Baseball owners are scrambling to find a realignment plan before their self-imposed deadline for doing so arrives on Wednesday. With franchises in Minnesota, Pittsburgh and Montreal facing uncertain futures, owners appear to have scrapped hopes for radical realignment and now seem ready to do it in phases. We're working on a whole series of things. One thing we do know is we need to get a schedule out. When the Devil Rays take their place in the East, Detroit will likely slide into the AL Central to fill the void left by either Milwaukee or Kansas City.
Owners are committed to further realignment in ensuing years.
Brewers officials seem to be at peace with the possibility of a move to the NL Central, where they could compete against the popular Chicago Cubs, or the prospect of staying put in the AL, which has been their home since 1970. Brian Giles was standing in the outfield during pregame batting practice Monday when he was hit in the forehead by a ball. He was on the turf for several moments before getting up to resume preparations for his start in left field. I'll be all right. Misinterpretation Cleveland pitcher Chad Ogea, perhaps trying to inject some life into another sterile pregame interview session Sunday, joked about teammate Orel Hershiser wetting the ball and teaching others to do the same.