The Hot Corner

The Rangers' David Segui played his 1,000th game at first base on July 16, making him eligible for the alltime fielding leader board. Not that Segui, whose .996 career fielding percentage at that position at week's end placed him second alltime, is impressed with the list or its leader, Steve Garvey . " Garvey was not a great defensive first baseman," says Segui. "He didn't get to a lot of balls. Just because you don't have any errors doesn't mean you're playing great defense."...

According to agent Gus Dominguez, at least five teams have expressed interest in third baseman Andy Morales, who arrived in Miami last week after defecting from Cuba . One of the first questions possible suitors want answered concerns Morales's age. A bio distributed in a press conference last Friday says he's 25, but a Cuban baseball card from 1994, when Morales was playing for Province of Havana , lists his birthday as Dec. 3, 1971....

Angels rookie righthander Seth Etherton was 5-1 with a 3.97 ERA, even though he's been unable to use his best pitch. While at USC and in 1� seasons in the minors the 23-year-old Etherton relied on a palmball. The seams on major league baseballs are lower than those used in college and the minors, however, making it difficult for Etherton to grip the palmball well enough to control it. Instead, he has relied on his fastball, curve and changeup....

Mariners lefty Jamie Moyer knows whom to keep happy when he's on the mound. As he walked to the dugout after the seventh inning in a win against the A's last week, Moyer tipped his hat to home plate umpire Tim Tschida , thanking him for a job well done. "Some people know the art of cultivating the umpire," said Oakland catcher Sal Fasano . A's manager Art Howe wasn't nearly as understanding. "Why don't you just take him out to f———dinner," he shouted at Moyer from the dugout....

Mark McGwire , who has vowed to retire if there's another labor-related work stoppage, again sounded off about the staggering salaries given to players. "We're all overpaid. I took less money [to play in St. Louis ]. You see a lot of guys taking more money and going to a place they really don't know about, and they find out they've made a wrong decision. They might be rich, but they're going to be unhappy."...

Dodgers catcher Chad Kreuter says he will sue Josh Pulliam, the fan who allegedly hit Kreuter and stole his cap, precipitating the May brawl between fans and players in the Wrigley Field stands. "The guy who hit me, I want to serve notice that I'm coming after him," says Kreuter, who was fined $5,000 and suspended for eight games for his role in the incident. "I served my penalty, but I'm bitter. [Pulliam's] gone into hiding, but when we find him he'll [be served with] a lawsuit."...

Former Braves closer Mark Wohlers made a successful return to the majors with the Reds last week by pitching four scoreless innings in two appearances. The comeback trail has been rockier for lefthander Steve Avery , another former Atlanta star. Avery , who had shoulder surgery last August, had a 12.38 ERA, 14 walks and only three strikeouts in 16 innings for Atlanta 's Triple A affiliate in Richmond .