Gebhard Departure Could Be Brewin’

Hey, didn’t you used to be the Texas-O.U. game?

Fly hears more change is on tap at Coors Field. Jimmy Leyland’s in, which means Bob Gebhard, the team’s general (micro)manager, is on his way out. Geb proved his meddle with Don Baylor, who the Spies say endured daily interference--from Day Uno of spring training to the last day of the season--on everything from lineup card to rotation. Good luck doin’ that with Leyland.

The Spies say depth in the ’99 draft has Jeff Fisher-n-staff at a crossroads with Steve “Err” McNair. By the time this here team changes nicknames (How does “Tennessee Chronic Underachievers” sound?), it could be lookin’ at changin’ QBs, too. Why? If ya gotta ask, ya don’t know enough to see the guy’s got all the tools at his disposal--one of the best O lines in the NFL, a top running back and a stable-o-big, fast receivers--and he’s still poundin’ thumbs insteada nails.

Fly’s dream matchup (but if it’s Fly’s dream, then why’s it the TV foofs who need a wakeup call?): The Big Least’s conference TV game this Saturday is Rtgers (“the only think missin’ is ‘U’ . . . and an occasional win/any win”) at the Pitts.

The Spies say No. 7 was hearin’ the whispers: Pssst, the Bronc6-0s don’t need him to win anymore. Hey-yo, Biff, relax; that’s not what they’re whisperin’. They’re whisperin’ that yer gettin’ brittle in yer old age.

Fly’s Top 5 (or, yeah, they were the recruiting talk-o-Corvallis in ‘96, but they majored in hiss-toe-ree, as in “At Oregon State, they’re . . . “): 1. Corey Benjamin; 2. Ron Grady; 3. John-Blair Bickerstaff; 4. Nick Greene; 5a. Nate Knight; 5b. Carson Cunningham.

Finally, fallout from the reworked deal Keith Tkachuk signed last week with the ‘Yotes: He puh-romises not to hold out for a year, maybe two, even if (sniff) he (sniff) feels (honk!) underpaid. Owner Dick Burke tells the Spies that Tkachuk’s word’s good enough for him, which is a laugh, considering up to now Tkachuk’s word’s been worth less than a second-round NHL playoff ducat in Phoenix.