I can only wish to share Mr. Gammon�s optimism. Forget about September 11th, Selig could not even wait for July 11th, as he brought the game�s latest labor crisis from a Stage 2 to a Stage 5 alert by indicating (per copyrighted story) that one MLB team may not be make payroll in the coming week and that a second franchise is also in dire shape, and may not make it through September. Whether this is just a well-timed bluff or something the commissioner may actually follow through on remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, the stakes at the bargaining table have been raised, with no sign of anyone blinking. I would imagine there are a few player reps second-guessing not boycotting the All-Star Game at this moment.

I would imagine a team not being paid, and thus folded by Selig � would be grounds for an immediate work stoppage. Should that scenario be averted there could be a chance that the season would go on uninterrupted until Mid-September, where the players unions leverage would be the greatest. Only losing the final two weeks of the regular season would not be that bad � at least from a fantasy perspective. Obviously, keep an eye on the labor ongoings while the season�s second half gets into full swing.

IT'S EXTRA INNINGS AND ALL THE PITCHERS HAVE BEEN USED - I DIDN'T SEE THIS COMING...

I wasn�t at the game, but being in the vicinity have heard plenty regarding Tuesday�s All-Star tilt ending in a SAVIN-SAVIN tie (as a one-time Dick Enberg wanna be once said on an Angels broadcast back in the day � talk about a lame product placement attempt). Personally, I am not as bent out of shape as others. For the first eight innings it was one of the better All-Star games in quite some time, reminiscent of the old days when the AL was scratching and clawing to beat the NL just once. All 60 players got into the game, which is not horrible neither. But obviously, when managers are hellbent on getting the entire roster into the game, this was bound to happen at some point. Had the game been allowed to go 12-13 innings, all the scribes columns would have dealt with needing to get these games done by 2 AM Eastern Time. My criticism with Selig (who was visably shaking during the bottom of the 11th) was not having a protocol set up beforehand in case both teams ran out of players, as in a press release proclaiming the game will not go longer that 11-12 innings (whatever). Don�t wait until there�s one out in the bottom of the 11th and then have Brewer PA puke Robb Edwards give the world the bad news. That�s almost asking for a near-riot. Bottom line was Bud wound up as a bumbling baffoon once again, this time in his own yard, and the players looked selfish by not willing to go a few extra innings. Going back to the last time the All-Stars went this long in 1987 (2-0 NL, 13 innings in the twilight of Oakland), the final pitchers used (Lee Smith (NL), Tom Henke (AL) both closers) both went three innings. And if memory serves me correct the AL still had one pitcher in reserve, who was the Angels mandatory representative. Best line concerning the whole controversy had to do with Ted Williams 14th inning walk-off homerun in 1941. Had it been today, Ted and his posse would had already been in a limo somewhere in LA heading for the ESPY�s. Yup, welcome to the 21st century.

Yes, the game has been reduced to a glorified exhibition, but is still a nice three day event starting with the Futures game (although that comes along with a lame-Celebrity softball game I can do without) followed the Home Run Derby the following night, which is now as big as the game itself and much more exciting than the NBA�s slam dunk/3-point contests (there are only so many creative dunks one can do). And Giambi and Sosa having at it with the storm going on outside was classic!!!!! And those guys were hitting them as far as they would in the video games (hitting Bernie�s Terrace, the Dew Deck, upper scaffolding etc.) And as far as the game itself is concerned it still gives a nice (although brief) snapshot of the top 60 players in the game, some you may not be as familiar with than others. Here�s what I came away with on a few of them�

Curt Schilling � Threw 24 strikes out of 28 pitches, that is Curt in a snapshot. Highlighted by apparently telling Arod he was going to throw all fastballs, and then K�ing him in three pitches. Classic.

Sammy Sosa � Even though he didn�t win Home Run Derby, definitely hit the longest bombs. Biggest surprise was that there was only one Cub utopian waiting in the rain for the final one that left the yard completely.

