It’s too early for Most Valuable Player balloting, but as far as Cubs manager Jim Riggleman is concerned, he hasn’t seen a better player this season than Reds shortstop Barry Larkin.
“His team is in first place, he’s played great shortstop, he’s done great baserunning and he’s hitting .625 against us,” Riggleman said Saturday. “The guy has just killed us with his bat and his baserunning. Against our club, he’s certainly the MVP.”
Quick strike: The Reds went into Saturday night’s game with 109 stolen bases, tops in either league. Seven came in the first two games of this series, but Riggleman pointed out that catcher Todd Pratt, replaced Saturday by Mike Hubbard, was not responsible for the steals.
Thomas Howard’s steal of home Friday came after Jim Bullinger had picked Larkin off first. Another steal came by the trailer on a double steal. On two other steals, Pratt made no throw.
“Those are four that Johnny Bench couldn’t throw out,” said Riggleman. “Cincinnati has great speed on the bases, but we’ve done a pretty good job this year at stopping opponents’ running.”
Quick exit: Reds outfielder Ron Gant strained a chest muscle sliding into second base on his first-inning double. He left the game the next inning. He is likely to be sidelined two to five days.
Quick thought: Cubs closer Randy Myers suggests a rule change to reduce the length of games.
“When a pinch hitter is announced, make him bat,” said Myers. “And when a new pitcher comes into the game, make him face at least two batters, unless he retires the first one for the third out.”
These changes, Myers said, would save at least 10 minutes a game in the late innings, and even more with teams that often bring in pitchers to face only one batter.
Quick stats: Saturday’s game was the Cubs’ 73rd of the season and first in the second half of the 144-game schedule. Interesting halfway stats:
– Sammy Sosa had 15 homers and 15 steals, projecting to another 30-30 season.
– Mark Grace had 33 doubles, 10 homers and 49 RBIs. Career highs are 39 doubles, 14 homers and 98 RBIs.