April 6

Walk on
How difficult is it to improve plate discipline after making the major leagues? According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this is the complete all-time list of players who have had at least two seasons with an on-base percentage below .310 and two seasons above .375.

Player	Sub .310 seasons	Above .375 seasons
Tom T. Brown	3	3
George H. Burns	2	3
Jose Cardenal	4	2
Roberto Clemente	2	6
Chili Davis	2	6
Johnny Evers	3	4
Ron Fairly	2	2
Andres Galarraga	2	3
Eddie Joost	2	4
George Kell	2	7
Bid McPhee	2	5
Steve O'Neill	3	3
Roger Peckinpaugh	3	2
Ray Schalk	2	2
Ozzie Smith	2	3
Sammy Sosa	3	3
Harry Steinfeldt	2	2
Omar Vizquel	2	2
Monte Ward	4	2
Cy Williams	2	2
Robin Yount	3	5

Below is a list of players with two seasons with a below .300 OBP prior to two consecutive .400 seasons (minimum: 300 at-bats):

Sosa
Clemente
Ed Delahanty
Steve O'Neill (his career spanned deadball and liveball eras)

All of which serves as proof of how remarkable Sammy Sosa's learning curve has been:

1997: .300 OBP
1998: .377 OBP
1999: .367 OBP
2000: .406 OBP
2001: .437 OBP

Paradise (wherever you are)
Curt Schilling asked D-Backs owner Jerry Colangelo for his World Series ring before Tuesday night's game and ring ceremony since he'd be warming up in the bullpen. Colangelo denied Schilling, who found out why: when they announced his name, 6-year-old Gehrig Schilling, in full Arizona uniform, ran the ring out to his father. "Of all the things in baseball that have happened to me," said Schilling, "that's the best. Your son bringing you your World Series ring? How can it be better?"

Continuing with the good taste award, D-Backs manager Bob Brenly got a ring for his former boss, Roger Craig.

With you, without you
From 1996-2000, the Indians had sold out every home game at Jacobs Field before each season started. They have yet to sell out a home game this season.

Wake me, shake me, don't let me sleep too long
The Kansas City Royals haven't won their first two games of any season since 1979.

Gold in them thar hills
The Cincinnati Reds' starting rotation of Elmer Dessens ($1.85 million), Joey Hamilton ($500,000), Jimmy Haynes ($500,000), Jose Acevedo ($233,000) and Chris Reitsma ($252,000) make a combined total of $3.335 million. The only teams that don't have at least one starter making that much are the A's, Marlins and Pirates.

Nothing as it seems
One former Dodgers official noting Pedro Martinez's bulk to 190 pounds remembers when he weighed in on Opening Day of the 1992 Pacific Coast League season in Albuquerque (N.M.). Owner Pat McKernan asked Pedro what he weighed. "One hundred thirty-nine," reported Pedro.

Who's driving my car?
According to the team values offered by the Commissioner's Office, the Chicago White Sox are worth $219 million, ranking them 18th behind the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Philadelphia Phillies are worth $174 million, 21st overall. Which begs the question: how does one differentiate between small market and small management?

The healing game
There were exactly 100 players on the disabled list on Opening Day. The contracts of those players totals $190 million.

Piper at the gates of dawn
The Red Sox have seven players who will be younger than 30 as of July 31. And one under the age of 27, Casey Fossum.

Edible flowers
"Should I believe a magazine that spends 365 days a year studying the economy, or someone with zero credibility?"

-- Twins infielder and player representative Denny Hocking on the Forbes Magazine/Bud Selig flap.

Everything shines
Mike Morgan normally wears a size 11 ring. He requested a size 14 World Series ring.

"More gold," explained Morgan.

And your kicks for free
From Wednesday, when news of Tawny Kitaen's arrest for her alleged attack on husband and Indians pitcher Chuck Finley broke, to Saturday noon, the value of a "Tawny Kitaen Hercules Autograph Card" on eBay rose from $5.50 to $21.50.