It'll be a mad, mad market for management: all teams that plan to hire new managers and G.M.s are hereby reminded to conduct background checks on candidates, lest they wind up with anothery Wally Backman

Even if Peter Angelos decides to sell the Orioles, he isn't known for closing deals quickly. Angelos is an exacting negotiator, and an industry source says he's placing an "irrational" value on the franchise because of the MLB-assisted creation of a new regional sports network that the Orioles largely control.

The network, however, won't realize its full potential until Angelos cuts a distribution deal with Comcast, with whom he is feuding. * Why is Reds owner Carl Lindner adamant about keeping CF Ken Griffey? "Because he wants to win," says a source with insight into Lindner's mind-set. Lindner also might be reluctant to trade Griffey while 51.5 percent of the club is for sale, but someone needs to explain to Lindner that the franchise will benefit if it finds a trade partner who will assume a significant portion of Griffey's salary through 2008 and offers a quality prospect or two in return. * Padres G.M Kevin Towers says C Miguel Olivo has been "incredible" since arriving from the Mariners, but scouts are more reserved. "He doesn't throw anywhere near where he used to," one says. "Everyone is enamored when they first get a guy like that. Wait until they live with him for a while." The scout says Olivo lacks the aptitude to be a viable replacement for Ramon Hernandez, a potential free agent. That could leave the Padres with a hole; they're more likely to re-sign Brian Giles than Hernandez. * Rather than return RHP Curt Schilling to their rotation, the Red Sox are more likely to keep him in their bullpen; otherwise, they would be counting on both Schilling and their closer, RHP Keith Foulke, to regain their 2004 forms while coming off injuries--and banking on a shaky relief corps to bridge the sixth and seventh innings. RHP Bronson Arroyo also could move to the bullpen for the postseason, leaving a rotation of RHP Matt Clement, LHP David Wells, RHP Tim Wakefield and RHP Wade Miller. The Sox likely will use Miller (shoulder) judiciously after he comes off the D.L. so he can be sharp for October. * An executive calls Braves OF Jeff Francoeur "the closest thing to Vlad Guerrero that you're going to see;' chuckling about the rookie's tendency to swing at everything yet consistently make hard contact. Guerrero began the week averaging 3.28 pitches per plate appearance, third lowest in the majors among qualifiers for the batting title behind Yankees 2B Robinson Cano and Angels LF Garret Anderson. Francoeur was averaging 3.28 pitches per plate appearance and didn't draw a walk in his first 99 trips to the plate. * Of the Dodgers' top prospects, Class AA C Russell Martin appears the closest to the majors; one scout monitoring their system says he's "a lot better" than C Dioner Navarro, whom the team recently promoted to L.A. The scout says Martin is better at hitting, throwing and blocking balls and also offers superior toughness and Jason Varitek-type leadership. The Dodgers, however, remain high on Navarro, who is a switch hitter and still only 21. At least one executive considers Angels C Bengie Molina an underrated player, saying, "When he doesn't play, you notice it." Molina, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, has better career numbers with runners in scoring position than he does with no one on base. Devil Rays OF Jonny Gomes has displayed stunning power, hitting 15 home runs in his first 197 at-bats, but he figures to be squeezed next season by the arrival of top prospect Delmon Young. Gomes could become the team's DH or possibly be traded for pitching; the Royals have shown interest.

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