First baseman Matt Stairs has begun to hit, and manager Don Baylor responded by putting him in the cleanup spot, behind Sammy Sosa in the order. Most of Stairs' success, however, has come in road games, and the Cubs want him to get it going at Wrigley Field. Entering this week, Stairs had hit all five of his home runs on the road, and was hitting more than 100 points higher away from Wrigley.
Theories abound as to why.
The wind has blown in from right field much of the time at Wrigley Field this year, and Stairs likes to yank the ball in that direction. Of course, Stairs is still learning a new league, having come to the Cubs in a trade with Oakland. Stairs, however, discounted any suggestion that he was pressing at Wrigley, where Mark Grace owned first base and starred for 13 years. But with the St. Louis Cardinals hitting town this week for a June showdown, Baylor planned to skip No. 5 starter Jason Bere one turn.