The Hot Corner

Blue Jays assistant general manager Dave Stewart, a candidate for the Brewers' vacant general managership, has stopped talking to the media. Stewart, one of baseball's more loquacious executives, says that too much of what he's uttered of late has "made me look pretty bad." In addition to openly campaigning for a general manager's spot, Stewart recently criticized Toronto players for lacking heart....

Phillies catcher Mike Lieberthal had gone 100 games without an error—until he made two against the Astros on Sept. 7....

When the Royals were shopping righthander Kevin Appier before the season, Kansas City general manager Herk Robinson, hoping to work a trade with the Indians, said he considered third baseman Russ Branyan a better prospect than outfielder-first baseman Richie Sexson among the prospects in the Cleveland organization. The Royals and the Indians never struck a deal, and Appier eventually wound up with the As. At Triple A Buffalo, Branyan struck out 190 times, while through Sunday, Sexson had 29 homers and 104 RBIs for the Indians....

Reds first base coach Dave Collins on Cincinnati's recent home run frenzy (21 in five games): "I've had to shake so many hands the last few days, I had to ice down my arm after every game."...When Cubs rookie Brian McNichol entered the second game of a doubleheader against the Reds on Sept. 7, he became the 25th pitcher and 10th lefty Chicago had used this season—both club records....

Cal Ripken Jr. had hit into 324 career double plays, four short of Hank Aaron's alltime record....

Braves hitting coach Don Baylor has expressed interest in the Angels' managerial vacancy but had not yet spoken with Anaheim. "Living out there and being part of the community since 1976," says Baylor, "there are just too many positives."

...The Tigers had a stake in the Sept. 6 game between the Twins and the Devil Rays. When Minnesota won, Detroit was guaranteed the title of losingest team of the 1990s; through Sunday the Tigers were 691-844, and even were the Twins to lose every one of their remaining games, they would have only 839 losses....

Because he needed 12 days of major league service to get a 10-year pension, outfielder John Cangelosi was called up from Triple A Colorado Springs by the Rockies on Sept. 10. Cangelosi, 36, was out of baseball until Colorado signed him as a roving baserunning and outfield instructor in June. He joined the injury-depleted Sky Sox roster as a player on Aug. 1.