Games Started

Quote: "If the 162-game schedule is an equalizer, then we've got a lot of one-run victories coming." -- Manager Larry Dierker, whose Astros are 0-12 in one-run decisions It's a fact: The Mets are 9-0 in games started by a left-hander. Who's hot: . Extra ushers were in the right-field bleachers near the Braves' bullpen as John Rocker made his first appearance of the year in Milwaukee. Who's not: The Rockies' Darren Bragg is in a 2-for-25 slump. On deck: The Diamondbacks' Todd Stottlemyre goes for his league-leading eighth victory tonight.

It seemed like a good idea at the time. When the NFL drew up its schedule for the last weekend of the year, it decided to start today's Redskins-Dolphins game at 4: 15 p.m. so CBS would have it available as a doubleheader game along with the Titans-Steelers. CBS only gets a chance to show the Redskins when they're at home against an AFC team. What nobody could have known is that the late start means there'll probably be nothing at stake for either team at the kickoff. Unless Tampa Bay loses and Minnesota loses or ties in their 1 p.m. games, the Miami game will be meaningless for the Redskins, because they'll have no shot at a first-round playoff bye. It's already meaningless to the Dolphins unless either Seattle or Kansas City plays a tie game at 1 p.m. If both the Seahawks and Chiefs win, the Dolphins are out of the playoffs.

ATLANTA -- One of the reasons Atlanta manager Bobby Cox decided to start Tom Glavine in Game 1 of the World Series was so his left-hander wouldn't have to work on too many days' rest. Now, rest is exactly what Glavine will get. And Cox can only hope it provides a cure. Glavine was scratched from last night's start because of the flu, which has been sweeping through his family. Greg Maddux took his place, with Kevin Millwood receiving the start tonight in Game 2. Where does this leave Glavine, besides home in bed?

BOSTON -- For the past two weeks, baseball people have been compiling their annual list of All-Star Game snubs. They've been talking about all the players who enjoyed a great first half of the season but were not voted starters by the fans or not chosen as reserves by the managers.But it's all part of the system. Fans are going to vote for their favorite players, regardless of whether those players' statistics warrant a start in the All-Star Game, and managers filling out their rosters often will lean toward players from their teams.

Each trip down the floor is a learning experience for Wilde Lake.With a starting lineup of three sophomores and two juniors, the Wildecats are a bundle of energy and nerves. It's not quite Basketball 101, but it's close.Wilde Lake, which graduated last season's five starters, played host last night to 20th-ranked Long Reach, a team with all its starters back. On paper, one could see the Lightning's experience and give them the nod. But the game's played on wood, not paper.Wilde Lake took advantage of Long Reach turnovers and poor free-throw shooting for a 51-44 victory.

A country so long complacent about young death in the ghetto has finally been jerked awake by the terrible news out of Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas and Washington state, where freckle-faced kids too young to drive are old enough to gun down their classmates. Suddenly, the argument about parental responsibility has a dark urgency that slams academic debate to the sidelines.Experts have long maintained that parental actions - or the lack of them - are central to shaping a child. This is an awesome mandate in the best of times, but when dysfunction increasingly means violence, there's a rush to diffuse responsibility.

NEW YORK -- Last October, it was a viral infection that struck then-Florida Marlins pitcher Kevin Brown during the National League Championship Series. Now the ace of the San Diego Padres' staff, Brown again is fighting a bug at the most inopportune time.Padres manager Bruce Bochy said Brown was running another fever yesterday, just as he did before starting Game 1 of the World Series on Saturday. Bochy wasn't aware of Brown's illness until around the sixth inning, but said, "I knew something was up because just looking at Kevin, he didn't look well."

Rangers: Texas is 43-18 in games started by Rick Helling and Aaron Sele. They are 36-50 in the rest of their games. Juan Gonzalez singled twice after having a 20-game hitting streak stopped Friday night. He leads the majors with 149 RBIs, although he has gone four straight games without driving in a run.Red Sox: Third baseman John Valentin played one inning in the field after being hit in the arm by a pitch in the third then left the game in the top of the fifth with a bruised nerve in his right elbow.

After reviewing the last two games, tackle Tony Siragusa is convinced the Ravens' defense is poised for a strong stretch run.The numbers suggest the defense is on at least a mini-roll. In their last two games, a 20-17 victory over Washington and last week's 19-16 overtime defeat against the New York Jets, the Ravens have given up a combined 36 points, surrendering only 249 and 225 yards, respectively. The Redskins averaged just 3.2 yards rushing, the Jets, 2.2."Defensively, the last two weeks is the best the front four has played," Siragusa said.