Paul Sullivan: Baseball's one constant? It's never as good as it was back in the day — or so old ballplayers say

CHICAGO - Former baseball players have been lamenting the state of the game forever, just as every generation believes things always were better "back in the day."

So it was no surprise to hear former Cubs first baseman Mark Grace chime in last week, giving a blunt assessment of the game he's spent most of his life playing, coaching or analyzing.

Grace played 13 of his 16 major league seasons for the Cubs. He finished second in voting for National League Rookie of the Year in 1988, made three NL All-Star teams, had more hits in the 1990s than any other player (1,754), then won a