More nights light way?
Cubs know pros, cons of day ball

By Paul Sullivan
Tribune staff reporter

February 10, 2004, 11:06 PM CST

When Dallas Green began lobbying for night baseball at Wrigley Field in the early 1980s, the former Cubs general manager insisted the franchise needed to change its tradition to keep up with its National League rivals.

Green was long gone by the time the city council approved a deal for night games in 1988. But the Cubs kept the basic framework of his argument when they lobbied last year for 12 additional night games, beginning with four more in 2004, contending they need the games to even out the playing field.

The storied collapse of the 1969 Cubs lends credibility to the theory that grows exponentially over the years. Manager Leo Durocher is blamed for playing the regulars too much, sapping their strength in the daytime heat. The facts are that mainstays Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Billy Williams, Glenn Beckert, Don Kessinger and Randy Hundley averaged 585 at-bats and the surging Mets overtook the faltering Cubs down the stretch.

After becoming Cubs manager last year, Dusty Baker consulted with Banks, Williams, Santo and Fergie Jenkins, all of whom advised him to use his reserves liberally to counter the scheduling anomaly.

"When you look at it, there are certain [drawbacks] about day games," Williams said. "You go through a lot of traveling now, a lot of stress and strain. When we played, we didn't know any different."

Baker followed the advice of the '69 Cubs and his Cubs went 18-9 in September and upset Atlanta in the division series before losing to Florida in the National League Championship Series.

But the Cubs have enjoyed limited success since their first full 18-game slate of night games in 1989, finishing above .500 only six times in 15 years with division titles in '89 and '03. In 10 of those seasons, the Cubs finished fourth or lower in their division. Of course, everything is relative. Over the previous 15 seasons before lights, they finished above .500 only once—in 1984—and wound up fourth or lower in the division 13 times.

The Cubs have a 137-124 record in 261 night games at Wrigley, including a 9-9 mark last year. Baker lobbied last year for more night home games immediately preceding road trips, saying players needed time to adjust to the change. On days after trips, the Cubs had only eight day games, going 3-3 with two postponements, including the snowed-out home opener.

Some players perform better in day games, and vice versa. Mark Prior, Matt Clement and Carlos Zambrano all had significantly lower earned-run averages in day games last year as opposed to night games. Kerry Wood, though, had a 3.62 ERA in day games and a 2.53 at night. Wood doesn't believe the lack of night games at Wrigley has any bearing on starters.

"That's more for the day in, day out players," he said. "I could definitely see how it can be tiring. … We pick up new guys who come to play in Chicago for the first time, and it's a tough adjustment, getting up every morning, being at the field by 8 or 9. There's a big difference in getting up at 6:30 or 7 a.m. than getting up around 10.

"It's a pretty big coincidence we're the only team that doesn't play night games and history shows we haven't won in a while. But there are arguments on both sides. As for day games, if you know you're pitching in one you prepare yourself for it."

Former Cubs outfielder Darrin Jackson, currently an analyst on White Sox broadcasts, believes the Cubs are at a distinct disadvantage because of the day games.

"When they go on a trip, they play mostly night games and come back and have to adjust to the day games again," Jackson said. "… They're a little more tired in the day games."

But shouldn't the opposing team be at a bigger disadvantage?

"It's a short period of time for the teams coming to [Wrigley]," Jackson replied. "They're not as tired. They're coming in for three days and say, 'Fine, we have to suck it up for three days.'"

Catcher Benito Santiago basically was told his career was over when he struggled during the '99 season with the Cubs. He was coming off a knee injury and unaccustomed to playing so many day games. But Santiago revived his career after leaving the Cubs and signed a two-year deal with Kansas City over the winter.

"It's not easy to play those day games over there," Santiago said. "But if you get used to it and get your rest, you'll be OK."

Players simply have to change their body clocks to conform to the schedule, like it or not. A few of them, such as ex-Cubs outfielder Brian McRae, preferred the day games over night games. McRae scoffed at the theory that players get more worn out playing day games at Wrigley.

"It's hot at night in Chicago too," he said. "Hot and humid. You just have to learn how to pace yourself. I didn't take batting practice on the field all the time. There are things you can do to save your energy. … I think it's a lack of having a talented ballclub. That's more of it. If you have a talented bench and you aren't scared to run these guys out there every now and then. … If it's hot, it's hot, so I think that's more of an excuse."

Copyright © 2004, The Chicago Tribune