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Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Cactus Jack who wrote (29825)	10/9/2003 8:55:56 AM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 89467

Yet again, Lofton sets tone from top down ___________________________________________ BY TONI GINNETTI Staff Reporter The Chicago Sun-Times October 9, 2003 What makes the Florida Marlins "go'' is the speedy leadoff duo of Juan Pierre and Luis Castillo. What may have been overlooked in this National League Championship Series is the "go'' at the top of the Cubs lineup. Kenny Lofton, 36, is doing for the Cubs what he has done for his teams in eight of the last nine postseasons -- set the table and deliver. The veteran outfielder was 4-for-5 Wednesday with two RBIs and a run scored, his four hits tying an NLCS record for most hits in a game, achieved 15 times but not since 1997 by Atlanta's Keith Lockhart. In seven postseason games, Lofton is hitting .367 (11-for-30) with three RBI, three stolen bases and six runs scored. "I just go out there and do what I do, try to put the ball in play and then anything can happen,'' he said. It is happening for the second straight season under manager Dusty Baker, who in 2002 got Lofton in the second half of the season from the White Sox for the San Francisco Giants. But it has been a regular happening for Lofton, who has been in playoffs and World Series with Cleveland and Atlanta as well as the Giants. "Experience helps give you an understanding that when you come down to the stretch, everything is important,'' he said. "Every hit, every guy on base -- it's important to try to get him in. Having that understanding [is something] I talk to the guys about, that this run is important because you never know when you'll get another.'' Lofton told his teammates something else after Tuesday's 9-8 loss in 11 innings in Game 1. "I told guys not to worry because it's a seven-game series. I can't imagine winning every game. If you lose a game, that's not unusual. You have to take the attitude that it's just one game.'' The Cubs needed to realize, too, that despite the loss, they scored eight runs, a power explosion that continued Wednesday in the 12-3 victory that included 16 hits, tying the club record for hits in a playoff game. "We've gotten runners on base the whole playoffs,'' Lofton said. "We haven't always gotten the runs in, but we've had runners on base. As long as you do that, anything can happen. "You can't put pressure on yourself in losing one game because it's not over. You go out there like [Tuesday] and we scored a lot of runs, and a lot of people might not have thought we'd score a lot. But we're capable of it.'' Lofton may be the perfect man for the Cubs now, not only in the leadoff role as a table-setter but as a calming voice of wisdom, albeit a lively voice at that. "I think it helps you to go out with a little confidence and understanding that this is a tough game, but it's also fun,'' he said of the playful clubhouse atmosphere. "Do what got us out there and don't put extra pressure on yourself. 'Take the fun from the clubhouse and put it on the field.' That's the attitude I try to give -- just lighten up and it's going to be OK. "I talk to the guys and tell them 'the game is the same.' It'll change because of the situation you're in, but it's the same. Play it the way it's supposed to be played and things will work out.'' suntimes.com

To: Cactus Jack who wrote (29825)	10/9/2003 9:07:54 AM
From: stockman_scott	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89467

Cubs send The Marlins reeling _____________________________________________ suntimes.com <<...Prior narrowed down the Cubs' need to win to a five-game series like they had in Atlanta. ''The way I'm looking at it is that Woody is starting out a five-game series like he did last time,'' Prior said. Prior pitched into the eighth before manager Dusty Baker a halted his performance at 116 pitches. That was Prior's lowest output since Sept. 11 against Montreal in Puerto Rico when he lost 3-2 on 110 pitches. Otherwise, in six of his previous seven starts, he has thrown between 124 and 133 pitches. ''He wasn't as sharp as he has been,'' Baker said, ''but all the runs helped him and Mark's a competitor. You don't want anyone coming to your house and beat you 2-0. It was important to at least get one. We haven't had a real hot streak hitting-wise all season long or a period where we have had this many guys swinging well as a team." Sammy Sosa gave Chicago fans reason to believe there is a World Series date awaiting them against either the Yankees or Red Sox. For the second night in a row, he clobbered a two-run homer that will keep fans warm all winter with the memory of its majesty. Sosa lofted a homer in the second to a spot that rarely welcomes balls. It traveled just over the TV camera shack in center, an honored spot that Sosa hero Roberto Clemente once found with a homer. ''Sammy hasn't had an extreme hot streak all year,'' Baker said. ''I'm hoping it's on the way. It's coming right on time.'' The Cubs offense didn't waste time for a second straight game. But unlike Tuesday's four-run first inning, the Cubs were just getting started in Game 2 when Randall Simon's two-run single gave Prior a quick lift. Three-run bursts followed in the second, third and fifth innings and Marlins starter Brad Penny was mercifully relieved of duty with one out in the third after Aramis Ramirez's homer and Simon's single. Alex Gonzalez damaged the Marlins bullpen after that. He homered in consecutive at-bats in the fifth and sixth innings to knock home three runs. That gave Gonzalez three homers, a double and six RBI in the NLCS. ''Maybe he's Gene Tenace or Al Weis in the playoffs,'' said Baker, referring to light-hitting players who starred in October. Kenny Lofton had four hits, which tied an NLCS record, and stole a base. Lofton and Mark Grudzielanek continue to be a prolific pair at the top of this lineup as the Cubs pounded out 16 hits. But no pair will mean more in the postseason than Prior and Wood. As they go, so go the Cubs...>>