1.   And now he lies in a Dallas hospital, near death because of a tragic thirst that always has been part of the baseball life.

2.   Atlanta manhandled Mike Hampton, the multimillion-dollar pitcher whose sole purpose in baseball life was to carry the Mets over the top.

3.   Baseball life moves on.

4.   A turning point in his baseball life arrived in disguise, as turning points often do.

5.   Alexander had the greatest two months of his baseball life and helped the Tigers win a World Series, then disappeared.

6.   Brian Bohanon lives a bohemian baseball life, moving from town to town, never staying long enough to grow roots.

7.   But Martinez will take the mound tonight with his reputation set for his baseball life, he conceded.

8.   But those are just facts of baseball life for the local lads.

9.   For the first time in his baseball life, Steinbrenner has balked at spending money and prospects for established pitchers.

10.   Given what he has seen in his baseball life, Piniella was bemused.