SOUTH OF THE BORDER: PADRES TO OPEN SEASON IN MONTERREY

          MLB's Int'l Committee has asked the Padres to open the
     '99 season against the Rockies in Monterrey, Mexico,
     according to Bill Center of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. 
     The April 4 Sunday night game "is expected to be telecast to
     more than" 200 nations.  Padres President Larry Lucchino:
     "We are as proud as we can be.  It's a huge and symbolic
     step for baseball.  Were this the NFL, they'd put a Roman
     numeral by the game."  Lucchino "also confirmed" that the
     Padres would play a weekend spring training series in Yuma,
     AZ, this year and "intend to play at least one weekend every
     spring" in the city.  More Lucchino: "Make no mistake about
     it -- we want nothing short of being recognized, loved and
     embraced as Mexico's team" (S.D. UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/9).