Paul Konerko � Took full advantage of his opportunity in the national spotlight. Made it through to the second round of the Home Run contest with six bombs, including one that went off the 300 club Terrace Restaurant. Followed that up with a 2-3, 2 RBI performance in the game that would had merited MVP consideration.

Jason Giambi � Workmanlike, if not spectacular (compared to Sammy) won him the Home Run contest, consistently finding his way deep into the right field stands, which works perfectly in his day job at Yankee Stadium.

Richie Sexson � The heartthrob of many a 14-year old girl in this market. Richie showed the world what is already known locally in Home Run Derby, he hits them as high (as opposed to far) as anyone in the game. Give him credit for the shot off Bernie�s slide as well as the homer with about an eight second hang time. Now for the bad news, Richie aggravated a nagging leg injury in the game and now may miss a few days. See, three innings of playing time is too much. Damn Brenly.

Torii Hunter � Should he elect to life out in the Twin Cities, has an excellent chance to be every bit the legend as Kirby Puckett.

Damian Miller - Justified Brenley's selection by going 2-3 with a run and an RBI, which made him an MVP canidate.

Matt Morris - Was in uniform but made himself unavailable for the game, due to the obvious emotional trauma of the past month. He should be fine for the second half, as he has been for his three starts since the Kile passing.

Barry Bonds � Torii literally robbed Bonds of an MVP award, which he would had been able to accept since he was on his way to the ESPY�s. But what about his part in the cheesy �Greatest Moment� pregame show when those kids hugged him like he was their dad. Put this type of scene in real life on a typical day where he�s trying to get into Pac Bell and it would had been a different story like �OUT OF MY WAY YOU BRATS!!!!!� And I don�t even want to think if one of them had the nerve to ask for an autograph.

Byung-Hyun Kim - Has anyone ever been bumped from the closers role based on an All-Star performance??? Yet another shaky outing on the big stage for BHK. On the positive side, Kim did dispose of the Dodgers in 1-2-3 fashion the first game back from the break.

Vicente Padilla/Freddy Garcia - Either could had taken Bud off the hook by grooving a pitch or two down the middle in extra innings, in which case we would had heard countless conspiracy thoery takes from the media. Give both credit for doing their job. Don't read much into Manager Brenly's comments about Padilla not being able to get loose, that was just being used as ammunition to get the game called.

Randy Johnson/Pedro Martinez - We Missed Ya...

John Burkett - We didn't miss you...

Now for a few hurlers not involed with the All-Star festivities who are making waves nonetheless...

Jarrod Washburn - Another one of these guys who was not highly regarded coming out of the ameuteur ranks (backwater college program in Wisconsin) or even coming through the minors who has suddenly blossomed on the big stage. Did not start the year impressively with an 0-2 record and an ERA of six in his first three starts. Since then though he has one 10 consecutive decisons and now has an impressive ERA of 3.04 along with a 1.18 ratio. Also has 88 punchouts in 112.2 IP.

Joel Piniero - Proving last years callup was no fluke, as he pitched eight shutout innings Thursday to improve his ledger to 10-3 with an impressive ERA of 2.50. In Seattle one knows you will get plenty of wins out of him. Joel is an appetizing CDM Free Agent for the coming week checking in at 530, with two starts due in the coming week.

Hideo Nomo - Still walks too many (62 in 121 IP this year) to make him an elite fantasy pitcher. The high walk total makes his ratio of 1.32 a little balky to carry around. Also the strikeout total (95 this year), although still good - has fallen a little since leading the AL with 220 punchouts in 198 IP last year. On the plus side though is a sparkling 9-5 record along with a low 3.12 ERA.

For a report on some of the prospects who were featured in last Sunday�s Futures Game, click here�

The last time I talked about Jeff Weaver in this column was either when he was a guest bouncer on Jerry Springer or when normally mild-mannered Mike Sweeney went ballistic after Jeff said "f--- no, I will not move that RESIN BAG!!!!!" A 3.43 ERA, along with a 1.18 ratio and 80 punchouts in over 128 innings sounds OK until you factor in that he was pitching for that mutt of a franchise known as the Detroit Tigers, where he only managed six wins in the first half of the season. However, a quick trade to the Yankees this past weekend suddenly makes Weaver a hot property. Even though he was touched up for six earnies in his pinstripe debut (where he looks out of place with the shaggy blonde hair) he did get offensive support and ended up with the win. And this week he not only appears on the CDM free agent list, he gets two starts as well. And all of that for a salary of 970, so you should get Pettite/Mussina like production at just a fraction of the cost � there is nothing not to like now. And one last thing, Weaver is at the magical age of 26.

