Shortchanging Cal

Padres rightfielder Tony Gwynn is one of the few players who buys his own bats. Why? Under San Diego's previous ownership, when a player cracked a bat, the club would sell the bat, sometimes for as much as $200, and pocket the money. So Gwynn started paying for his own supply, which also allowed him to give away his broken bats. Under the Padres' new ownership, led by John Moores, broken bats are sold, but the money goes to charity....

Phillies lefthander Terry Mulholland hit a 407-foot home run on May 21 in San Diego. "Right before the at bat, I was telling someone that Terry had the third-lowest average [.081] of any pitcher in history with 400 at bats," says Phillies righthander Curt Schilling. "Next pitch, pow!" Said Mulholland, "Most great power hitters don't hit for a high average." It was the second career home run for Mulholland, who bats righthanded. In his next appearance, Sunday against the Giants, Mulholland added a double and a run-scoring single. His career average jumped to .087, moving him to fourth on the alltime list....

The Pirates are expected to use the No. 1 pick in the amateur draft next week to take Clemson righthander Kris Benson. If they don't choose Benson, they'll select Matt White, a high school pitcher from Waynesboro, Pa. According to one National League general manager, while this draft is deep in pitching, there are no more than 15 true first-round selections. "This is the kind of year, if you have a late first-round pick and you could pass, you would so you wouldn't have to pay first-round money," the G.M. said. A late first-round pick will get about $400,000 to sign. Typically there's a significant drop-off in pay to a second-round pick....

The Mariners' Ken Griffey hit three homers last Friday against the Yankees. He's the fifth American League player to hit three in a game this year, joining teammate Dan Wilson, the Tigers' Fielder and the A's Geronimo Berroa and Ernie Young. This is the first year in American League history that teammates from two teams have hit three homers in a game....

Rockies centerfielder Larry Walker set a National League record on May 21 and 22 by getting an extra-base hit in six straight at bats. At week's end Padres leftfielder Rickey Henderson had five extra-base hits all season.