1.   Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr. said Wednesday he was disappointed in manager Larry Dierker and intended to meet with him before the team leaves for Atlanta this morning.

2.   Accordingly, his wife is planning to have her labor induced in Austin, Texas, in early September, before the U.S. team leaves for Australia.

3.   Ford said he and Closs would meet this morning before the team leaves for San Antonio.

4.   Playing two Division I-A teams leaves very little margin for error.

5.   The difference this time is that four-fifths of the team managing Select leaves together.

6.   The team leaves on a seven-game trip that morning and Sheffield will rejoin the club later in the day.

7.   Decisions are expected next Monday, a week before the team leaves for Australia.

8.   Donovan said his decision will be made before the team leaves for East Lansing on Tuesday night.

9.   If the entire inspection team leaves, it might be difficult to get any of them back into Iraq.

10.   Russia plans to prepare for the World Cup with games against Yugoslavia, Ukraine and Belarus in Moscow a week before the team leaves for Japan.