Mark Grace has a message for Cubs fans:
“Tell them we’re going to win our division,” the veteran first baseman insisted.
What makes him so sure?
“There are no guarantees,” Grace replied. “If we’re not going to win, we’re going to be right there. We have a better pitching staff and better hitters. I don’t see any reason why we can’t win it all.”
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If this comes to pass, Grace was advised, the Cubs are likely to shed their reputation as “lovable losers.”
“I hate that,” Grace said. “Show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser. I’d rather be a poor-sport loser.”
Grace pounded his hand in his first baseman’s mitt. It was the final week of spring training. He was anxious for the championship season to begin.
“People forget,” he said, “but we won two division titles in the ’80s, and we’ve been close a couple of times in the ’90s, in ’93 and ’95. I don’t like the `lovable loser’ tag. I don’t think it applies. A lot of clubs haven’t done as well. I wish you’d look it up.”
I did. In the ’80s, the Cubs ranked 20th of 26 clubs in victories. In the ’90s, they have won 582 games, just two more than the forlorn Philadelphia Phillies.
In addition to what may be his sugar-plum visions of a divisional title, Grace is confident he will have a strong season. He doesn’t always set personal goals but admits he is looking for “triple digits”–in runs batted in, runs scored and walks.
“I’m going to shoot for that,” he said.
It seems remarkable, but in his 10 years with the Cubs, Grace never has reached these numbers. But he has come close. He had 98 RBIs in ’93, scored 97 runs in ’95 and drew a career-high 88 walks last season.
Last season, particularly during the first two months, it seemed Grace seldom came to bat with runners in scoring position. It could be considerably different this year, especially with him hitting in the cleanup spot behind Lance Johnson, Mickey Morandini and Sammy Sosa.
“I have some quality guys in front of me,” said Grace, a .310 lifetime hitter who in 1995 approached the one-season NL record with 51 doubles. He has had more doubles, 281, than any other hitter in the ’90s.
Initially, manager Jim Riggleman’s decision to hit Grace fourth seemed puzzling. The expectation was Sosa would continue in the fourth spot, sandwiched between Grace and newcomer Henry Rodriguez.
Obviously, Riggleman knew what he was doing. Sosa has had a strong spring, certainly because, to some degree, of Grace and Rodriguez protecting him.
Grace also believes the new order may increase his run-scoring potential.
“Scoring runs, that’s what it’s all about,” he said.
Like nearly all his teammates, Grace is confident the Cubs will have enough pitching, starters and relievers, to make a genuine title run.
Closer Rod Beck, another newcomer, will anchor what could be an above-average bullpen. Terry Adams and Marc Pisciotta will be the setup men. Veteran lefty Bob Patterson is also in the bullpen mix and could be used in situations against tough left-handed batters.
Grace is also high on the starting rotation of Mark Clark, Kevin Tapani, Steve Trachsel, Jeremi Gonzalez and Terry Mullholland, who is expected to fill the No. 5 spot until Kevin Foster is ready. There is also the likelihood Kerry Wood, the 20-year-old phenom, will be recalled in midseason, if not sooner.
“I like playing in Chicago and playing with this club,” Grace said. “I want to finish my career with the Cubs. And, please, no more of that `lovable loser’ stuff. We’re going to be tough.”