The Heat Index

JOBS IN JEOPARDY

BOILING OVER
MELTING DOWN
OVER-HEATING
SWEATING

Time is running out on G.M. Steve Phillips, whose Mets, despite a $120 million payroll, were 27-34 at week's end and 47-69 since Aug. 1, 2002. The inability to use a DH in interleague play was an excuse for the White Sox to bench struggling first baseman Paul Konerko (.194) last week and keep Frank Thomas, who had played first in only seven games total in 2001 and '02, in the lineup. And the pressure is on Phillies skipper Larry Bowa, whose underachieving team fell 9� games behind the Braves—and only 5� ahead of the Mets—in the NL East.