31.   After its rookie season, the FleetCenter could justifiably be called the Fleece Center.

32.   After four games of his rookie season, the play of the Indianapolis Colts running back has been mostly Rembrandt, little paint-by-numbers.

33.   Along the way, the Astros watched patiently in the hope Julio Lugo would mature as a shortstop and cut down on the mistakes that plagued his rookie season.

34.   Both had frustrating rookie seasons, and both have come into their own this season.

35.   But aside from a few isolated moments, the rookie season was homogenous, faceless, flat-out boring.

36.   But because of recurring arm troubles after an optimistic rookie season, Isringhausen has since had little impact.

37.   But he has shown steady improvement from a rocky rookie season.

38.   But he was sidelined for his entire rookie season after foot surgery.

39.   But he was raw, and he barely survived his rookie season.

40.   But he has hit a wall of sorts in his rookie season in Winston Cup.