Rennie Stennett

The most expensive lineup in baseball this season costs $19,494,874 and does not even include Jose Canseco, Kirby Puckett or Wade Boggs. The Associated Press' all-money team does, however, list two Dodgers--Orel Hershiser and Eddie Murray. Hershiser's 1989 salary, including a prorated share of his signing bonus, is $2,766,667, the highest in baseball. In the AP lineup, Hershiser would throw to Gary Carter of the New York Mets, who earns $2,160,714.

Frank Viola said he let the New York Mets down last season as they failed to win the pennant. He is making amends this season and has the Mets making their first move. Although he left the game after five innings because of a slightly stiff back Friday night at Houston, Viola stayed around long enough to improve his record to 4-0. Mark Carreon's third home run to open the fourth inning gave the Mets a 1-0 victory over the Houston Astros.

The Buffalo Bisons are trying to become the first minor-league team to draw at least a million fans in back-to-back seasons. But owner Bob Rich Jr., said they're not getting any help from the schedule-makers or the weatherman. "We have 16 (home) games in April. That's going to put us a little bit more behind the eight-ball," Rich said prior to Wednesday's season-opener. "I think we'll have a better shot after we get through April of knowing if the million is do-able." The Bisons' American Association opener against the Louisville Redbirds illustrated Rich's concerns.

Who is this guy? Mike Benjamin is a stand-in, a backup, a utility infielder and a role player. And now, he's a major league record holder. "I've been around some great hitters--Aaron, Cepeda, Ralph Garr, Rico Carty, Steve Garvey, Reggie Smith--but I've never seen a finer three days than Benjamin has had," San Francisco Giant Manager Dusty Baker said.

Reporters' digital tape and video recorders will always be fully charged now that the struggling Seattle Mariners have replaced hitting coach Jeff Pentland with special assistant Lee Elia. The 70-year-old Elia, a veteran of nearly a half-century in professional baseball, will forever be remembered for a 1983, profanity-laced, post-game rant when he was the Chicago Cubs manager. The eruption, directed mainly at Cubs fans, rivals Tom Lasorda's 1978 classic on his opinion of Dave Kingman's performance.

Kirby Puckett is doing everything he can to help the Minnesota Twins improve their dismal road record. The center fielder had a great game for the second consecutive day Sunday as the Twins moved into sole possession of first place in the West with a 10-6 victory over the Brewers at Milwaukee. Puckett went 4 for 5 Saturday, including two home runs, as the Twins ended a nine-game road losing streak. He did even better Sunday.

The Kansas City Royals opened this season with two talented rookies. The one who received all the ballyhoo is contemplating turning to football, but the other is developing into a baseball star. While Bo Jackson, the famous Heisman Trophy winner, has struggled trying to prove he can be a major leaguer, Kevin Seitzer has quietly proved he is one. Jackson has announced he will play pro football with the Raiders as just a "hobby." Seitzer is content to just play baseball.

Listen! Been feeling guilty over that second piece of pie, have you? Fretting because your pants seem to be getting tight around the middle? Keep promising yourself to cut down on the pasta? Hate to look at yourself in one of those three-way mirrors? Wince when the sales clerk leads you to the "portly" counter? Forget it! Eat up. Have another piece of chocolate.

You get some measure of the kind of ballplayer Richard Craig Schofield is when you know the Angels played him regularly when he was batting .193. That the pitchers still wanted him in there daily when he upped it only to .216. With a glove in his hand, he was Ozzie Smith. With a bat in his hand he was Ozzie and Harriet. What Casey Stengel used to call an "I got it! " hitter. He swung--and four infielders yelled "I got it!"

Each of Eric Show's four starts this season has been the same. He walks out to the mound to begin the game, figuring this is the day. This is the day he will win his first start of the season, the day he will add one more victory to his Padre record 94, and the day when he will win his first game since undergoing back surgery last Aug. 2. So far, none of them have been his day. Friday night in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium: Pittsburgh, 9-4, in front of 23,376.