31.   Fernandez had not defeated the Yankees in three previous starts this season and he did not begin crisply Monday night.

32.   For example, left-hander Matt Perisho was brought up from Double-A Midland for eight starts last season and seemed like a promising prospect.

33.   For Ortiz, the balk was his second in two starts this season.

34.   Foster starts doing homework about a month before the pro baseball season starts.

35.   For the third time in as many starts this season, Schilling overwhelmed the Dodgers.

36.   From a distance, it appears the Patriots are getting a lot of breaks before the season even starts.

37.   Giguere was making his second start this season.

38.   Groh talked to some of his key veterans as early as spring minicamp to impress upon them the importance of a fast start this season.

39.   Green blamed his sluggish start last season on having missed the entire preseason and the first three games of the regular season.

40.   Gretzky said Campbell told them not to dig themselves into a hole and have a panic situation the way they did with a poor start last season.