Sid Fernandez

The New York Mets are sorting out their starting rotation as they prepare to face the Dodgers in the National League playoffs, opening Tuesday at Dodger Stadium. The first three Met starters are locked in: Dwight Gooden, Ron Darling and David Cone. And the fourth? It figures to be Sid Fernandez, who almost ate himself out of his chance, only to win it by default when Bob Ojeda nearly severed a finger in an accident at home.

Time passed quickly for Sid Fernandez. "It doesn't feel like I missed three years," he said Monday after pitching a perfect fifth inning in the New York Yankees' 10-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves at Tampa, Fla. Fernandez was making his first game appearance since retiring in 1997. He is with the Yankees on a minor league contract, trying to win a spot as their fifth starter or as a reliever. "I was a little nervous, but I calmed down once I got out there," he said.

Starter Greg Harris didn't unleash a tirade of obscenities or scream in anguish. He barely even raised his voice after the Padres' 8-3 defeat to the New York Mets in front of 27,541 at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. It's just not Harris' style. He keeps his frustrations pent up inside, letting his insides churn. Instead, his release is to lace up a pair of tennis shoes, go down to the beach near his Del Mar home and run as long as it takes for the last ounce of anxiety to seep from his body.

Pitcher Sid Fernandez, whose greatest success came during the 1980s with the New York Mets, announced his retirement Friday after 14 years in the major leagues. Fernandez, 34, called it quits after a comeback this year with the Houston Astros fizzled because of an arthritic condition in his left elbow. He had suffered a variety of injuries since 1991 when he missed four months after breaking a bone in his left wrist in spring training.

The Padres are not about to concede their postseason hopes in the month of July. But for the first time this season, the Padres acknowledged after their 3-0 defeat Friday night to the New York Mets that they're in trouble. Big trouble. The moment Padre third baseman Gary Sheffield's fly ball landed in Met center fielder Pat Howell's glove, the Shea Stadium scoreboard flashed the news the Atlanta Braves had won again.

The New York Mets exercised contract options on pitcher Sid Fernandez and outfielder Howard Johnson, reducing their number of potential free agents to seven.

A recent quote about rough and tough Dodger chief Al Campanis: "Either you do what he wants or there's no deal." The New York Mets did what big Al wanted and took Sid Fernandez for two guys that can't even be remembered. Another year of seasoning, and Fernandez would have been a star for the Dodgers instead of the Mets. H. C. NEMZER Beverly Hills

Sid Fernandez struck out 17 batters, and every member of the Tidewater lineup got at least one hit as the Tides beat Pawtucket, 11-1, in an International League game Thursday. Fernandez (4-1) pitched 8 innings of scoreless, five-hit ball before walking Juan Pautt to score Pat Dodson in the ninth. Ed Olwine, in relief, got Dave Sax to hit into a double play to end the game.

Dwight Gooden has a pulling away of muscle in the anterior capsule of his right shoulder and will undergo a diagnostic procedure to determine if surgery is needed. The New York Mets' ace felt a sensation of tightness in an Aug. 22 start against St. Louis and hasn't pitched since. The Mets also announced that left-hander Sid Fernandez will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Saturday and will be out the remainder of the season.

Houston pitcher Sid Fernandez began a rehabilitation assignment Saturday at triple-A New Orleans. He gave up four runs in 3 1/3 innings and took the loss against Nashville, 4-2. * Three San Diego players are due to come off the disabled list during this week's road trip.

Philadelphia left-hander Sid Fernandez, plagued by injuries throughout his career, will sit out at least two weeks because of a sprained pitching elbow. Fernandez, 33, missed his scheduled start Thursday against San Diego after complaining of elbow pain. Fernandez is 2-4 this season in eight starts with a 3.26 earned-run average. * The Seattle Mariners will place Chris Bosio on the disabled list today after the club doctor prescribed 30 days of rest for the pitcher's arthritic right knee.

Every time you turn on the evening news or browse through the box scores these days, there's another football score in a baseball game. Double- digit run totals are definitely in vogue. Juiced-up baseballs? Extra hard lacquer on the bats? Theories abound, but Angel Manager Buck Rodgers says another factor is becoming increasingly evident. "Pitching is scarce," he said. "It's a depressed market and it's obvious everywhere you go. We're all in the same boat."

Oriole left-hander Sid Fernandez walked off the mound in pain after facing four batters in Baltimore's 7-6 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, and probably will sit out the early weeks of the regular season because of a sore shoulder. It is the second physical setback of the spring for a pitcher who was considered a health risk when the Orioles signed him to a three-year, $9-million contract in November. Shoulder soreness delayed his entry into the spring rotation for several days.

The New York Mets exercised contract options on pitcher Sid Fernandez and outfielder Howard Johnson, reducing their number of potential free agents to seven.

The Padres are not about to concede their postseason hopes in the month of July. But for the first time this season, the Padres acknowledged after their 3-0 defeat Friday night to the New York Mets that they're in trouble. Big trouble. The moment Padre third baseman Gary Sheffield's fly ball landed in Met center fielder Pat Howell's glove, the Shea Stadium scoreboard flashed the news the Atlanta Braves had won again.

Face it, Sid Fernandez is a very successful reclamation project of Mets' Manager Davey Johnson, not necessarily a trade gaffe for the Dodgers. Tommy Lasorda has offered no evidence that he has the leadership qualities that could have influenced Fernandez to lose enough weight to become an effective pitcher. Many fans remember the former UCLA and pro basketball player, Willie Naulls, who was an under-performer known as the Whale with the Knicks, but improved dramatically when he lost tonnage for Red Auerbach.

Starter Greg Harris didn't unleash a tirade of obscenities or scream in anguish. He barely even raised his voice after the Padres' 8-3 defeat to the New York Mets in front of 27,541 at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. It's just not Harris' style. He keeps his frustrations pent up inside, letting his insides churn. Instead, his release is to lace up a pair of tennis shoes, go down to the beach near his Del Mar home and run as long as it takes for the last ounce of anxiety to seep from his body.