Sosa arrived 70 minutes before Sunday's first pitch, and he apparently left 15 minutes after the game started without putting on his uniform, according to security cameras in the team's parking lot at Wrigley Field. Sosa told the Chicago Sun-Times he was in the clubhouse until the seventh inning.

After hearing that manager Dusty Baker told reporters he wanted Sosa to be in top shape next season, an angry Sosa told the newspaper he was tired of Baker blaming him for the Cubs' failures.

"It's certainly inexcusable for him not to be at the ballpark and not dressed with his teammates," general manager Jim Hendry said.

Sosa's agent, Adam Katz, called the fine too steep.

"He is emotionally, mentally and physically prepared and a warrior inside the lines," Katz said. "He definitely overreacted by not being in uniform and it was a mistake and he recognizes it."

The episode follows an injury-plagued season in which Sosa batted just .253 with 35 homers and 85 RBI, leading to speculation the Cubs will try to trade him.

Sosa is to make $17 million next season and the club has an $18 million option for 2006 with a $4.5 million buyout. If Sosa is traded, his 2006 contract becomes guaranteed and a 2007 club option is added at $19 million with a $4.5 million buyout.

DODGERS: Milton Bradley was back in Los Angeles' lineup Thursday, a day following a clubhouse confrontation between the outfielder and a reporter he called an "Uncle Tom."

Rich Levin, a spokesman for the commissioner's office, said major-league baseball officials had made several telephone calls on the matter. Levin said there will not be an investigation.

"We're satisfied the two sides are working together to resolve the situation," Levin said in New York.

Bradley fielded a question from Los Angeles Times reporter Jason Reid regarding Cardinals fans' actions Tuesday - Bradley's first game since he was suspended by the league for the regular season's final five games after a bottle-throwing tantrum during a win over Colorado in Los Angeles. Bill Dwyre, the Times' sports editor, said various reporters in the Dodgers' clubhouse Wednesday said Bradley didn't like Reid's question. According to eyewitnesses and Reid's tape, Bradley said, "You're an Uncle Tom. You're a sellout."

PHILLIES: Philadelphia is wasting no time trying to replace the fired Larry Bowa, setting up interviews with former managers Don Baylor, Charlie Manuel and Grady Little for next week.

Baylor, who managed Colorado and the Chicago Cubs, will be interviewed Tuesday. Manuel, who led Cleveland to a division title three years ago, will come in Wednesday. Little, fired by Boston after last season's playoff loss to the New York Yankees, gets his turn Thursday.

Baylor, 55, has spent the past two seasons with the New York Mets as a bench coach and hitting coach under Art Howe. He managed the Rockies from 1993-98, guiding the team to a wild-card berth in 1995, when he was named the NL's manager of the year. Baylor also managed the Cubs from 2000-2002, and has compiled a record of 627-689.

Manuel, 60, has been a special assistant to Phillies general manager Ed Wade for the past two seasons. Before coming to Philadelphia, Manuel spent 15 years with the Indians, where he was credited with helping Phillies first baseman Jim Thome develop. Manuel was Cleveland's hitting coach from 1988-89 and again from 1994-99, and was manager from 2000 until the middle of the 2002 season. In 2001, Manuel led the Indians to the AL Central title. His record is 220-191.

Little, 54, was hired in January as a special assistant to the Cubs' Hendry. He managed the Red Sox for two seasons, leading them to the AL championship series last year. Little also has coached for San Diego (1996), Boston (1997-99) and Cleveland (2000-01). He is 188-136.

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