Other than the Atlanta Braves, whose fifth starter, Kent Mercker, threw a no-hitter in the first week of the season, no team seems to have credible fourth and fifth starters.

Scary Fact Number Four: The players may strike in September. Would somebody please remind these prima donnas that the major league minimum salary is $109,000?

But if they've gotta strike, do it now. Right now. I'm not going to follow an incredible race in the season to see it cut off in September.

Play or sit, but don't whine and threaten. That's not what the game's about.

Scary Fact Number Five: The leading candidate for AL Rookie of the Year (I know it's early) is a Toronto Blue Jay.

In another move indicating the love of offense over defense in today's game. the Jays converted catcher Carlos Delgado into a leftfielder just to keep him in the batting order.

Delgado hit two mammoth home runs in his first two games at Sky-dome. One of them hit the Hard Rock Cafe beyond the outfield wall.

The Hard Rock Presented him with a bottle of champagne the next day.

Fortunately, it was fellow rookie shortstop Alex Gonzales's 21st birthday (hey, I'm almost that old), so he could share the drinks with everyone.

Where do they get the talent? The Orioles spent $43 million dollars to sign four free agents to beat these guys.

The Red Sox signed Otis Nixon and Dave Valle and got new GM Dan Duquette to end Blue Jay dominance.

It's not happening. Maybe they should give up.

Maybe the season will get better. And maybe they'll have hired a commissioner by the end of this season.