Uncommon cold chills Cubs' bats

Ill winds have been blowing around Wrigley Field for the Cubs, whohaven't adjusted to the inclement conditions.

In eight home games, Cubs pitchers have a 2.50 ERA (20 earned runsin 72 innings) and 70 strikeouts while allowing 53 hits. But Cubshitters are batting .202 (52-for-258) with only 17 runs and 15 extra-base hits, five of them home runs.

Meanwhile, opponents have hit only four homers at Wrigley but havescored 27 runs.

It's easier said than done," Corey Patterson said of adjustingswings to avoid fly balls against the wind. Maybe the top of theorder could try to bunt more to have guys on base for Sammy [Sosa]and Fred [McGriff], who [the wind] doesn't matter to. Maybe it'ssomething we'll have to address."

Manager Don Baylor has said the absence of Moises Alou, a career.306 hitter, has hurt.

But we still have a great groups of guys here," said Patterson,who is hitting .290. We definitely miss Moises, but we can't makeexcuses. We have to go with the guys we have."

ONE OF THE BEST: Sosa never has been shy about his ability. Sowhen a television interview show asked him who is the best player inthe game, Sosa paused only a moment before saying, Me."

They asked me to pick somebody," he said, smiling. Any doubt aboutthat?"

But Sosa is serious when it comes to his approach to the game.

It's not because I hit home runs," he said. If I was a fan and Icame here to watch somebody, it's because they play hard. I'm hereevery day and I play hard. It's the little things. That's whatseparates the men from the boys."

Which players would Sosa pay to watch?

Barry Bonds," he said. And Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson,definitely. Schilling never gives up, and Johnson is unbelievable. Ilike facing those guys."

Sosa is 12-for-49 (.245) with four homers, nine RBI and 23strikeouts against Johnson. He's 14-for-43 (.326) with four homers,eight RBI and 17 strikeouts against Schilling.

CATCH-22: The Cubs thought carrying three catchers was a luxuryuntil Joe Girardi hurt his ankle Friday by stepping on a ball duringbatting practice. They had only Robert Machado for Saturday andSunday, with Todd Hundley unable to catch because of a bruised leftthumb.

It's about being patient," Machado said of his limited playingtime. We have three catchers, but look what's happened. I try to staymentally prepared, and I do things every day to stay loose.

I'll go to the bullpen in the fifth or sixth inning to catch[relievers] to be ready, or I'll catch the starters when they'rewarming up. You have to do more work fundamentally to try to staysharp."