Danny Jackson

CINCINNATI -- Baseball history runs deep along this stretch of the Ohio River, where professional ball has lived since infancy and where the Cincinnati Reds assembled one of the game's greatest teams in the 1970s.But the Big Red Machine doesn't live here anymore.The Reds will be host to the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of the 87th World Series tonight at Riverfront Stadium, but they do so with the sort of measured humility that comes from knowing the best team in baseball when they see it.The A's are the closest thing to the Big Red Machine to pass this way since Little Joe and Pete and Johnny and George and Sparky were in their glory.

For those who have agonized over the Baltimore Orioles and their disappointing start this year, understand that this is what die-hard Chicago Cubs fans go through every day of their lives.To be a Cubs fan is to have both an unlimited capacity for optimism and an amazingly high pain threshold. This season apparently will not be an exception.The arrival of free-agent pitchers Dave Smith and Danny Jackson (not to mention outfielder George Bell) brought new hope that this would be the Year of the Cub, but the pitching staff already has fallen on hard times.

BASEBALL zzzzzzzzzzeague * Oakland Athletics -- Placed Rickey Henderson (outfielder) on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 12. Optioned Reggie Harris (pitcher) to Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League. Recalled Fred Manrique (infielder) and Brad Komminsk (outfielder) from Tacoma.National League * Chicago Cubs -- Placed Danny Jackson (pitcher) on the 15-day disabled list. Activated Hector Villanueva (catcher) from the 15-day disabled list.

Baseball Cardinals: Activated P Danny Jackson from 60-day DL. Placed OF Miguel Mejia, former Orioles prospect, on 15-day DL with strained right quadriceps. Mariners: Optioned P Matt Wagner to Triple-A Tacoma. Phillies: Activated P David West from 60-day DL. Designated P Steve Frey for assignment. Rangers: Optioned P Danny Patterson to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Activated P Kevin Gross from 15-day DL. Tigers: Placed OF Melvin Nieves (strained oblique muscle) on 15-day DL, retroactive to Friday.

* Friday is the 10th anniversary of the start of Cal Ripken's consecutive-game streak. He missed the first game of a doubleheader on May 29, 1982.* Cecil Fielder went from April 22 to Friday night before homering.* The Cleveland Indians were on a pace to make 188 errors.* San Diego's Fred McGriff has hit 30 or more home runs in each of the past four years -- but has yet to make an All-Star team.* It has been almost a year since the Chicago Cubs' Danny Jackson won a game (June 14, 1991).* Since 1973, the Oakland Athletics have had only one winning season at Fenway Park (they are 35-72 in that span after Friday's game)

Athletics: Mark McGwire, who leads the majors with 46 home runs, went 1-for-4 with a double in the fourth inning.Cardinals: Left-hander Danny Jackson was hit hard in his first start in more than a year, giving up three runs in four innings.Cubs: Nine of Chicago's last 10 games have been decided by one run, with the Cubs winning four.Padres: Rickey Henderson hit his 70th career home run to open a game.Red Sox: Right-hander Jeff Suppan was moved from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day with a right elbow injury.

BaseballCardinals: Placed P Lance Painter on the 15-day DL and activated P Danny Jackson.Indians: Signed IF Torey Lovullo and assigned him to Triple-A Buffalo.Marlins: Activated P Al Leiter from the 15-day DL.Padres: Placed P Andy Ashby on the 15-day DL and recalled P Marc Kroon from Triple-A Las Vegas. Designated C Don Slaught for assignment. Purchased contract of P Terry Burrows from Las Vegas.Red Sox: Promoted P Chris Thompson to Single-A Sarasota.White Sox: Recalled IF Greg Norton from Triple-A Nashville.

BaseballAtlanta Braves -- Optioned P Jeff Parrett (0-2, 6.64 ERA) to Class AAA Richmond. Recalled OF Tommy Gregg from Richmond.Chicago Cubs -- Placed P Rick Sutcliffe (2-4, 6.75) on 15-day DL. Activated P Danny Jackson.Montreal Expos -- Suspended C Nelson Santovenia without pay for failing to report to Class AAA Indianapolis.Oakland Athletics -- Sent P Eric Show (0-0, 16.39) outright to Class AAA Tacoma.Philadelphia Phillies -- Placed IF Randy Ready (.303, 9 RBI) on 15-day DL with strained right side.

BaseballOrioles -- Signed their No. 45 pick in the draft, C Christopher Paxton from Palmdale (Calif.) High.Boston Red Sox -- Assigned IF Steve Rodriguez to Triple-A Pawtucket.Florida Marlins -- Placed OF Gary Sheffield on the 15-day DL. Transferred P John Johnstone from the 15-day to the 60-day DL. Signed OF Randy Winn and P Michael Tejera.Kansas City Royals -- Optioned 1B-DH Bob Hamelin to Triple-A Omaha.Milwaukee Brewers -- Signed 3B Tobias Kominek, 2B Ryan Ritter, C Michael Kinkade, OF Donald Moore and P Josh Bishop.