Throwing Curves

"To expect major league fans to accept less than major league baseball is unrealistic and, I believe, will ultimately prove to be foolhardy. These are the best players in the world. There are no replacements. That's a hallucination."

—Oriole owner Peter Angelos, on why he will not field a replacement team

"I have very few friends in baseball right now that I'm close and personal with anyway.... I've got house payments, I've got ex-wife payments, I've got a five-year-old, a three-year-old and a seven-week-old. So it's a tough decision."

—Astro pitcher Greg Swindell, on why he might cross the players' picket line if the strike continues into next season