Caught on the Fly.

Hey, didn't you used to be Steve Phillips?

* Fly had a good yuk-yuk over the indignity 'round VC spendin' the morning before Game 7 in robe-n-mortarboard. Nothin' gets Fly's antennae in a knot like players missing games to be with pregnant wives-nailing grandmas (have babies and ailing grandmas in the offseason), but Vince did not miss a minute of team activity. No matter what childs-ish teammates say, VC had Raps owner Larry Tanenbaum (i.e., the check signer) in Chapel Hill with him.

* The Beantowners are wheeling Dave Cone out to the mound every five days, and they are hopin'/puhraying Bret Saberhagen will be ready soon. Fly's just wondering, but have the Sawx checked to see whether Old Hoss Radbourn is available?

* Speakin'-o-geezers, Fly gotta load of the Red Things' youth movement GM. Ken Holland's first step? Sign Fredrik Olausson and re-sign Igor Larionov. Er, Ken, most youth movements start with, um, youth.

* Fresh from the Rumorama (where Conspiracy Theory 101 is a prerequisite course): Word outta N.Y. is that Stern-n-MJ really put the lot in the lottery--as in, a lot of Wash Wiz pingpong balls in the mixer. Little wonder MJ's club came up with pick numero uno. Is that tilapia or grouper Fly smells?

* Fly was perusin' Aisle 1 at the Hardball ...