Don't count on seeing any major league stars in the Olympics while Bud Selig is baseball commissioner.

Selig, who last week received a three-year extension through 2009, said Monday that a delay in the big league season for players to participate in the Olympics would be too disruptive.

"I don't really see it because you can't stop a pennant race," he said.

Selig visited Jacobs Field on Monday at the invitation of Cleveland Indians owner Larry Dolan. The commissioner discussed a number of topics, and said he hopes a World Cup beginning in 2006 would serve as a substitute for the Olympics.

Selig also said the Expos won't play in Montreal next season, but there's been no progress on where they will relocate.

He boasted that baseball is more popular than ever — on pace for 74 million in attendance — and is in its "golden era."

GARCIAPARRA DAY-TO-DAY: Chicago Cubs shortstop Nomar Garciaparra missed Monday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers because of a strained left wrist and his status is day-to-day. Garciaparra said he strained his wrist in batting practice Friday in Houston. It's the longest the five-time All-Star has been out since being traded to the Cubs July 31 from the Boston Red Sox, the only team he had ever played for.

"He's good, but not great," manager Dusty Baker said. "We are hoping he will be all right tomorrow with treatment."

Garciaparra took batting practice Monday.

VARITEK DROPS APPEAL: Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek dropped his appeal Monday of a four-game suspension for his part in a bench-clearing brawl with the New York Yankees last month.

Varitek, Boston's hottest hitter this month, began serving his suspension by sitting out Monday night's game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Red Sox, who entered Monday's game with a six-game winning streak, didn't want Varitek to miss games in early September against AL wild card rivals Anaheim, Texas and Oakland. Had Varitek waited until Thursday's appeal hearing, the league would have dictated when Varitek would have been suspended.

Doug Mirabelli replaces Varitek during the suspension. The Red Sox didn't call up a catcher from the minors; they'll use infielder Doug Mientkiewicz as an emergency catcher.>