Jeff Conine

Who's hot The Cubs have defeated the Pirates five times in the past 10 days. Who's not The Expos have been in last place since April 15. Line of the day Raul Ibanez, Mariners LF AB R H RBI HR 6 1 6 5 0 He said it "The first third of the season we played great. The last third of the season we're playing great. The middle third we lost all our ground and played terrible." Jeff Conine, Marlins first baseman on his team's fading playoff hopes On deck Jason Schmidt of the Giants looks for his 17th win tonight as he faces the Astros in a key National League game.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Mark McLemore listened when the Yankees called this winter to say they needed a utility infielder to be their new Luis Sojo. He listened to the Red Sox, too, when general manager Theo Epstein caught him attending to his twin businesses in Dallas: Mac's Auto and Video and McLemore Motors. At age 39, with three kids and a wife with an interior design business, McLemore is set up for his post-baseball life. A gadget lover and high-energy guy, McLemore could move on now. He could hook you up with stereo equipment.

PHOENIX - It only rains about 30 days a year here in the Valley of the Sun, which is why Orioles vice president Mike Flanagan was having a good chuckle Wednesday, as he sat beneath the awning at the Arizona Biltmore hotel, watching a downpour. "We should have known," Flanagan said. "It's the Beattie factor." Orioles executive vice president Jim Beattie just shook his head. The teasing continued as Flanagan began summing up Beattie's first year in Baltimore: two big February snowstorms, a snow delay on Opening Day at Camden Yards, Tropical Storm Isabel.

PHOENIX - The Orioles have money to spend. The Florida Marlins have payroll to trim. That could turn the two teams into trade partners again this offseason, and yesterday major league sources said the Orioles were targeting Marlins first baseman Derrek Lee. Late last night, in fact, one major league source gave indications that the Orioles had made an offer for Lee and were waiting to hear back from the Marlins before leaving the general manager meetings...

PHOENIX - The Orioles have money to spend. The Florida Marlins have payroll to trim. That could turn the two teams into trade partners again this offseason, and two major league sources yesterday said the Orioles have targeted Marlins first baseman Derrek Lee. Orioles vice presidents Jim Beattie and Mike Flanagan would not discuss their specific dealings with clubs at this week's general manager meetings. But industry sources said teams have lined up to get Lee, and the Orioles want to be in the front of the line.

NEW YORK - Jeff Conine endeared himself to his Orioles teammates for 4 1/2 seasons with his professional manner, quiet leadership qualities and dry wit. It's been that way his whole career. So for those who know him closely, it was almost stunning to see the exuberance he showed after the Florida Marlins eliminated the Chicago Cubs in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series. After escaping from a champagne and beer shower, Conine thrust his face right into a television camera and said, "We shocked the world!"

NEW YORK - Wait, didn't the Marlins already do this? Did they not already cause wincing, snide asides and jealous scowls at the sight of their brash, impervious youthfulness charging headlong into territory few of the established elders in this sometimes musty and ghost-riddled sport could stomach? Uninvited guests. Impostors. Mercenaries. Yes. Yes. Yes. And hallelujah, because this time, six years after the Marlins played in their first World Series five years into their existence, here they are again.

MARLINS PITCHING VS. YANKEES HITTING Florida's top four starting pitchers - Josh Beckett, Brad Penny, Mark Redman and Dontrelle Willis - have combined for 108 career regular-season wins. That's a far cry from the 858 career wins racked up by the New York Yankees' vaunted foursome of David Wells, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens. The Marlins starters posted a 7.20 ERA in their National League Championship Series victory over the Chicago Cubs, and the Yankees' lineup should make their task even tougher.