'Sarge' returns to Baker-led Cubs

CHICAGO -- Gary "Sarge" Matthews is coming back to the Chicago Cubs.

New Cubs manager Dusty Baker hired Matthews, a key player on Chicago's 1984 NL East championship team, as his hitting coach Tuesday. Baker also hired Dick Pole (bench coach), Wendell Kim (third base coach), Gene Clines (first base coach) and Juan Lopez (bullpen coach).

Sonny Jackson was hired as a special assistant.

Of Baker's new staff, five worked with him in San Francisco. Four were with him last year, when he took the Giants to the World Series.

"It's a good staff, a very good staff," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. "A lot of quality names."

Matthews batted .281 in 16 years in the majors, hitting 234 home runs and 978 RBIs. In 1984, he hit .291 as the Cubs went 96-65 as they won the Eastern Division by 6 1/2 games.

Matthews worked as the Cubs minor league hitting coordinator from 1995-97. He was the Toronto Blue Jays' hitting coach from 1998-99, and had a similar position with the Milwaukee Brewers last season.

Matthews' son, Gary Jr., played for the Cubs in 2000-01. He's now with the Baltimore Orioles.

Pole began his coaching career in the Cubs' organization, and was Chicago's pitching coach from 1988-91. He was on Baker's staff in San Francisco from 1993-97, moving to Boston in 1998 to be the bullpen coach.

He's spent the last four years as a pitching coach, working in Anaheim (1999), Cleveland (2000-01) and Montreal (2002).

Pole, a right-hander, was 25-37 with a 5.05 ERA in 122 major league starts. He also pitched for Boston in the 1975 World Series.

After coaching stints with the Cubs, Houston, Seattle and Milwaukee, Clines joined Baker in San Francisco in 1997. During his six years as the Giants' hitting and outfield coach, San Francisco hit .269, third-best in the NL. Their 5,005 runs scored in that period also was third in the league.

Clines has also worked with the last three NL MVPs, Jeff Kent and two-time winner Barry Bonds.

Kim, a player in the Giants' farm system, managed in the San Francisco organization from 1981-88, twice winning league manager of the year honors. He joined the Giants in 1989 as their first base coach, a job he held for three years.

He spent the next five years as the Giants' third base coach and infield instructor before going to the Red Sox for a similar job. He was the bench coach for the Montreal Expos last season.

Lopez spent the past 13 years in the Giants' organization, including seven in the majors. He was Baker's bullpen coach the last four years.

Jackson was the Giants' third base coach the past four years, and also helped with baserunning and infield defense. Before coming to San Francisco, he spent 19 years in the Atlanta organization, including two on Joe Torre's major league staff.