Sosa slams number 49, then asks for help

Sammy Sosa: From trade bait to player of the month

Change of heart -- Sosa want to stay in Chicago.

Latinos in the Major Leagues -- The Breakdown 2000.

The highest paid Latino players in the Major Leagues.

Sosa slams No. 49, then asks for help.

September 12, 2000 -- Dominican slugger, Sammy Sosa increased his Major League lead in home runs this season by slamming his 49th home run of the year last night.

The final outcome: The Cubs lost 7-6 to the Cincinnati Reds.

That loss knocked the Cubs even deeper into the National League Central cellar and now are tied with the Phillies for the worst record in baseball.

Sosa is having another incredible year, despite all the tension and conflict he's had with new manager Don Baylor. But Sosa can't carry the entire team by himself.

Sammy Sosa wants Cubs' management to pick up more power hitters, while Manager Don Baylor wants pitching.

"We need a few people in the lineup that if I don't do it one day, somebody will do it," Sosa said. "There has got to be [more power hitters]. I am the only person, I have to say, that has over 30 home runs. I'm not trying to point fingers, but if we have more players between 25 and 30 [home runs] we will have a better record."

Don Baylor's vision for the future is slightly different, "What I want is pitching," Baylor said. "I'll take two or three solid performers. You think about those rubber-armed guys who can pitch three to four times a week."

Baylor covets Dodgers right-hander Darren Dreifort, who is eligible for free agency after the season. The Cubs might try to convince Dreifort to convert to closer.

"Stuff-wise, for five-six innings, you're not going to touch him," Baylor said of Dreifort.

Sosa wants to win and that's why rumors were flying high of him going to the Yankees or any other contender. But he has faith on Cubs' management. Sosa strongly believes that President/General Manager Andy MacPhail will build a winner around him.

"Andy MacPhail has the gun and he's not afraid to pull the trigger," Sosa said. "I guarantee to you that next year we're going to have some quality players here who want to go out there and win. We're going to be a different ballclub next year. I can feel that."

I sure hope so!

Note: The Cubs were officially eliminated from postseason contention.

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