The Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers got a taste of the new unified umpire crews. Three of the four working this series used to be NL guys. . . . Reliever Kelly Wunsch made his big league debut for Chicago in the eighth, retiring the side in order.
TEXAS: Ivan Rodriguez had the 10th multihomer game of his career . . . . Former President George Bush's ceremonial first pitch was high and outside, much better than the one-hopper he tossed out before the Rangers' 1991 season.INDIANS--ORIOLES
CLEVELAND: The nine-game road trip is the longest at the beginning of the season for the Indians since 1906. . . . Cleveland has no rookies on an openingday roster that includes six players who did not open the 1999 season with the Indians. . . . Announced the signing of C Bobby Hughes to a minor-league contract. The 28-year-old, released by Milwaukee last week, was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo.
BALTIMORE: B.J. Surhoff owns the longest active consecutive games streak in the majors, now at 325 after playing Monday. . . . Cal Ripken made his 19th opening-day start, his fifth at third base.
ROYALS--BLUE JAYS
KANSAS CITY: P Jeff Suppan was sick Sunday morning with the flu. He didn't work out with the club on Sunday but made the start.
TORONTO: Opening day in Toronto is not what it used to be. The Blue Jays had to paper the SkyDome, giving away 10,000 tickets to schoolchildren. . . . Former Blue Jay manager Cito Gaston is back with the club as Toronto's hitting coach. He received a loud ovation when he was introduced.
DEVIL RAYS--TWINS
TAMPA BAY: LF Greg Vaughn says he's tired of all the talk about the Devil Rays' powerful lineup that includes Jose Canseco, Fred McGriff, Vinny Castilla (15-day DL) and himself. "We're all separate pieces of the puzzle. People talk about us like we're separate from the team. Sure, we can erase a deficit a little easier. But we've still got to throw strikes, make plays, move the runner over. Or all this power won't matter."
MINNESOTA: The Twins will likely have a Rule 5 draft pick in their starting rotation. Manager Tom Kelly said LaTroy Hawkins has lost his spot and will probably be replaced by rookie Johan Santana. Florida selected Santana in last winter's Rule 5 draft and then traded him to Minnesota.
TIGERS--ATHLETICS
DETROIT: Hideo Nomo became the sixth different openingday starter for the Tigers in the past six years and the second in that span to do so in his first year with the club. Doug Brocail in 1997 was the other. The other opening-day starters were Mike Moore (1995), Felipe Lira (1996), Justin Thompson (1998) and Brian Moehler (1999). . . . Nomo is the second Japanese pitcher to wear a Tigers uniform and the first to start. Reliever Masap Kida appeared in 48 games for the Tigers last season. . . . The Tigers head into the 2000 season seeking to break a string of six straight losing seasons. The Tigers haven't finished .500 or better since 1993, when they went 85-77.
OAKLAND: There seems to be a pipeline developing between the Athletics and Kansas City Royals. Between three trades and a free agent signing, the A's have four players on their roster with past ties to the Royals. "We're the Royals rejects," said catcher Sal Fasano, who was acquired from Kansas City in a trade last week.
YANKEES--ANGELS
NEW YORK: Manager Joe Torre plans to use Bernie Williams at DH until the center fielder's sore right triceps muscle feels better. He had been icing his right shoulder much of the spring because of what he said was a tired arm, but the new problem is unrelated, Torre said . . . . Although outfielder Felix Jose was sent down to Triple-A Columbus on Sunday, he impressed Torre this spring. "He's a power guy," Torre said. "He was one of our intriguing stories this spring." Jose, a 34-year-old who played in South Korea last season, was 6-of-30 this spring, homered twice and drove in four runs.
ANGELS: Tim Salmon's on-base percentage of .541 was tops in the majors this spring. The Angels right fielder also was sixth with an .845 slugging percentage and 10th with a .431 batting average . . . . Beginning their 40th season, the Angels announced their all-time team as chosen by fans voting on the club's Web site. The all-time team included Jim Fregosi as both the manager and shortstop; Rod Carew at first, Bobby Grich at second and Doug DeCinces at third. The outfielders were Brian Downing, Jim Edmonds and Reggie Jackson, with Don Baylor the DH. The starting pitchers were Nolan Ryan, Mike Witt, Frank Tanana and Chuck Finley. Troy Percival, the current Anaheim closer, was voted the relief pitcher.