2B = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11,2002
Today's Birthday (Nov.11).
HOROSCOPES
Don't settle for anything less than perfection this year. Well, make that your goal, anyway. You'll run into one hassle after another, but that's OK. You thrive on big challenges, right? Keep at it!
Aries (March 21-April 19). Today is a 7. Better consult a person with a great deal of common sense before spending all your money. A Taurus would be perfect. Get a reality check.
Taurus (April 20-May 20). Today is a 6. Stay objective if you can. Your mate or partner is encountering one setback after another. Your encouragement is much appreciated and should do the trick. Looks like all will end well.
Gemini (May 21-June 21). Today is an 8. Play by the rules even if some of the others don't. You'll succeed by taking the high road. You're not the only one who can spot a cheater. Important people are watching.
Cancer (June 22-July 22). Today is a 6. Following through on an old obligation could lead to a very good deal. This is one time advice from an opinionated loved one is less likely to work. Use your own experience and judgment.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22). Today is a 6.
Expect to encounter one obstacle after another. You don't have to run into them, though. That's the objective of the game getting around them quickly.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22). Today is a 7.
You could go to the head of the class. You might be asked to take on even more responsibility. It takes work and brains, but you could also get a lucky break. Do the homework so that you're ready.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22). Today is a 7. Although it may seem like things are clicking right along, errors and misunderstandings could come up quickly. Watch for them.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21). Today is a 5.
Don't believe the deal is cinched until the check clears. You'll have to explain and reconfirm every little thing. Luckily, you're patient.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Today is a 7. You're eager to start a new endeavor, but it's not quite time yet. First, learn how to run a new system or machine. Developing a new relationship is good, too.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan.19). Today is a 6. You may feel as if you're in the middle, being pulled three different ways. If you wait, the appropriate action will become obvious. Trust your experience.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20), Today is a 6.
One thing and then another prevent you from getting far, but don't complain. It won't do you any good, and it just makes you miserable. Tidy up your place instead. To music.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Today is a 6.
This is no time to get into an argument with your partner. You need all the reinforcements you can get. As usual, having facts that back you up would be a big help. Got any?
All-stars lose in Japan
TOKYO—Barry Bonds opened a seven-game all-star series with one of his worst games in 11/2 years.
The Associated Press
Bonds struck out three times as the major league all-stars lost to their Japanese counterparts 8-4 yesterday in the opener of their exhibition series.
During the regular season, Bonds has not struck out three times in a game since Aug. 8,2001—when he was called out three times against Cincinnati and argued with plate umpire Jerry Meals.
Bonds, who homered twice Saturday against the Japanese champion Yomiuri Giants, fanned three times against Yomiuri right-hander Koji Uehara, who also struck out Jason Giambi twice.
"I really wanted the win." Uehara said. "It felt great to strike out Bonds and Giambi. The only mistake I made was that slider to Hunter."
"He had a great forkball," said Giambi, who also homered twice Saturday "He threw it hard enough that you couldn't sit on it and he made quality pitches all night."
Uehara, who led the Central League with 17 wins, allowed one run and five hits in six innings and struck out eight. He allowed just one hit in the first four innings, a single by Giambi in the second.
Bonds, expected to win his fifth NL MVP award today, also was MVP of the 2000 exhibition tour of Iapan, hitting four homers with nine RBIs.
Uehara allowed a solo homer in the fifth to Minnesota's Torii Hunter.
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Hideki Matsui hit a two-run double off Florida's
Brad Penny as Japan went ahead in a five-run third. Matsui, who wants to play in the major leagues, is a free agent and can start negotiating with all teams starting 10 a.m. EST tomorrow.
Matsui went 1-for-4 Saturday in Yomiuri's 8-1 loss.
"They pitched me tough yesterday," Matsui said. "But I'm starting to feel a little more comfortable at the plate and am getting into the mood of this series."
Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki, a former star in Japan, went 0-for-4.
Alex Cabrera homered and drove in three runs for the Japanese all-stars. Cabrera, who used to play for Arizona and tied Japan's season record with 55 homered, connected in the seventh off Philadelphia's Randy Wolf for a 6-1 lead.
Norihiro Nakamura of the Kintetsu Buffalo and Yoshitomo Tani of the Orix BlueWave both hit RBI singles in the seventh to make it 8-1. The Japanese all-stars had 18 hits — including 15 singles — off Penny, Wolf, Mike Fetters and Scott Schoeweis.
"I didn't hold anything back," Cabrera said. "Everybody is really excited about this series and I was happy to contribute."
Penny, who allowed a go-ahead third-inning homer to Hanshin's Makoto Imaoka, gave up five runs and eight hits in 2:2.3 innings and was the loser.
Oakland's Eric Chavez hit an RBI double in the ninth off Yasuhi Oyamada, and Minnesota's A.J. Pierzynski and Jacque Jones hit RBI grounders.
Teams cut pricey contracts
The Associated Press
New labor deal transfers cash from big-to small-market teams
TUCSON, Ariz. — Baseball teams won't be quite as quick this offseason to dole out those megamillion contracts that characterized recent winter spending sprees.
The Yankees aren't the only team that will try to rein in spending as most other teams will try to keep their payroll under the $117 million luxury-tax threshold put in place in the new labor deal.
