There`s a lot of speculation about the future of Expos manager Felipe Alou.
Not that the Expos are unhappy with him. Quite the contrary. Alou has turned a losing team into a winner since he replaced Tom Runnels May 22.
But Alou was happy managing Montreal`s Class A affiliate in West Palm Beach, Fla., for six years. He has a home down there and a 5-year-old daughter, Valerie, who will be entering school in Florida this fall.
Alou would be a natural to manage the expansion Florida Marlins, particularly because they have expressed a desire for a Hispanic manager.
The Marlins can`t talk to Alou about the job without the Expos`
permission, and that isn`t likely. But Alou did nothing to dissuade the growing speculation about his future when he refused to say unequivocally this week he planned to return to Montreal next season.
”I don`t know if I`m going to be back,” he said. ”The end of this season is still too far away.”
– The six hits the Cubs had in their six-run fourth inning Tuesday night tied the season high for hits in an inning. They did it twice before this season-June 1 against San Diego and June 25 at New York. But the six runs fell one shy of the season-high set in that June 25 game against the Mets. The record for hits in one inning by the Cubs since 1900 is 11 against Philadelphia in 1922. The record number of runs in an inning is 14.
– Mike Harkey got away without a loss, but he kept a slump going for Cubs starters by failing to win. The last time a starting pitcher won for the Cubs was Saturday when spot starter Jeff Robinson beat the Mets. But the last time one of the four regulars in the starting rotation got a win was July 28, when Mike Morgan beat the Pirates.
– The Expos activated shortstop Spike Owen before Tuesday night`s game with the Cubs and put infielder Greg Colbrunn on the disabled list. Owen had been on the disabled list since June 20 with a strained left hamstring. He is batting .254, but already has tied his career-high for home runs in a season with six. Colbrunn hit .298 (14 for 47) in 16 games.
– Reliever Jessie Hollins continues to sparkle for the Cubs at Double-A Charlotte. He picked up two more saves in two chances the past week. Hollins now has 22 saves, tops in the organization. Jim Bullinger had 14 saves at Triple-A Iowa before being called up in May. He has seven with the Cubs to give him 21 this year.