2B Alfonso Soriano, Rangers
3B Aramis Ramirez, Cubs; Adrian Beltre, Mariners
SS Miguel Tejada, Orioles
OF Sammy Sosa, Orioles
OF Vladimir Guerrero, Angels
OF Manny Ramirez, Red Sox
DH David Ortiz, Red Sox
SP Pedro Martinez, Mets; Bartolo Colon, Angels
RP Armando Benitez, Giants
Manager Felipe Alou, Giants
Conservatives are forever being lectured that "you can't turn the clock back" -- and shouldn't want to. Oh? This season, for the first time since the Astrodome opened in 1965, every National League game will be played on real grass. What a concept. There are many other reasons why this is baseball's Golden Age, but, in the words of former Phillies manager Larry Bowa, "I don't want to beat a dead horse in the mouth."
Quiz answers:
(a) Rusty Staub (Houston, Montreal, Detroit, New York Mets).
(b) The first 18 pitches from the Rockies' pitcher were 14 balls and four called strikes.
(c) Because with a 3-2 count and two outs, the runner on first would be running with the pitch and could be almost certain to score on a double. Which he did.
georgewill@washpost.com