Even the free-spending New York Yankees will have to work within a tighter budget because of the new labor deal that team officials project will cost at least $20 million more in luxury-tax and revenue-sharing payments next season
With a new labor deal that transfers money from the big spenders to the smaller markets, a struggling economy and few top players available, teams are talking more about financial discipline than breaking contract barriers this year.
"We project we'll have to pay an additional $10 million in revenue sharing," Seattle general manager Pat Gillick said. "Consequently, that's got to come from somewhere and we'll have to be creative in our contracts."
This newfound austerity has some agents concerned heading into this week's general managers' meetings in Arizona.
"There's really nothing to be gleaned from anything that's taken place yet," agent Tom Reich said. "The most common refrain these days is budget, budget, budget, just like real estate with location, location, location. We'll see what happens. It's going to be a long winter."
In the past four offseasons, teams have broken the $100 million mark in contracts for Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Manny Ramirez, Jason Giambi, Mike Hampton, Ken Griffey Jr., Todd Helton and Kevin Brown.
No players in this year's class figure to get that big a contract but there still are some very attractive players available. Yet it will probably take more time and less money for them to find new deals.
Atlanta aces Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine high
light a group that also includes Jim Thome, Cliff Floyd, Jeff Kent, Roger Clemens and Ivan Rodriguez.
While most teams are talking about budgets, the Phillies figure to be a major player for a change in the free-agent market.
"I think it's early in the process," said Glavine's agent Gregg Clifton, who plans to talk with the New York Yankees, Mets, Texas and Philadelphia this week. "Right now teams are figuring out what their needs are. The market is a long way from establishing itself right now."
With a new ballpark a year away, the Phillies have already met with Glavine and Thome and had meetings scheduled with third baseman David Bell and pitcher Jamie Moyer.
"We've got this figured out to where we can do multiple signings." Phillies GM Ed Wade said.
One of the most highly sought after free agents will be Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui. The 28-year-old outfielder, Japan's most popular player, became a free agent after winning his third MVP award this season, and the Yankees are the leading contender for his services.
Free agents can begin talking money with all teams starting tomorrow.
As this postseason showed, teams don't need to spend big to win. While none of the teams with the top eight payrolls made it out of the first round, Anaheim won the World Series with only one major league free agent on its postseason roster and the 15th highest payroll in the game.
That doesn't mean this will become a trend.
"More than anything, general managers want to win and want to get the best players to help the team win," Clifton said. "I don't think that will ever change."
Most of the news so far this offseason has involved managers. Seven teams have hired new skiippers, and there are still openings with Seattle, San Francisco and the Chicago Cubs.
Former Giants manager Dusty Baker is the front-runner to get the job in Chicago, the Mariners will interview four finalists this week and San Francisco is forming a short list of candidates.
There could be movement among GMs, too. Oakland GM Billy Beane is talking with Boston about taking over the Red Sox after the Athletics granted permission last week.
POLI
kansan.com Now that the Kansas football
team is 2-9 overall and was blown out by Kansas State and Nebraska, will you attend the final home game Nov.16 against Oklahoma State?
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Log on to www.kansan.com to cast your vote.
BASEBALL
Bonds favored to receive MVP award for fifth time
NEW YORK — Barry Bonds probably will pick up a big postseason honor today, just not the one he wanted.
After putting up another season of historic statistics, Bonds is favored to win the National League Most Valuable Player Award for the fifth time when the Baseball Writers' Association of America announces its voting today.
Bonds, the only player with more than three MVPs, won his first NL batting title this season with a .370 average and set records with 198 walks, 68 intentional walks and a.582 on-base percentage.
Bonds hit 46 homers, down from a record 73 the previous year, and a team high 110 RBIs as San Francisco won its first NL pennant since 1989. But Bonds and the Giants lost the World Series to Anaheim in seven games after being just six out from the title in Game 6.
Bonds had said a World Series ring was the one thing he had wanted.
MVP voting was conducted before the postseason, when Bonds hit .356 with eight homers, 16 RBIs and 27 walks. The 38-year-old outfielder, who often appears aloof and combative, said he enjoyed the World Series, even though the Giants didn't win. He claims to dislike the attention.
"I just want to go to the ballpark, do my job just like anybody else, go home and be with my family," he said during the World Series. "I chose to play baseball because I want to be the best at it for whatever it is for me. Being a team concept, doing the best I can. I don't like to talk about it really. I'd rather just show it on the field."
NASCAR
Martin creeps closer to Winston Cup victory
Kenseth got out of the pits first after the leaders pitted on lap 261 of the 312 lap Checker Auto Parts 500K, and stayed out from the rest of the way yesterday at Phoenix International Speedway.
AVONDALE, Ariz. — Matt Kenseth turned a two-tire stop into his fifth victory of the season, while Mark Martin edged closer to Tony Stewart in the battle for the Winston Cup championship.
Stewart and Martin ran in the top 10 through most of the 500-kilometer race. Martin's fourth-place finish, combined with Stewart's eighth place, chopped the margin from 112 to 89 points with only next Sunday's race in Homestead, Fla., remaining.
"We made some adjustments on our last stop and the car just wasn't right," Stewart said. "We didn't get hurt too much today. Now, we're going to a track I really like."
The Associated Press
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