1.   With Banerjee and Richardson to follow in the batting order, there was no point in hanging around.

2.   The manager shuffled the batting order.

3.   And also seemed to break the will of a batting order desperate to break through against the Yankees.

4.   Angels manager Terry Collins bumped Erstad from the leadoff spot to fifth in the batting order.

5.   As for the pitching, Palmeiro thinks the free-agent acquisitions add enough pop to the batting order and enough defense behind the mound to help the pitchers.

6.   Ask him about his place in the batting order, and he talks about health.

7.   Bad break for the Padres, yes, and certainly one that made it easier for Tom Glavine to navigate the middle of their batting order Thursday night.

8.   Batting orders and starting pitchers will be announced Monday.

9.   Because of his minimal offensive skills, the Mets disappear into a nether region at the bottom of the batting order.

10.   Boomer struck out the top of the batting order.