MLB NEWS & NOTES: A'S HIT NEW LOW IN BEATING BREWERS

     A crowd of 6,021, the smallest crowd at the Oakland Coliseum
in nearly 10 years, watch the A's beat the Brewers (SAN JOSE
MERCURY NEWS, 4/23)...The Rangers host a 1:05pm start against the
White Sox, promoting it as "Excuses Day."  Last weekend, ballpark
attendants handed out letters signed by Rangers Manager Johnny
Oates telling bosses that workers needed a day off (FT. WORTH
STAR-TELEGRAM, 4/23).. ..Through Sunday, the Phillies have drawn
a total of 186,035 fans, a drop of 71,658 from the same amount of
games from '95  (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 4/23)....CLARIFICATION:
New information provided by the Phillies indicates their average
ticket price to be $11.50, down from $12.80 (THE DAILY).