1.   Any time a young pitcher gets traded twice in six months, expectations sink fast.

2.   Ash reiterated he was not accusing the White Sox of deliberately hiding information and trading a pitcher they knew might not be able to pitch this season.

3.   Both pitchers eventually were traded.

4.   A busy off season for the Mets became even busier Friday when they traded right-handed pitcher Willie Blair to the Detroit Tigers for utility infielder Joe Randa.

5.   After the unhappy pitcher was traded Thursday night, a newspaper report introduced another element into the front office situation.

6.   But before Evans trades any pitcher to create roster room, starters Kevin Brown and Andy Ashby must prove they are healthy after undergoing elbow surgeries.

7.   He had to trade usable pitchers Ron Villone and Steve Parris.

8.   He has yet to resemble the hitter general manager Steve Phillips thought he had acquired when he traded pitcher Kevin Appier to the Anaheim Angels.

9.   He was miserable, injured and not nearly the player for whom the Dodgers traded away pitcher Pedro Martinez.

10.   On a deadline day that was dominated, not unexpectedly, by the pursuit of pitchers, the Montreal Expos traded a pitcher and made club history Tuesday.