Speed demons still haunting Cubs
August 7, 2005

NEW YORK -- Bang-bang, you're dead. It's the story of the Cubs' season these days.

"Bang-bangs are going the other way now,'' manager Dusty Baker said. "We have had that for a while. We have to keep pressing and hopefully some bangs will go our way.''

But the Cubs' occasionally shaky defense has shown a vulnerability all season against players with speed. New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes is the latest to pretty much do what he wants on the bases against the Cubs.

Baker refused to criticize center fielder Jose Macias for a third-inning play Saturday in which Miguel Cairo flied out to center and Reyes, who had singled to move his hitting streak to 19 games, was able to tag at first and slide safely into second. Going from first to second on fly balls caught just about anywhere in the outfield isn't normal.


Didn't help that Maddux was pitching as people run on him. That Macias thing sounds nuts. That shouldn't happen.