By MIKE LOPRESTI
Gannett News Service

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Monday's game

CHICAGO - In a nearly empty Chicago Cubs clubhouse, the manager wanted a moment with his superstar. Dusty Baker put his right arm around Sammy Sosa and whispered a few encouraging words, with a message that was easy to guess, if impossible to hear.

It was Baker's duty to give the news. Sosa was no all-star. Not this season, which has been a corker. Not enough votes. Not enough support. Not enough home runs. And too much bad press.

The All-Star Game, just across town at the White Sox digs, will go on without him. So - egad - will the home run contest.

"I just found out," Sosa said a minute later, a shunned man, left on the outside looking in.

"It's something I've got to deal with. I've got to keep moving. ... Sometimes, when this type of situation happens, it happens for a reason."

Just another day in the National League Central division, where the living this summer is not easy.

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The St. Louis Cardinals have five all-stars, a Triple Crown threat sensation in Albert Pujols, and still were only 46-41 through the past weekend. That wouldn't even get them third place in the American League East and would leave them 9 1/2 games behind Atlanta in the National League East, but has them ahead in the cushy Central.

The Chicago Cubs were barely above .500 at 44-43. So was Houston. Nothing much special about that record, but a lot is forgiven these days in their division, and they were only two games behind the Cardinals.

"All three teams have their strengths and all three have their weaknesses," Baker said. "If anybody had been hot the past two weeks, they could be running away with it.

"One thing for sure, somebody is going to get hot."

The Cubs have struggled with offense, the Astros with starting pitching, the Cardinals with the bullpen.

The Cubs have been more so-so than Sosa. They are the model of being medium - 21-21 at home and 23-22 on the road, 26-26 during the day and 18-17 at night, 35-34 against the National League and 9-9 against the American.

The Astros bullpen has worked more innings than any other in baseball except Tampa Bay and Texas. St. Louis is 5-15 in one-run games.

"That," manager Tony La Russa was saying from behind his office desk, "has to be reversed.

"Whoever among the three improves some of their problems has a chance to win more consistently. That's what we're trying to do."

St. Louis seems the logical team to take control sooner or later. But the wild card may be Sosa, with something to prove.

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Truth is, Sosa's numbers of 13 home runs and 41 RBI through Sunday - cooled by injury and suspension - are not all-star timber. Pujols blew by him in the late fan voting, and should have.

"It's reality," Sosa said. "He's leading the league in everything."

Still, Sosa figured to be one of those fan favorites voted an all-star every year, come hell or high water or a .240 average. Now, in some parks, he is Corky. This was the latest example of how his aura has been tarnished.

Nor is he a candidate for the last spot to be picked by the fans. Baker, as National League manager, chose the five finalists and clearly decided his right fielder needed rest from scrutiny. So you can vote for Orlando Cabrera or Benito Santiago, but not Sosa.

"It might be a good idea," Baker said, "for Sammy to take this break and go underground a little."

Sosa concurred. "I can come back a new man."

We'll see. It is an open question in the Central division, like nearly everything else.