Cubs power pack near recharge time // Farm system has few candidates for Dawson role

HOUSTON Two more seasons and that will be it for Andre Dawson.He can't be talked out of it.

"Oh, nothing's impossible, but right now, I can't imagine it,"said the Cubs slugger, who begins a $3.3 million contract next yearwith an option for 1992 that Dawson feels certain will be exercised.

"I'll be 38 then," he said. "I think that's long enough. I'llprobably go fishing for a few years after I'm done, then maybe getback into baseball."

Dawson's daily preparation after many knee operations islegendary. Rehabilitation will continue forever.

"Playing isn't the hard part," he said. "It's all the gettingready. I don't do anything the first week in October, then start inagain. It'll be like that when I'm done playing."

Who, then, will fly the Friendly Skies of the Friendly Confineswhen the Hawk has flown the nest?

Home run buddy Ryne Sandberg will be just over five months fromturning 34 when the 1993 season starts. Shawon Dunston will havejust turned 30.

After them, there are no boppers on the current roster or in thefarm system. Top 1985 draft choice Derrick May, who's flirting with .300 at ClassAAA Iowa, has yet to grow home-run muscles. Catcher Rick Wilkins, a former football linebacker, is developingpower at AA Charlotte. Outfielder John Jensen, who hardly played at the University ofTexas, is starting to hit 'em deep at Class A Winston-Salem.

Other than that, nothing.

Cubs general manager Jim Frey isn't too concerned about theimpending power shortage. These things, he implied, have a way ofworking themselves out.

"I don't see anybody in the outfield coming up who looks like athird, fourth or fifth hitter, that's true," Frey said.

"But I'm bothered when people say we have to have big guys forWrigley Field. We won (the East Division) last year without a wholelot of homers.

"Maybe Derrick May is the one we're looking for. He's a big guywho has hit for average up till now, but there is a feeling that, atsome point, he'll hit for power."

Perhaps Frey will make May a power project. He did it withSandberg in spring training of 1984 when he took the second basemanto the outfield in Mesa, Ariz., for a chat. Sandberg responded witha Most Valuable Player season of 74 extra-base hits, including 19homers. He has been hitting them since.

Before that, Frey was a power guru to Darryl Strawberry with theMets.

"Jimmy Frey saw something in Sandberg's swing - his size, hisbat quickness - that he felt would help in our park, especially onthe fastball from the middle of the plate in," manager Don Zimmersaid.

"The problem is, you can't do that with every hitter who comesup the road. Only certain ones."

Frey, citing coach Darrell Evans' work with Yankees rookie KevinMaas, agreed.

"In the minors, no one told this kid about turning on the ball,"Frey said. "He was just hitting for average. But Evans talked to himabout a different approach and now you've got an exciting hitter in apark that's perfect for power down the lines."

Whether May becomes that power man in Wrigley Field isuncertain.

Meanwhile, Dunston can't imagine Wrigley Field without Dawson.

"He not only can hit 'em out for us, but he has a calming effecton guys like me," Dunston said. "He's so in control. I've maturedbecause of him. A lot of us have."