Bell anticipates chances to stack up RBI for Sox

SARASOTA, Fla. George Bell brought Andre Dawson's words into theWhite Sox clubhouse Thursday when he reported from the Cubs.

"He said I was the lucky one, that there'd be a lot of men onbase for me to drive in," Bell said.

Most of Bell's RBI will come as the designated hitter. TheWhite Sox made that clear as soon as he arrived, but quickly addedhe'd occasionally play left field.

Contrast this to the spring of 1988, when the Blue Jays didn'texplain DH-ing to Bell - they ordered it.

Bell was coming off a Most Valuable Player season of .308, 47home runs and 134 RBI as a left fielder, so sitting between inningsdidn't sit well with him. He objected so strongly to DH-ing he wentto the bullpen in the first exhibition game and lay down.

"It was something painful to have done to your life when youfeel you already have control of it," he said.

"I couldn't take designated hitter. I was only 28. I was goingto be the youngest DH in the league.

"Four years later I'm the same person and I'm not really readyto be a full-time designated hitter, but I know I'm going to have todo some of it. Outfield, too. And, who knows, maybe some first baseto help Frank (Thomas) out. I like first base.

"I'm glad they talked to me today. The Blue Jays, they nevertalked to me."

Bell thinks he knows why Cubs general manager Larry Himes tradedhim Monday for Sammy Sosa and Ken Patterson.

"Defense," he said. "Larry told me he really likes Sammy Sosa'sdefense and said they can work with his hitting there.

"That tells me they didn't like my defense. How would I rate mydefense? On a scale of one to 10? Seven.

"I go out and play.

"I'm not afraid to make errors. When I make errors, it'ssometimes because I'm aggressive."

Bell didn't like the way he was told of the trade.

"I thought they were joking. They treat players like they werenothing."

Bell knew some things about his new teammates. He knew CarltonFisk has a foot problem. He knew Tim Raines from being DominicanRepublic winter league teammates. He knew Thomas by sight.

"I know Ozzie (Guillen) is kind of crazy," Bell said. "Is thattrue?"

It is.

Bell spotted bongo drums by Guillen's locker. "I'll send formine and we'll play some heavy metal," he said, laughing.

One thing bothered Bell, though. His new number.

"Ten is no good," he said. "I'd like 11, but Luis Aparicio hadit and they don't use that number anymore. That's good because hewas such a good player.

"What I'd really like is 7 for Damaso Garcia. He's not well."

Seven is manager Gene Lamont's number.

"Oh, then how 'bout No. 21, my birthday?" Bell said. "Or 14,my kid's birthday?"

No good on those, either. Joey Cora has 21, Craig Grebeck 14.

"Then we've got to hold a team meeting," Bell said beforeexcusing himself to work out for the first time in a White Soxuniform.