The rest of the dream
A Seattle restauranteur offered Ichiro Suzuki $400,000 to do a commercial for his clam chowder. Ichiro declined, stating that he doesn't need the money.

Last year, Pedro Martinez turned down more than $1 million for commercials and appearances for a big fast-food chain and had this to say about his decision: "I might agree to do it at some time, but only if the deal includes building a school and helping the poor people back home."

Blue sky mining
Luke Prokopec, the converted outfielder from South Australia who has pitched very well in his three starts thus far with the Dodgers, was on the postgame show with Rick Monday following his win on April 22. Asked what he likes to do in his spare time here in The States, Prokopec replied (in his Crocodile Dundee accent), "go to the pub and drink a lot of ale with my mates."

Asked what he enjoys in his spare time at home in Australia, Prokopec said, "watch football."

"They televise the NFL in Australia?" asked Monday.

"No, the real football," said Prokopec. "The one without all the equipment."

Everything in its right place
Blue Jays third baseman Tony Batista last season went to church in Kansas City. When the clergy emptied the collection envelopes, they found $1,600 in the one put in the plate by Batista.

Climb on a back that's strong
Going into Saturday's games, the only National League pitchers who had quality starts in every outing were Chicago's Jon Lieber (5), New York's Rick Reed (4) and Houston's Wade Miller (4); Pedro Astacio and Chris Reitsma were perfect until they met at Coors Field on Friday. In the AL, the list includes four pitchers who have each made five starts: Pedro Martinez, Brad Radke, Albie Lopez and Scott Schoeneweis.

To be the one
The 2001 free-agent pitchers (through Friday):

American League
Pitcher	W-L	ERA	QS
Mussina, N.Y.	1-3	4.78	2
Nomo, Bos.	3-1	2.40	4
Hentgen, Balt.	1-2	2.82	4

National League
Pitcher	W-L	ERA	QS
Dreifort, L.A.	1-1	4.88	2
Ashby, L.A.	2-0	3.86	0
Hampton, Col.	3-0	2.97	2
Neagle, Col.	2-0	3.21	3
Appier, N.Y.	2-2	4.55	3
Trachsel, N.Y.	0-4	10.42	1
Bere, Chi.	3-0	3.60	3
Tavarez, Chi.	2-0	1.11	3

River deep, mountain high
The folly of judging pitchers by what they touch on a radar gun: one AL scout this week clocked Detroit's Matt Anderson at every speed from 90 to 98. "The velocity depended on his delivery," said the scout. "Not good, not at this point in his career.'

It's not easy being me
Chad Fox has had two Tommy John surgeries already and last summer fractured his right (pitching) elbow. That hasn't affected him this season, however, as he is unscored upon in four outings and has struck out eight while walking only one in 5 2/3 innings for the Brewers.

Crazy patterns in your sleep
The Browns' seventh-round pick in the NFL draft, wide receiver Andre King from the University of Miami, in '93 was a second-round selection of the Atlanta Braves. King went on to bat .241 in five minor-league seasons for three different organizations. In his short baseball career, he was traded for Mike Remlinger, Mike Devereaux and Luis Ordaz.