Collect $200,000 and proceed to ”Go.”
Andre Dawson will not be playing with Monopoly money when he collects his two contract bonuses–$150,000 for staying off the disabled list for a knee injury by the All-Star break and another $50,000 for being voted to the All-Star team.
”I`m not too concerned about those bonuses,” said Dawson, who receives a base salary of $500,000 this season. ”I`ve never been on the DL because of my knee, so that was almost a cinch, even though nothing`s guaranteed. It`s good to be in a position to achieve those types of incentives and then look forward to a better second half.”
Rick Sutcliffe is a leading candidate to receive the 17th Roberto Clemente Award. The award, to be announced Monday and presented at the All-Star Game Tuesday in Oakland, is given by Major League Baseball to the player who best represents the game both on and off the field through his humanitarian and charitable endeavors. Consideration is given to sportsmanship, community involvement and an individual`s contribution to his team and to baseball.
Cubs scout Frank Lucchesi said he kept track of the number of home runs Gary Matthews, traded to Seattle Friday, hit during batting practice this season.
”Gary hit 538 balls out of the park during batting practice at home and on the road this season,” said Lucchesi. ”At $3 a baseball, that`s a lot of money ($1,614).”
Manager Gene Michael is more and more pleased with the peformances of lefty-swinging rookies David Martinez and Rafael Palmeiro against left-handers.
”The more I play, the more I see left-handed pitching a little bit,”
Martinez said. ”I guess Gene is leaving me in there and he`s letting me have the confidence. I`m glad I`m helping the team and doing well.”
”I`ve always hit left-handers pretty well. I try to drive the ball right back at them or to left field. That`s why I`m pretty successful with them,”
said Palmeiro.
The Cubs tied a record Saturday by homering in their 13th straight game, equaling the mark set in 1954.
Cubs TV announcer Steve Stone turns 40 Tuesday.
