11.   A strong offense will be tested early with American League Most Valuable Player Juan Gonzalez sidelined until May with a torn ligament in his left thumb.

12.   Aaron Miller will try to practice with the team for the first time in three weeks after spraining his left thumb.

13.   Adding to the pain were injuries to starting quarterback Rick Mirer, who broke his left thumb, and leading receiver Brian Blades.

14.   After all, she had surgery last October to repair tendon damage to her left thumb and for the next five months she hardly touched a club.

15.   Afterward, the crash was widely attributed to the loss of one man, DiSarcina, who mangled his left thumb the first week of August.

16.   Also, catcher Mike Piazza was out early in the season with a torn ligament in his left thumb.

17.   Bryant, who played the past eight games with a wrapped-up and sprained left thumb, ditched the tape and felt grateful for good health.

18.   But Bookman had a cast on his left thumb this week to protect a chipped bone.

19.   But he carefully extended only his right hand, trying to salvage the ligament damage in his left thumb.