Rick Sutcliffe is not scheduled to start in Sunday`s season-finale against Montreal. Jamie Moyer is tentatively slated to go against the Expos`
Pascual Perez.
Manager Frank Lucchesi found something else to praise Andre Dawson for.
”He is even the best in the training room as far as taking treatments,” Lucchesi said. ”He`s always there on time. It shows his discipline and dedication. He has pride. I wish a few more ballplayers had it.”
Lucchesi gave his early impressions of rookie catcher Damon Berryhill.
”He`s coming along pretty well. He`s got velocity on his throwing, although his ball apparently tails a little bit, after talking to (Ryne)
Sandberg and (Shawon) Dunston. He showed something with the bat Thursday (2 for 4, including a double). He`s a good listener. He won`t alibi after making a mistake.”
Dawson is aiming for the 50 home run milestone.
”So much emphasis has been put on the 50 home run plateau,” said Dawson, who entered the series against his ex-teammates with 48. ”I`m trying to stay within myself, even though there might be a few swings I`ll take that will be out of the ordinary.”
As was the case earlier this season, Dawson was booed Friday night by Montreal fans. ”I figured my reception here would be similar to what it has been in the past. That gets me a little more keyed up,” he said.
Dawson is eligible to go to salary arbitration after the season if he does not agree to a contract offer from Cubs President Dallas Green.
”I haven`t spoken with (agent) Dick Moss in about two weeks and nothing involving the contract has been mentioned,” Dawson said. ”I hope it doesn`t boil down to something like (arbitration). Dallas knows how I feel and I`m just hopeful that something will be worked out between those two. I`m pretty sure it shouldn`t boil down to arbitration, though.”
Asked if his hitting 50 homers could significantly enhance his chances of being selected as league MVP, Dawson replied: ”It could. There are people who have different feelings about the MVP award . . . with us being in last place. I`ve been runner-up twice. If it doesn`t happen this year, chances are it won`t ever happen. I won`t let it bother me. I just played as hard as I could and hope all of that other stuff takes care of itself.”
