Will this end split

Sporting News, The, August 2, 1999

Caught on the FLY

Hey, didn't you used to be untouchable?

* Fly hears numero uno on Chan the Man's to-do list is resolvin' the Mike Irvin situation. Best guess: Unless his 'tude is a distraction, Mike'll saddle up one more season (because, hey, after all, the Spies say, that was him-n-Jerry hangin' together in south F-L-A recently).

* Fresh from the Rumorama, where unlike Copper River salmon, it's always Junior or A-Rod rumor season: Griffey's already told M's suits not to leave the light on after next season and has four teams on his destination wish list: 1. Atlanta; 2. Atlanta; 3. Atlanta; 4. Atlanta. (Yo, Bobby Cox, consider this: Buzz is that Senior-as-skip's gotta be part of any F.A. signing.)

* Hey-yo, that's some Jazz-minded trio headlinin' at the F.A. Cafe ("Now appearing ... interested: Chuck Barkley, Det Schrempf and Otis Thorpe"), but you-n-Fly know that when it comes signin' time in Salt Lake City, it'll be strictly a solo gig. And who blows his own horn better than Chuck?

* Yes, yes, Mr. Umpire, you've made the right call (lock arms and sing union solidarity songs here), but Fly hears there're still (from first attempt waaay back in spring) couple uh plotters lurkin'. If you think this ends up bein' just a "get rich" scam, yer missin' the capital R.

* The Spies say, yes, Nicky Lidstrom is Motown MVP, but he's duh-reamin' if he thinks he's gettin' Leetch money ($8.6 mil per). Estimated lifespan of this here stalemate? Into October and the start of the regular season.

* The Spies say the new "posting system," baseball-speak for Japanese teams auctioning players to the highest MLBidders, will get its first test run when infielder Ichiro Suzuki goes on the block. The scouting report: Good range, great stick. That's why the M's have their checkbook wide oh-oh-open.

* Fly's Top 5 or "The Indians? They're Not Getting Older; They're Getting Better": 1. Enrique Wilson; 2. Einar Diaz; 3. Jacob Cruz; 4. Alex Ramirez; 5. John McDonald.

* Speaking of young in Cleveland, the Spies say nuBrowns fans are fit to be Tyed early on, because even though Chris Palmer likes what he's seen of his rook QB, he likes even better what he's seen of his veteran, Detmer.

* Best buzz outta Hornets minicamps is that three days in, Lee Nailon, whose future was in front of him two TCU seasons ago, already is bein' checked for Tin Man's Disease. Paul Silas is this close to punchin' his ducat for Europe.

* Finally, welcome the NFL, where an assistant coach pinpoints for the Spies two key areas of concern for his team's AFC East chances: "If we can keep our receivers healthy and out of jail, we should be fine."

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