Estes, Baker united again

MESA, Ariz. -- When Dusty Baker became the manager of the Chicago Cubs in November, he didn't have a left-handed starting pitcher. And he knew he would need one with the slew of solid left-handed hitters in the National League Central, guys like St. Louis' Jim Edmonds, J.D. Drew and Fernando Vina and Houston's Lance Berkman.

In perhaps an odd twist of fate, Chicago signed one. Shawn Estes, the pitcher who won 19 games for Baker in 1997 when they were both with the San Francisco Giants, signed a one-year contract with the Cubs in December.

"That's probably...No, that is the reason why I'm here right now because he's here," Estes said of Baker, who has been named N.L. Manager of the Year three times. "It's nice to be back under his command. He had me from the time I was 23, 24 years old."

Now they've officially reunited in the Midwest.

Estes played for the Giants from 1995-2001 and that's when he established himself as a promising lefty. At times, though, he was inconsistent but he won 64 games in his career in San Francisco, including a 15-year season in 2000.

"I had some success underneath him," Estes said of Baker, whose contract with Chicago runs through the 2006 season. "I think he remembers the successes more than he does the failures. This is just a more comfortable environment."

Estes, a former Douglas High star, started the 2002 season with the New York Mets but was traded to the Cincinnati in a five-player deal in August. The constant movement and his inability to ever settle contributed to a 5-12 campaign. He also scoffs at the notion that his last season with the Giants was basically a last chance to earn the long-term contract he always wanted.

"I never felt like I was auditioning with the Giants," Estes said. "I knew what I was capable of doing and was confident in my abilities."

Estes said that with Baker, the Cubs get a guy who knows how to win. He spent 10 seasons with San Francisco and led the Giants to the World Series last season, where they lost to Anaheim in a seven-game series. He has 840 career victories, seventh most among active managers. Baker also led the Giants to two other postseason appearances and Estes has experienced the playoffs with him. The combination could bring positive results to a city that has been longing for some. "I think Dusty instills a lot of that winning attitude in this clubhouse and I think the guys have picked up on that," Estes said of Baker, who won the World Series as a player with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981. "I think there's going to be a little different buzz here. I've been on some very successful teams. I've never gone to big dance, I've never been to the World Series with those teams, but there's been glimmer of hope with them. At least I could kind of taste it. Last year, we lost a lot. So I know the difference between what winning feels like what losing feels like. Basically, I know when you're on a winner and when you're on a loser."

And he feels like Chicago can be a winner this season. On a team with a staff that has two young fireballers in Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, not to mention a superstar hitter in Sammy Sosa, this just might be the season for the Cubs to win the N.L. Central. In a trend Estes doesn't want to continue, Chicago hasn't had a lefthanded pitcher with a double digit win season since Greg Hubbard in 1993. It also hasn't had a lefty with a 10-strikeout game since Steve Wilson in 1990. In the past eight seasons, southpaws have only won a combined 20 games for Chicago.

"I think as far as guys who can go out there and strike guys out and as far as horses go, this is the best staff I've been on," Estes said. "I mean we got four really good arms, right-handed guys who can go out there and throw hard. This is the first time I've actually been the veteran on a staff and I'm only 30 years old. I thought that would be the case when I was like 35 or 36. But I'm looking forward to it. I really am."

WILLIAMS MISSES ANOTHER GAME

Carson High graduate Matt Williams didn't play for the fourth consecutive game in Arizona's 8-5 win over San Diego on Saturday at Tucson Electric Park. Williams, who missed the previous three games with the flu, is scheduled to play today against Milwaukee in Maryvale, Ariz.