Article: It's bottom of the 9th for Cubs Will they close out Baker deal or blow lead?

In San Francisco, they're calling it tampering. In Chicago, we call it a way of life. With the subtlety of a jewel thief, the Cubs have wooed Dusty Baker the last three weeks with just enough underlying schmoozing and backroom politicking to force his divorce proceedings from the San Francisco Giants.

Now, do they have the savvy to seal the deal and make Baker their most important acquisition in years? Or is this merely their latest tease, a unique twist to baseball's longest-running story of heartbreak and failure?

The answers will come today, when Baker removes the toothpick from his mouth and starts asking questions of Andy MacPhail and Jim Hendry. How much money will they pay him? Will ...

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