1.   Bob Dole was in the right place at the right time and trying to hitch his fortunes to the right championship baseball team Wednesday.

2.   Al Leiter, who shut down the Red Sox Thursday, knows a little about championship baseball.

3.   But when he preached pride, character, professionalism and playing championship baseball, it was a message that often fell on deaf ears.

4.   He wishes the Cubs would play championship baseball.

5.   McLane, the man who brought championship baseball back to Houston, was not being critical of his team.

6.   That is hardly championship baseball.

7.   Today, the Marlins take on the Braves, hoping to continue the excitement of league championship baseball in an area many believe still hungers for the game.

8.   Visiting teams from Venezuela and the Dominican Republic came to play championship baseball but ran into red tape instead Monday night on the eve of the Caribbean Series.