The Times-News from Twin Falls, Idaho • 7

Sports Line Jury awards players $30 million in free agency case a March 1991 decision that the league broke federal labor law during the 1987 player strike and must pay $30 million to the 1,100 players who joined the walkout. NLRB administrative law judge Benjamin Schlesinger, in his 1991 decision, said the clubs owe the money because they shorted the players a week's salary after the strike ended. "It was a double whammy for the NFL squads during the 1989 season was less than they would have earned had they been free to negotiate their own contracts. After less than a full day of deliberation, the jury awarded the players all of the $10 million in damages they claimed. Under antitrust laws, the awards were tripled.

In a separate ruling Monday, the National Labor Relations Board affirmed 9 Ml IE Andy Van Slyke, Pitt Lloyd McClendon, Brave pee foei Pitt AB AVQ HR RBI AB AVQ Season 614 .324 14 89 '92 Season 190 .253 Otis Nixon, Atl AB AVQ HR David Justice, AB AVQ Season 456 .294 '92 Season 484 .256 Jay Bell, Pitt AB AVQ HR RBI Season 632 .264 9 55 wsotot Jeff Blauser, Atl AB AVQ HR RBI 46 Season 343 .262 14 RBI LR oft '92 The Associated Press WASHINGTON A federal court jury on Monday awarded 235 NFL players a total of $30 million in damages from the 28 teams for fixing wages of practice players. The five-woman, three-man jury agreed that the wage paid to members of six-man developmental The Associated Press ATLANTA Barry Bonds has never been Mr. Postseason and the Pittsburgh Pirates are 0-for-October since 1990. The only question about the National League playoffs rematch that begins Tuesday seemingly is which Atlanta Braves' pitcher will be this fall's Zero Hero. Maybe not.

Sure, the Braves one run short of winning the World Series last year will start John Smoltz, Steve Avery and Tom Glavine against Pittsburgh, which was shut out in its last three home games of the '91 playoffs. But, this year, the Pirates not the Braves' Big 3 enter the playoffs on a tear, winning 42 of their last 56. The Braves' young gun starters have won just three times among them in a month, the beat-up bullpen is questionable with Alejandro Pena out and Kent Mercker hurting. Mike Stanton is only healthy Braves' left-hander reliever to counter the Pirates' left-handed strength of Bonds and Andy Van Slyke. So the NL's first playoffs rematch since the Dodgers and Phillies met in 1977 and 1978 just might not be an instant replay of the pitching-dominated 1991 series that featured three 1-0 games.

This one might be an Oktoberfest of hitting or, maybe, an October slugfest. "We won't steal this series," Terry Pendleton, last year's NL MVP, said. "If we don't beat them, they're not going to beat themselves again. If we win it, it will be because we earned it." "That's in the past," Bonds said of the Pirates' '90 and '91 problems. "We don't live in the past." The Pirates are the first team to win three consecutive NL East titles since Philadelphia (1976-78), but 3 '92 those Phillies never made it to what Pirates GM Ted Simmons calls "the Grand Banana" the World Series.

Pittsburgh also doesn't want to be reminded of the past two playoffs, when AP 92 92 92 '92 i '92 Barry Bonds, Pitt AB AVQ HR RBI Season 473 .311 34 103 Ron Gant, Atl AB AVQ HR RBI Season 544 .259 17 80 92 Terry '92 I I lliellmes-NcYvs For the latest scores, call 734-6326 andfoUow the simple instructions. Today Prep volleyball Wood RiverBuhl at Burley 6 p.m. Jerome JVBIIss at Richfield 5 p.m. Camas County at Ketchum Community 6 p.m. Carey JV at ISDB 6 p.m.

Oakley at Castleford 6 p.m. Declo at Glenns Ferry 8:30 p.m. Shoshone at Dietrich 6 p.m. Valley at Filer 5 p.m. Gooding at Wendell 6:30 p.m.

Raft River at Hagerman 7 p.m. Murtaugh at hansen 7:30 p.m. Madison at Mlnlco 6 p.m. Prep soccer (vbod River at Blackfoot 7 p.m. 5:30 p.m.

Channel 13, NHL hockey, Philadelphia at Pittsburgh 6:30 p.m. Channel 12, Baseball playoffs, NLCS Game 1 7 p.m. Channel 2, Dokes-Ribalta (heavyweights) Nordic group meets to clear ski trails The High Desert Nordic Association will have its first public get-together of the 1992-93 ski season Sunday. The event begins with trail clearing at 9 a.m. at the Magic Mountain Ski Lodge, followed by a bonfire and cookout at 6 p.m.

in Twin Falls. Anyone interested in cross-country skiing is invited to attend either or both activities. Call 734-1816. Mets buy ads to say sorry to fans for sour season 5 'NEW YORK The New York Mets figured after their second straight fifth-place finish and their first 90-loss season since 1983, they owed New York baseball fans an apology. On Monday, the team delivered it, using full-page advertisements in the New York Daily News, New York Post, The New York Times and New York Newsday to do it.

