A source close to Reds Owner Marge Schott, on MLB
allegedly trying to pressure her to sell the team: "She's
not someone you bully. If she (sells), it will be because
it's her decision" (CINCINNATI POST, 4/30).
BLUE JAYS: In Toronto, Mark Zwolinski writes that "fans
are taking notice" of the Blue Jays' 10-16 record. The Jays
said they sold 26,690 tickets for yesterday's loss to the
Royals "but there weren't anywhere near that many on hand."
Overall, through 13 home games, the team has drawn 11,894
less than last season (TORONTO STAR, 5/1)....The A's have a
promo planned for tomorrow where if Blue Jays P Roger
Clemens strikes out more than 10 A's, ticket-holders get a
free pair of tickets to a future game (S.F. CHRONICLE, 5/1).
RYAN'S EXPRESS: Nolan Ryan, his son Reid and Don
Sanders, a former part owner of the Astros, have reached an
agreement to purchase majority interest in the Jackson (MS)
Generals, the Astros AA Texas League team, and move them to
Central TX (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/1). Ryan is talking with
the city of Round Rock about possibly relocating the team
and constructing a city-owned stadium (Nolan Ryan).
TEAM NOTES: A new souvenir being sold at Dodger Stadium
is a stuffed koala bear dressed in a Dodger uniform. In
N.Y., Rush & Molloy report that some fans have already
started calling the new mascot "Rupert," after News Corp.
Chair Rupert Murdoch (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/1)....Former
Marlins/current Padres P Kevin Brown, on a meeting he and
three other Marlin players had last November with team Owner
Wayne Huizenga: "We went there to talk as players because we
knew things were about to fall apart. We tried to do what
we could. We offered to become campaigners and told Wayne
we'd do what we could to save it. We'd try to get fan
support and push the stadium issue with positives instead of
having the trigger being pulled" (SUN-SENTINEL, 5/1).
