1.   One could have fried some eggs on the pitching rubber Sunday at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

2.   Between starts, Gregson got Nomo to plant his right foot more parallel to the pitching rubber, giving him better balance.

3.   A different place on the pitching rubber.

4.   A new ball was thrown to Stanton, who retreated behind the pitching rubber.

5.   After Wakefield stepped on the pitching rubber and started his motion, he moved his hands apart and stepped off as McRae dashed toward home.

6.   But Bush used the actual pitching rubber.

7.   Cone, who normally pitches from the extreme left side of the pitching rubber, moved to the opposite end.

8.   Each time Hideki Irabu kicked angrily at the dirt in front of the mound and around the pitching rubber on Wednesday night, John Hirschbeck simmered.

9.   First-base umpire John Shulock ruled Hill made a brief movement to start his delivery, then stepped off the pitching rubber.

10.   Getting the back foot perpendicular to the throwing target is crucial, Barfield said, just as a pitcher pushes off that way from the pitching rubber.