1.   Although Astacio had allowed just two hits in the game, Lasorda defended his decision to pull the starter.

2.   Braves manager Bobby Cox pulled starter Tom Glavine after six serviceable innings.

3.   By midway through the fourth quarter, Mike Fratello had pulled his starters from the game.

4.   In the middle of the fourth inning, Mets Manager Bobby Valentine started pulling the starters who did crack the lineup.

5.   Neither did it have anything to do with his decision to pull starter Dave Mlicki after five innings Wednesday.

6.   The offense put up only seven hits and barely made a whimper until the starters were pulled in the eighth inning.

7.   When Suzuki walked Alex Ochoa, pitching coach Stan Williams pulled the starter and brought in Jose Paniagua.

8.   He pulled his starters at just the right time, and if he needed a lefty in a particular spot, he called on Graeme Lloyd.

9.   His likely compromise is to pull one starter and risk the other.