All the owners have to do to avert any potential work stoppage is say to the players, the public, and all the teary eyed fans, “We won’t declare an impasse in the negotiations and implement our rules over the winter.”

It is so simple that it is ridiculous that not one writer, columnist or any other type of journalist has asked the owners for their response to this suggestion. Bargain in good faith, don’t threaten the players with the dreaded impasse, and life can move forward with a dramatic conclusion to the 2002 season.

What does the public expect the players to do? Sit back and let the owners declare the impasse and then lock them out if they don’t want to play by the new owner friendly rules.

So, let’s assume someone will read this suggestion and pass it on to the moguls who are terribly scorned by the players action Friday.

Meanwhile, the A’s continue their pursuit of Anaheim, the Giants are crying about their woes on the road, and the Red Sox are in danger of more losses this weekend in Minnesota.

Read on.You would think the Giants are the only team that ever arrived in the next town at 5:30 AM. It happens more than you realize in baseball. Get some hits with men on base, get some outs when you have the other team down to their last strike in the ninth inning, and then all will be rosy in the fantasy land of Giants baseball, where any adversity suffered by the local nine is the worst moment in Bay Area baseball history.

Today, Ryan Jensen who hasn’t been a mystery to anyone lately faces a tough, yet inconsistent young gun in Florida’s Josh Beckett. I think a split in the four game series will send the Giants home happy assuming their plane lands on schedule Monday evening.

The Angels won again without Tim Salmon in the line up. If the Indians would just cooperate for the next week, they could lose all three to Anaheim then go home and get swept by the A’s, Monday thru Thursday.

One thing to point out about Anaheim, baseball is a game of bull pens, and theirs has never gone down the stretch before. Hello, Ben Weber. On the other hand, closer Troy Percival throws an exploding fastball with great rising movement and looks like he is unhittable right now.

Seattle is in danger of falling out of first place today. Mike Mussina has stunk it up for NY his last three starts and faces Ryan Franklin for the Mariners. Bernie Williams has ten straight hits, the Tigers Walt Dropo had twelve in a row in 1952 before thinking about his thirteenth attempt, his lack of “just see ball and hit ball” approach caused him to pop up against the forgettable Lou Sleater of the Senators ending the streak. Pinky Higgins also had twelve in a row for the Red Sox in 1938.

Bernie may just do it and in the process go ahead of Ichiro in the batting race. When was the last time Ichiro was not the league leader in hitting?

The A’s face Jon Garland who has had trouble with lefthanded batters. Expect the A’s to stack the line up with lefties in an attempt to score more than two runs per game. Mark Mulder bears watching because he has started slowly in his last three efforts. Mulder doesn’t seem concerned so why should I. The White Sox swing at everything near the plate and don’t work the count at all, which will help Mulder today.

Roy Oswalt and Shawn Estes, Houston vs. Cincy, I like this game, the Reds all of a sudden look a little better with Joey Hamilton and Jose Rijo in the bull pen and not anywhere near the early innings of a game (starters).

Minnesota’s Johann Santana has a great change up and Tim Wakefield will pitch indoors which won’t help his knuckleball. The Red Sox haven’t even begun their tough schedule yet, so if you are a Sox fan, buckle your seat belt the ride will get bumpier before the landing.

All right I give up, the Mets are done.

Remember all we want to hear is “No Impasse.”