Between The Lines

THE FINE ART OF BATTING
After more than nine major league seasons without getting a chance to bat, reliever Dan Quisenberry, who was recently signed by the Cardinals, made his first plate appearance on July 20 and picked up a walk. "It was surreal," he said. " Salvador Dali could paint it, but I can't talk about it."

THE VAIN SHALL INHERIT FIRST BASE
Even though Giants first baseman Will Clark was tied for first in the league with 74 RBIs at week's end, he wasn't satisfied. "Look how many walks I get." he said. "Like [Cubs pitcher] Greg Maddux said, 'Don't let the Money Man beat you.' "

THE SOPHOMORE SWOON
Last year, rookie catchers Benito Santiago, B.J. Surhoff, Matt Nokes and Terry Steinbach combined for a .293 batting average, a .474 slugging percentage. 73 homers and 290 RBIs. Through Sunday the foursome was hitting .236 and slugging .343, and had 23 homers and 92 RBIs.

PHENOM OF THE WEEK

Righthander Pete Delkus, who was signed by the Twins as an undrafted free agent out of Southern Illinois at Edwardsville, was 4-1 through Saturday with 26 saves, 43 strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA—that's right, 0.00—for Class A Kenosha. And he's not the Twins' only promising reliever. Righthander German Gonzalez was 2-1, with 28 saves, 60 strikeouts and a 0.96 ERA for Double A Orlando.

UP IN SMOKE
Reds general manager Murray Cook hasn't had much luck trying to strengthen his lineup. In the off-season he gave up the club's first-round draft pick to sign outfielder Eddie Milner. But in March, Milner was forced to enter a drug program, and he didn't play until June 19. In May, Cook traded pitcher Pat Perry to the Cubs for first baseman Leon Durham. Last week Durham also entered drug rehab.

GRANTED, IT ISN'T EASY

When Yankee outfielder Rickey Henderson was summoned to George Steinbrenner's office for a peace meeting after the All-Star break, he was told that the owner was with Bob Quinn.

" Quinn who?" asked Henderson.

" Bob Quinn," he was told.