"Our season wasn't exactly one to remember," the ad began. "We were just as disappointed as we know you were. But what we won't soon forget is all of you who came to Shea, despite our many injuries, despite the economy, despite even the bad weather." 'They say when you're down and out, you find out who your true friends are. We were happy to discover we still had true friends, by the millions. "So thank you Mets Fans and thank you New York.

Spring training is only four months away. We can hardly wait. "Let's go Mets!" Officials from developmental league wecome opening day SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. When the Scottsdale Scorpions take the field tonight against the Grand Canyon Rafters and the first ball is thrown out in the Arizona Fall League, few people will be happier than Mike Port. "To go from an idea with not even a box of paper clips to its name to having a league with national recognition and the players attracting the attention of the major league clubs is incredible," the president of the new circuit said.

The commissioner's office created the league as a U.S. alternative to the four Caribbean winter leagues. The idea came up three years ago, when several team executives were sitting by a swimming pool at Phoenix. Noticing the warmth of the November day, they decided south-central Arizona would be ideal for a developmental league. Compiled from staffand wire reports 66 On a cold night, you have to hit the ball 25 feet farther.

So in other words, if the fence is 338 feet and you hit the ball 338 feet, you'll be 25 feet short. 99 New York Mets announcer Ralph Kiner on hitting a baseball in coia weather nn today," said Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFL Players Association. Upshaw, whose association backed the practice players' lawsuit, said he was "extremely happy" about the decision. "It was illegal what the NFL did. They won't ever do it again." NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league will, appeal both the jury verdict and the NLRB decision.

stretch, we're ready for the playoffs. We've played great, solid, consistent, steady baseball the last nine weeks." But the playoffs last just seven games or fewer, not nine weeks, and that's why Braves manager Bobby Cox is taking one huge gamble by starting right-hander John Smoltz (15-12) in Game 1 against the Pirates' Doug Drabek (15-11). Drabek's 1.16 post-season ERA in one of the best in NL history. Smoltz beat the Pirates twice in last year's playoffs, but is 0-2 against them this season. Also, by starting Smoltz, Cox allows Pittsburgh to start its strong left handed-hitting lineup Alex Cole in right, Mike LaValliere catching, Orlando Merced at first, Bonds and Van Slyke that was 70-34 against right-handed starters.

Why not Avery, who pitched 16 shutout innings in last year's playoffs, or Glavine, a 20-game winner who's 4-0 against Pittsburgh this season? Especially when the Game 1 starter might start three times in the series? "Smoltz has pitched great lately, but I really couldn't lose," Cox said. "I've got three good guys to pick from, and Smoltz has been the better of the three lately by a little bit. He's healthy and strong." Glavine isn't. One of just two NL 20-game winners, Glavine (20-8) still is recovering from a cracked rib and won't start until Game 3 Friday against Pirates knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (8-1). Avery will start Game 2 Wednesday afternoon against playoff-tested Pittsburgh left-hander Danny Jackson.

No matter who starts and who relieves all-time saves leader Jeff Reardon and fastballing Mark Wohlers are now the Braves' closers the Pirates must be wondering if the October malaise will strike again. Gasero The Killer B's Bonds and the now-departed Bobby Bonilla slumped badly the past two playoffs, and the Pirates' ship sank with them. styrofoam choppers and Ted and Jane's autumn adventure. A look at how the playoffs shape up: First Base Atlanta: Sid Bream-Brian Hunter Bream (.261, 10 homers, 61 RBIs) starts against right-handers while Hunter (.239, 14, 41) starts against lefties. Bream is a much better clutch hitter than he is overall, hitting above .300 with runners in scoring position.

But Bream finished the season in an 8-for-38 slump. Hunter was 22 for 56 with runners iri scoring position Pittsburgh: Orlando Merced Hit .247 with six homers and 60 RBIs after hitting .275 in 1991 with 10 homers and 50 RBIs. In the playoffs last year, he was 2 for 9 with a home run in 10-3 Game 3 loss. Had a hot September, going 25 for 76 (.329) with seven doubles, a triple, a Please see MATCHUPSA7 new faces certainly have more power, and our pitching is better. But, it's not at all the same team we had." Jack Morris will start the opener for Toronto and be followed by David Cone.

