And another thing...

By Gordon Edes, Globe Staff, 8/17/2003

This wheel's on fire

Mike Mordecai has twice pinch-run for Mike Lowell, the Marlins' leading home run hitter, and wound up hitting game-winning home runs.

A little bit me, a little bit you

If the Royals reach the playoffs, they are virtually certain to become the first American League team to do so without a 15-game winner. Their biggest winner so far this season is lefthander Chris George with nine, but he was demoted to the minors July 11. Runelvys Hernandez and Jose Lima have seven wins apiece. The major league-low for the leading winner on a playoff team is 11 by the 1987 Cardinals (Danny Cox, Bob Forsch, Greg Mathews) and the 1995 Rockies (Kevin Ritz).

Thunder island

The Manager of the Year in both leagues could easily be a Dominican: Tony Pena of the Royals in the AL, Felipe Alou of the Giants in the NL. Alou was NL Manager of the Year in 1994 for the Expos, who had the best record in baseball in a season cut short by a strike. Alou became the first manager from the island nation when he was hired by the Expos in 1992.

The way you do the things you do

Travis Hafner, the 6-foot-3-inch, 240-pound first baseman who last week hit for the cycle for the Indians, goes by the nickname of "Pronk," as in Part Project, Part Donkey. "Eddie Murray was all over me," Hafner said of the Tribe's Hall of Fame hitting coach. "He told me, `I've seen a couple of other cycles, but none more enjoyable than yours.' He liked my head-first slides."

Two steps behind

John Lowe, ace reporter for the Detroit Free Press, notes that the Tigers entered the weekend having scored 123 fewer runs than any other team in the American League. They could become the first club since the 1969 Padres to finish with at least 100 fewer runs than any other team in its league. The only AL team ever to score at least 100 fewer runs than any of its rivals was the Red Sox, who did it three times between 1926 and 1932. It's happened nine times in the NL.

Too much of nothing

The Dodgers have scored one run or fewer 31 times this season, matching a record of futility set by the 1962 Mets.

On the street where you live

Mets manager Art Howe, who lives in Queens, said last week's massive power failure gave him a chance to meet his neighbors. "Everybody was out on their stoops," Howe said. "It was a good chance to say hello. Everybody hit the ice cream truck and I broke out my grill. Mostly, I sat around and talked to people. I've enjoyed my stay in New York. There were a lot of nice people out there."

I will buy you a new life

Struggling Yankees pitcher Jeff Weaver was posted for sale on eBay by a prankster. He was described as being in "fair to good condition. Shows minor wear. Hair freshly feathered. Talent not included." Included in the posting was a photo of Weaver biting his glove. The Web site removed the item.

Compiled by Gordon Edes