Leave it to a native of Georgia to ...

Leave it to a native of Georgia to anticipate and know in what manner to play in extreme heat.

When childs catcher Michael Barrett went family circle to Atlanta for the All-Star break, he did his daily workouts outside.

"It's automatic sweat there as shortly as you get outside," he said. "I worked on the outside outside because I thought we'd hie into some hot weather, and especially playing day games."

With the heat index wait fored to remain near 100 extents through Tuesday, the Cubs are playing in a reach of the hottest summer weather in late seasons. Barrett, who caught Friday and Saturday's games against the St Louis Cardinals, said all the players and the catchers in particular pay attention to drinking enough fluids.

"But I think it's important in weather like this to eat, too," he said. "You can over-compensate about drinking fluids and not eat enough, in such a manner I make sure I eat especially breakfast.

"This is the first draw out of heat since I've been in Chicago that I can remember. The last not many years we've been blessed with the weather. Day games have been a little more taxing. on the other hand the only game I felt the heat was [a day game Thursday] in modern York. That was a noon start. It's hard to say what it was about that day, either the heat or the quick turn-around [from the game the night before]."

Barrett said a catcher can let slip through the fingers 5 to 10 pounds of water weight in a extend like this. That is something the team trainers and manager Dusty Baker are aware of and monitor.

"The catcher probably sweats the chiefly because he has the most numerous clothing and equipment on," Baker said. "Then the pitcher because he's working a destiny and maybe the shortstop. This is when the tough survive and those in the best shape and who's living the cleanest. You view it if they're struggling [running] around inferior to third. This heat will number on everyone."

The brats who have won three straight games, will get by heart a break from the daytime heat nearest week with night games against the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided through ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved