Slowly but surely, the Cubs are slipping dangerously far behind the first-place St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central race. With their 5-2 loss Thursday to the Colorado Rockies, the Cubs (21-24) fell 81/2 games behind the idle Cardinals (30-16). The third-place Cubs also trail the Milwaukee Brewers (23-23) by 1-1/2 games.

A year ago at this time, the Cubs were 25-20 and 1-1/2 games behind the first-place Cincinnati Reds. But the Cardinals went on a tear in June and July and eventually won the division by 13 games over the Houston Astros and 16 over the Cubs.

Cubs manager Dusty Baker wants to make sure his team doesn't try to make up all the lost ground in too big of a hurry.

"You've got to do the slow walk,'' Baker said. "If you keep winning series, you'll slow walk. You go seven, six, five, four -- next thing you know, hopefully, they see the whites of our eyes and we are right up on 'em.''

The Cubs have 14 games remaining against the Cardinals after splitting a two-game April series in St. Louis. Their next series is July 22-24 in St. Louis. The Cardinals come to Wrigley Field for the first time for a four-game series Aug. 11-14.

OFF BASE: Asked about Corey Patterson's struggles in the leadoff spot, Baker cited his inability to draw walks. Patterson has only nine in 187 plate appearances after walking just 45 times in 687 plate appearances last season.

"He hasn't learned the art of how to walk,'' Baker said. "He'll swing at a bad 3-1 pitch or a bad 2-0 pitch. He's not advanced enough in his game to know when to work the count. He's still learning, and I don't think he has found the kind of hitter he is going to be yet.

"He hasn't had RBI success, especially with driving in runners from third base with less than two out. That's the thing that's probably frustrated him the most. That's usually a high-percentage RBI situation.''

Baker said Patterson hasn't taken the necessary steps to succeed as a leadoff man.

"He doesn't seem as prepared to start the game as he would in the 6 spot, even though he has the talent and ability to do it,'' Baker said. "When it's good, he can get a lot of hits. But when it's bad, he can have a lot of [unsuccessful] at-bats, especially with the fact he doesn't walk much.''

WILD PITCHES: Cubs officials were mystified to see reports in the Oakland media that the Cubs have been talking to the Athletics about acquiring outfielder Eric Byrnes. They say no such conversations have taken place, nor are they expected to.

And forget the trade rumors involving Greg Maddux. Any team trading for Maddux would have to pick up his $9 million salary for 2006, which kicks in if he reaches 400 combined innings for 2004-05. Maddux turns 40 next April, and that's a hefty sum for a pitcher nearing the end of his career.

TAKING THE RAP: Baker fielded questions about the Cubs' seventh-inning stretch routine after Jeff Gordon drove "Take Me Out to the Ball Game'' into the wall Tuesday.

Asked if he'd like to see a particular singer do it, Baker said: "Snoop Doggy Dogg. He'd probably rap it instead of singing it.''

Would Baker like to come back and sing the song after he is finished as Cubs manager?

"All depends on how I end up here,'' he said.

CONDOLENCES: General manager Jim Hendry's mother, Mildred, died Thursday in New Orleans at 82.http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/...t-kiley27.html