Times:

“It is a vicious, pathetic campaign . . . so vicious and pathetic, in fact, that I can tolerate Sosa’s verbal retaliations, even if a couple of his ramblings border on megalomania.”

An uneasy peace? The media is likely to make sure of it.

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A total of 1,452 players were selected over 50 rounds of the amateur draft Monday and Tuesday. The Colorado Rockies provided one of the more interesting and speculative selections when they made Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick, a Heisman Trophy candidate, their 30th pick even though Vick hasn’t played baseball since his junior year in high school.

The Rockies see Vick as either a third baseman or an outfielder, and would be happy to have him work out with their Class-A team in Salem, Va., near his home, and play for their short-season rookie team in Tucson, if he signed.

“It’s a hell of a summer job,” scouting director Bill Schmidt said.