21.   A union man, he long ago made clear he would have no part in breaking the strike by crossing the line with his fellow minor leaguers.

22.   Acquiring minor leaguers who are close to the majors would make it easier for the Mets to trade a starter.

23.   Again, Boston is looking for a decent minor leaguer.

24.   Burnitz, Phillips and Valentine agree that he was a temperamental player as a minor leaguer, one whose aggressiveness did not always translate into production.

25.   Brown, the former Net who began this season as a minor leaguer, was credited by teammates as being the median strip that tripped up Barkley.

26.   But it sounds as if Yaz is content to work with the minor leaguers.

27.   But Monday, eight Red Sox minor leaguers declared their independence, and there was no celebrating in the clubhouse.

28.   But Key was betrayed by the minor leaguers who toiled behind him and could have emerged from the inning with one run scored if his defense had been better.

29.   But the certainty of being a minor leaguer, of knowing where he stood, was suddenly transformed to uncertainty as Carpenter was thrust into a chaotic baseball situation.

30.   But the policy for minor leaguers prohibits players from using any form of tobacco at ball parks or during team travel.