—Milwaukee right-hander Ben Sheets says in light of the Brewers deciding not to try to negotiate an extension during the season, he expects to explore the free-agent market in the fall.

THE ROTATION

Houston GM Wade's scuffle with Chacon was rare, but not the first time team management has had such moments. As a big-league manager, the late Billy Martin was always ready to brawl. Four memorable moments:

—In 1969, his lone year managing Minnesota, Martin punched pitcher Dave Boswell so hard that he needed 20 stitches.

—In 1973, as manager in Detroit, Martin traded punches with minor leaguer Ike Blessitt during spring training.

—In 1985, as manager of the Yankees, Martin challenged pitcher Ed Whitson, who left Martin with a broken arm.

—After the 1985 season, in a Minneapolis bar, Martin punched marshmallow salesman Joseph Cooper, resulting in Martin's being fired by the Yankees.

OUT IN LEFT FIELD

Cito Gaston, who managed Toronto to championships in 1992 and 1993 but was fired after the 1997 season, returned as the Blue Jays manager last weekend when John Gibbons was fired.

Gaston is the 11th man to manage the same team twice with more than a 10-year gap between full-time managerial stints, according to Bill Arnold.

The longest gap was 21 years by Bucky Harris, who left the Tigers after 1933 and returned in 1955, and Paul Richards, who left the White Sox after 1954 and returned in 1976. Other extended gaps: 19 years, Yogi Berra, Yankees (last year 1964, returned in 1984); 15 years, John Pesky, Red Sox (1964, 1980) and Bill Rigney, Giants (1960, 1976); 14 years, Rogers Hornsby, Browns (1937, 1952); 11 years, John McNamara, Angels (1984, 1996); and 10 years, Bill Carrigan, Red Sox (1916, 1927), Billy Southworth, Cardinals (1929, 1940), Charlie Grimm, Cubs (1949, 1960) and Paul Owens, Phillies (1972, 1983).

CLOSING STATEMENT

Toronto general manager Riccardi is indignant over questions about his credibility, when he says he talked to Reds outfielder Dunn on the phone last weekend and apologized for inane statements about Dunn, while Dunn emphatically denied ever having spoken to Riccardi.

Riccardi said he prides himself on his honesty and resented his integrity being questioned. He even pointed out that Dunn's call came from area code 519.

Maybe if Riccardi lived in Toronto instead of outside Boston, he'd know the 519 area code is actually from the province of Ontario, which would seem to prove that the call didn't come from Dunn, who lives in Texas and plays for a team in Ohio.