1.   Berkman will become arbitration-eligible following next season.

2.   The following four seasons Schnellenberger spent with the Los Angeles Rams, discovering the magic of motivation under George Allen.

3.   The Yakult Swallows are expected to post hard-throwing left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii following this season.

4.   His setup man, hard-throwing Felix Rodriguez, recently was given his own two-year extension, with mutual options for the following two seasons.

5.   Oglivie got the job after Merv Rettenmund left for the Atlanta Braves following last season, his ninth with the Padres.

6.   This was because they were faced with the possibility of not being able to plant padi at all this season following prolonged drought.