And how many times did Cliff Floyd dream of winding back in Montreal during the past three months??? I was only kidding when I heckled him at Miller Park, saying that I hope �he enjoys Baltimore� (and someone else chimed in Toronto)� Cliff does not wind up in a horrible situation howevr as he should be hitting behind Vlad Guerrero � although winding up in Frisco (as rumored last week) would had been even sweeter. I would rank Floyd�s value as being the same or maybe even slightly higher, as he has Vlad/Vidro as running mates now v. Castillo/Wilson/Lowell.

Ryan Dempster does not join Floyd in making a triumphant return to Canada, but does wind up in a divisional race in Cincinnati. Demp has been an ERA disappointment for the second year in a row, checking in at 4.79. Keep in mind though at Demp is still only 25 years of age. The change of scenery, along with pitching coach Don Gullett, should put a charge into his game and perhaps net him an extra win or two the rest of the way. Meanwhile Juan Encarncion now winds up in Florida, clearing the coast for Austin Kearns once and for all in the 'Nati.

Florida gets a slew or minor leaguers in the deals (but I repeat � this is NOT a fire sale) while the three-team trade involving Jeff Weaver nets Detroit highly touted first base prospect Carlos Pena. After initial talk of the Tigers keeping Carlos in the minors, it now looks like he will get a long look with the big club, and responded with three hits in his first game.

There is more trade talk heating up, with the most intriguing possibility involving catcher Jason Kendall winding up in Colorado. Obviously if that happens JK returns to the top tier of fantasy baseball catchers.

Just as speculated last week, many CDM teams either taxied or dropped Florida RP Vladimar Nunez, who has indeed lost at least part of his grip in the closers role. Armando Amanza did bail Nunez out of one game but was shelled himself the next day. With the Marlins fire sale now in full flight no reliever is recommended there right now. Also as speculated the Expos Scott Stewart (490) has become a hot pick-up, in many cases in place of Nunez, and is now on about 40 percent of the top Second Season teams


LIVING OUT OF SUITCASES

This is traditionally the busiest week of the season, and this year is no different, as there will be no off days � as all teams will have a pair of two-game series before the traditional three-game weekenders. That is a switch from recent years where the post All-Star portion of the schedule consisted of THR-SAT three gamers (interleauge), followed by a SUN-TUE three-gamer (also interleague) and then a two gamer on WED-THR. With a doubleheader involved Kansas City and Texas get eight games, while everyone else in MLB gets seven. KC, TOR, and LA will be at home the entrie week while SEA, BOS, CWS, and LA will be on the road. Colorado gets five at home (2 v. AZ Schilling but no Johnson/3 v. MIL) While Houston gets two at home (PIT). There are a couple of decent pitchers going on Monday (the #5 starter day) including Jeff Weaver, and rookie sensation Michael Tejara. Other double-duty pitchers include Randy Johnson, Mark Mulder, Joel Pineiro, Jarrod Washburn, Roy Oswalt, Chan Ho Park, and Hideo Nomo.

As indicated earlier, Jeff Weaver and Joel Pineiro are the best buys in CDM this week. The only other player worth consideration is Paul Konerko, although I have a feeling those teams who have been without him this year are already dead to rights. The entire CDM list is as follows�

C � M. BARRETT (590), 1B � KONERKO (1220), 2B - ALFONZO (1070), 3B � VENTURA (910), SS � AURILIA (1360), OF � PUJOLS (1300), PIATT (nothing special at 410), SP � WEAVER (970), PINEIRO (530), RP � WAGNER (1370)