The Hot Corner

Milwaukee outfielder Jeromy Burnitz , whose four-year, $14.5 million contract ends after the 2001 season, stands to improve upon the $3,625 million average annual salary he now earns but has made it clear that he would take less than market rate to play for his hometown team, the Padres....

When Expos owner Jeffrey Loria was asked about the future of popular manager Felipe Alou , he refused to give a vote of confidence. "It would be foolish not to let a full season go by before assessing anything," Loria said. "At the end of the season, we will look at everything to do with the team [which was 51-62 through Sunday]. I will sit down with Jim [Beattie, the Montreal general manager], and we will examine the club."

...With the Red Sox languishing near the bottom of the American League in almost every offensive category, Boston batters have taken to working more with first base/baserunning coach Tommy Harper and less with hitting coach Jim Rice . Given Rice 's stature as a Red Sox icon, however, his job seems safe....

From the what-does-this-mean-to-me file: After Chipper Jones signed a six-year, $90 million contract extension with the Braves , Cubs rightfielder Sammy Sosa told the Chicago Sun-Times , "My value is going to go way up, seeing the way they took care of Chipper."

...After the Tigers' Hal Morris broke his left index finger during batting practice last week, he joined three other Detroit first basemen ( Tony Clark , Robert Fick and Gregg Jefferies ) on the DL. "We might have to put a live chicken and some incense out there to ward off whatever's causing this," said Clark .