Jeff Bagwell

If the Cubs are holding a trump card in their hand, it's their collection of starting pitchers. It's almost always bad news when one of Dusty Baker's front four asks his free-swinging teammates to win slugging contests. Matt Clement did just that Tuesday...

Players who homered twice in one inning with team, date and inning: American Association Ed Cartwright, St. Louis, Sept. 23, 1890, third. Players League Lou Bierbauer, Brooklyn, July 12, 1890, third. National League Charles Jones, Boston Braves, June...

They released their staff leader in spring training. Their ace is on the disabled list and the No. 2 man has disappointed. The big guys in the bullpen are overworked. And yet the Houston Astros are hanging in there. The leaders of the National League...

From a "nightmare" to an "awesome feeling." That's the difference one year--and good health--has made to Cubs left fielder Moises Alou. Plagued by injuries last year, his first as a Cub, Alou added another memorable moment to his turnabout season...

Matt Clement is learning how to finish what he starts. The Cubs' most reliable pitcher of late almost did it again in Sunday's 4-2 victory over Houston. Coming off the first complete game of his career, Clement took the mound against Houston at...

The acquisitions of Aramis Ramirez and Kenny Lofton were supposed to provide instant energy to the Cubs, but so far the offense has remained on life support. Houston right-hander Tim Redding and two relievers combined for a two-hitter Saturday in a 3-1...

Dusty Baker had a chat Sunday morning with Kenny Lofton after watching him pressing at the plate during his first four games as a Cub. Lofton, 1-for-17 entering the series finale with Houston, then knocked out three hits to energize the Cubs in a 5-3 win...

Home runs 500 Sammy Sosa could make it with his first swing. Rafael Palmeiro is on deck, while Fred McGriff and Ken Griffey Jr. are well within range. Sosa heads into Opening Day at Shea Stadium with 499 home runs, followed by Palmeiro at 490, McGriff at...

The 2003 salaries for the 827 major league baseball players on opening day rosters and disabled lists. Figures were obtained by The Associated Press from management and player sources and include salaries and pro-rated shares of signing bonuses and...

The Cubs all-or-nothing offense looked like a pretty good bet against Houston on Tuesday with the wind blowing out at 18 m.p.h. and Brandon Duckworth on the hill. But "nothing" trumped "all" once again in a 5-3 loss to the Astros as the Cubs continued to...

The belief that strike zones tend to shrink and expand depending on the stature of the player involved in the matchup was tested again Wednesday at Wrigley Field. The Cubs dropped another one-run decision with a 3-2 loss to Houston before 39,326 in a...

The first round of the Cubs-Astros showdown at Wrigley Field on Thursday was hot, sticky and brouhaha-free. No one was hit. No one was stared down. No one was ejected. No warnings were given. Whether the 8-3 Cubs' victory was the calm before the storm...