BLOWOUT IN WINDY CITY.

Byline: MATT McHALE

Chicago is lucky to have the best team in basketball. Two weeks into the baseball season, the Cubs and White Sox are drowning in Lake Michigan.

The Cubs' 0-13 start is the worst in National League history. The White Sox, touted as a favorite in the American League Central, might be even more disappointing. They went into Saturday's game with the Yankees in last place with a 4-11 record.

The Cubs didn't expect to do much this year, but the teaming of Frank Thomas with Albert Belle had the Sox thinking World Series. Belle, however, is hitting under .200 and Thomas has just six RBI.

Last week, the pair was 2 for 15 with no RBI in two games against Texas. Friday, the Yankees ended a losing streak at five games by beating the Sox 10-4.

``It can't get any worse than this,'' said Thomas, a two-time AL MVP. ``We're like zombies right now. It just isn't happening for us. We need to keep battling.''

The White Sox should jell eventually although the loss of right-hander Alex Fernandez (free agency) and third baseman Robin Ventura (broken ankle) should not be underestimated.

The Cubs, well, they had a players-only meeting last week and no one said anything, according to shortstop Shawon Dunston.

The play that best symbolizes their futility happened Wednesday against Colorado. Catcher Tyler Houston dropped strike three then ran up the line to throw out Larry Walker at first. Meanwhile, no one covered the plate and Quinton McCracken scored from third.

Mark Grace, sidelined with a strained hamstring since April 4, was doing color commentary in the radio booth.

``Unfortunately, I had a birds-eye view of the ugliest game I've ever seen.''

Manager Jim Riggelman has tried Dunston, Ryne Sandberg and Brant Brown in Grace's No. 3 spot, but the three have responded with a .182 average and four RBI in 33 at-bats. Grace was activated before Saturday's game but went 0 for 2 with two walks in the Cubs' 6-3 loss to the Mets.

``There wasn't one good thing to talk about,'' Grace said after the radio gig. ``I didn't bury any of my teammates or anything, but I'm also not going to insult people's intelligence and tell them we're playing good baseball.''

GOIN' SOUTH

Roger Pavlik and Scott Sanders are two starters who helped their teams to division titles a year ago, but now they could be in danger of losing their

jobs.

Pavlik was an All-Star for the Texas Rangers, but Friday night against Toronto he walked the first four batters he faced and allowed five runs before getting pulled with one out in the first.

``You usually don't see an inning like that in the big leagues,'' Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. ``I haven't seen one like that at this level.''

Pavlik has made 19 starts since his All-Star appearance with a 4-7 record and 6.20 ERA. In eight of those starts, he hasn't gotten out of the fifth inning. The four batters he walked had one home run in 185 at-bats this season.

Pavlik always has had trouble getting out of the first inning. Opponents have batted .323 during his career. He'll work it out in the bullpen for a while.

Sanders, who won five straight starts during San Diego's late season battle against the Dodgers, can't get anyone out for Seattle, his new team. Although he will make his next start Wednesday against Kansas City, Sanders already is 0-4 with a 10.53 ERA and has allowed nine homers. Like Pavlik, Sanders also ended his team's winning streak at four games Friday night.

``We need to get him on the right track and may change his role to get him going,'' Mariners manager Lou Piniella said. ``He throws the ball too well to be getting hit the way he has.''

42 SNAFU 

There are many who think baseball's idea to retire Jackie Robinson's No. 42 will only further dim his memory with young fans.

Players like Mo Vaughn and Butch Huskey can wear it for the rest of their careers, but future players will have to find other ways to honor his contributions. There are some bookkeeping problems as well. Former Saugus High School right-hander Roger Salkeld wears No. 42 at Triple-A Indianapolis, but will have to give it up if he returns to the big leagues. A member of the 40-man roster, Salkeld is not on Cincinnati's active 25-man squad and therefore not allowed. He wore it all last year with the Reds.

``It's an honor to wear his number,'' said Salkeld, whose career has been derailed several time due to arm problems. ``It's nice to wear anyone's number in the big leagues.

Others are linked to Robinson's legacy quite by accident. Indians reliever Mike Jackson has worn No. 42 the past five years. ``I could lie and say I wore it because of Jackie Robinson,'' Jackson said. ``He was a great player and deserves this honor, but I had no knowledge of the history of the number.''

EXTRA INNINGS

Orioles right-hander Scott Erickson came into this season 5-15 lifetime in April but has won his first two decisions for the first time in his career.

Erickson also received a little credit in Jimmy Key's victory last Sunday. He was charting the game and reported Key had thrown 97 pitches entering the ninth inning. The actual count was 107, which probably would have gotten the fragile Key pulled. Instead, Key stayed in the game and pitched his first shutout in four years.

``If I had known, I probably wouldn't have left Jimmy in,'' manager Dave Johnson said.

Think the ill will between players and management is over because of the new collective bargaining agreement? Think again.

David Cone was supposed to represent the Yankees and the players association in Tuesday's Jackie Robinson ceremonies at Shea Stadium. But he declined the offer late in the afternoon, following a call from union counsel Gene Orza. The players association was upset that interim commissioner Bud Selig was part of the ceremony. Second, the Mets were unhappy because it would have been Cone's first appearance at Shea since being traded in 1992.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: JOHNSON

Box: EXTRA INNINGS (see text)