1.   Another highly touted teen-age Cuban baseball player defected from the national junior team in Illinois on Sunday, joining catcher Yalian Serrano, who defected nine days ago.

2.   Even Thursday, the catchers were joined in a novel way.

3.   New York Yankees manager Joe Torre declined to select a Ranger as a pitcher or a reserve to join catcher Ivan Rodriguez for the trip to Atlanta.

4.   Later in the day, Ramirez joined catchers as they threw.

5.   Mets second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo and left-hander Al Leiter were picked to join starting catcher Mike Piazza.

6.   The Texas Rangers have four players on the roster, with first baseman Rafael Palmeiro and relievers Jeff Zimmerman and John Wetteland joining starting catcher Ivan Rodriguez.