Gaston has not announced who will pitch Game 3 in Oakland, although it appears Juan Guzman has the edge. In 1989, when the Blue Jays were wiped out in five games by Rickey Henderson and the Athletics, the rotation was completely different. Dave Stieb, now injured, started twice and was joined by Mike Flanagan, Todd Stottlemyre and Jimmy Key. Even though Toronto is the only team in the majors with 10 straight winning seasons, a streak that includes four AL East championships in eight years, the Blue Jays have never advanced to the World Series. "People have labeled us chokers and I know (Milwaukee manager Phil) Gamer said Please see ALA7 Bonds had no RBIs in 13 games and the Pirates got zeroed out in the big games.

They lost 2-1 on one hit in 1990's decisive Game 6 in Cincinnati and were shut out at home in Pi ILlvvJ Orlando Merced, Pitt AB AVQ HR RBI HR RBI 3 20 '92 Season 405 .247 6 60 Atl Sid Bream, Atl AB AVQ HR RBI HR RBI I 21 72 '92 Season 372 .261 10 61 hJj I '1 -71 VI Jose Lind, Pitt AB AVQ HR RBI season qoo Mark Lemke, Atl AB AVG HR RBI Season 427 .227 6 26 3E3 Don Slaught, Pitt AB AVQ HR RBI '92 Season 255 .345 4 37 Damon Berryhill, Atl AB AVQ HR RBI '92 Season 307 .228 10 43 UililAialij Jeff King, Pitt AB AVQ HR RBI Season 480 .231 14 65 Pendleton, Atl AB AVQ HR RBI AP Karl Gude, Ed De Games 6 and 7 in '91 after taking a 3-2 series lead in Atlanta, "We're going to be better," the Pirates' Jay Bell said. "The way we played down the in the numbers: 28-26 in one-run games to 37-25 for Pittsburgh. In extras, the Braves went 1 0-7, the Pirates 14-8. Atlanta, which won seven of 12 against the Pirates this year, probably will use Deion Sanders mostlyas a runner and pinch-hitter. Both managers have postseason experience, but while Bobby Cox, is merely liked, Jim Leyland is currently appraised at near-genius level.

Last year, experience didn't do it for the Pirates. This year, both teams are vets, and the Braves have the memories of losing the World Series to the Minnesota Twins in a 1-0, 10-inning Game 7. In Pittsburgh, it'll be hard to overlook the Pirates, even though a lot of fans have because of a newspaper strike that began May 17. Yet, Games 3, 4 and 5 next weekend are already close to sellouts. First, though, it's back to those true.

Who else but Dave Stewart? He hasn't had a sparkling season, but in the playoffs there's no one more reliable and unflappable than Stewart, who is 5-0 in six playoff starts with a 1.79 ERA. He'll face the Blue Jays' Jack Morris (21-6) Please see STEWARTA7 "This is a better team than we had back then," manager Cito Gaston said. "We 5-1 -ff-A ill Season 640 .311 21 105 Left-handers bother Bucs; Braves carry weak bullpen The Associated Press Here we go, again. One year later, it's the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Atlanta Braves in the National League playoffs. Back to the Chop Shop for the series opener on Tuesday night.

No Killer B's this time, just Barry Bonds buzzing around. Each team won its division going away. The Pirates went into first for good on June 2, the Braves moved ahead to stay on Aug. .2. Each team is overwhelming at home, with Pittsburgh going 53-28 and Atlanta going 51-30.

But the Pirates had trouble with left-handed pitchers, going 26-32, while Atlanta went 34-19. That's not a good stat for the Pirates, who will be seeing a lot of Steve Avery and Tom Glavine. The Braves' bullpen troubles also show photo Pirates Doug Drabek works out Monday at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. In AL playoffs, it's same teams, A's go with experience for postseason opener The Associated Press TORONTO To see exactly how much and how fast baseball is changing, just look at the lineups for Toronto and Oakland now and compare them to the Blue Jays and A's that met in the 1 989 AL playoffs. Only three years ago, this was who started for Toronto in October: Fred McGriff, George Bell, Tony Fernandez, Lloyd Moseby, Mookie Wilson, Lee Mazzilli, Nelso.n Liriano, Ernie Whitt and Kelly Gruber.

Recognize those guys? Only Gruber will be on the field Wednesday night when Game 1 begins. The rest are long gone, out of Toronto or out of the game, and have been replaced by the result of an aggressive strategy of making trades, signing free agents and developing young players. Other clubs have tried to do what the Blue Jays have done. None, though, have been The Associated Press OAKLAND, Calif, When Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan sat down to map out the Oakland Athletics' rotation for the playoff series with Toronto, the choice for Game 1 was obvious. The manager and pitching coach went with the tried and Stewart more successful at changing players without changing the winning results..