Manager Don Zimmer hasn`t decided whether he`ll put Andre Dawson or George Bell in the cleanup spot. Dawson made his position known Friday.
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”I love to hit fourth for the simple reason that it means you sometimes get up in the first inning, and it may mean an extra at-bat later in the game,” said Dawson, who reported to camp Friday.
Bell has said he doesn`t care if he hits fourth or fifth.
”I won`t go as far as saying I don`t care,” Dawson said. ”I like to be in the middle of things. (But) at this point, wherever I`ll help the ballclub is where I`ll hit. I don`t want to stir any controversy in spring training.”
Dawson has batted cleanup most of his career as a Cub, but Zimmer has experimented with Mark Grace in the fourth spot and Dawson fifth.
Dawson said his knees are in better shape than they were a year ago, when he hobbled into camp six months after surgery.
”I`m probably in as good shape as I can be in at this stage of my career,” he said. ”I feel good; I have no pain. It`s just a matter of getting my timing at the plate.”
– Heavy rain washed out practice for the second straight day Friday. The weather is expected to clear Saturday for the first full-squad workout. The arrival of Dawson and shortstop Jose Vizcaino gave the Cubs a full roster.