DOWN THE LINE

Three Days in ...

St. Louis

Going on 21 years ago, the Kansas City Royals of Bret Saberhagen, George Brett, Willie Wilson, Dan Quisenberry and Don Denkinger united to beat the St. Louis Cardinals in a World Series played along the Interstate 70 corridor, and that was about the last time the two franchises saw each other.

They’ll play a three-game series next week at St. Louis.

As viable big league franchises go, let’s just say they’ve drifted apart, well beyond the 260 miles that separate the neutral corners of Kansas City and St. Louis.

Since that late October night in 1985, for example, the Cardinals have had two 100-win seasons. The Royals have had three 100-loss seasons.

Cardinals, 53 All-Stars. Royals, 28.

Cardinals, played seven times in the playoffs. Royals, watched them all from home.

In 1985, the Cardinals drew 2.6 million and the Royals 2.2 million. Last season, the Cardinals outdrew the Royals, 3.5 million to 1.4 million.

The probables:

Friday: Mark Redman vs. Jeff Suppan

Saturday: Mike Wood vs. Sidney Ponson

Sunday: Scott Elarton vs. Jason Marquis

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In a week that also has interleague rivalry series in L.A., New York, Chicago and Texas, the Mets play three games starting Tuesday at Fenway, where Pedro Martinez and Josh Beckett will oppose each other in Game 2 and Tom Glavine and Curt Schilling will do the same in Game 3.

We’ve Been Cleared for ... Tampering

Florida Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria was scolded by MLB officials last week for offering Barry Bonds a seat on his personal jet from Miami to New York after the San Francisco Giants had completed a series against the Marlins. A league official last week said he did not know if Loria had been fined under the league’s tampering rules. According to a story in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Bonds accepted the invitation, rather than travel with his teammates on the club’s charter.

Tough to pick a winner in this one: Loria’s foolishness or Bonds’ arrogance.

A Few Minutes With ...

Edwin Jackson

Edwin Jackson, the former Dodgers prospect who, along with Chuck Tiffany, was swapped for Danys Baez and Lance Carter, is back in the big leagues with Tampa Bay.

He brought some mechanical adjustments with him, courtesy of Joe Coleman, the veteran pitching guru who moved Jackson from the first base side of the rubber to the third base side, which instantly improved his slider. Coleman also reworked Jackson’s changeup.

The Devil Rays believe the alterations not only make Jackson a better pitcher, but might save him future shoulder pain.

To that end, Coleman suggested Jackson “pitch” early, rather than begin each start with the priority of establishing his fastball. So, Jackson works his breaking ball early, gradually introducing his fastball.

After a game Monday in Durham, N.C., Jackson said he’s fine with the trade, fine with the Dodgers, happy with where he is. “It’s cool,” he said. “It’s the game of baseball, going from team to team. It’s never changed my demeanor.”

An Expert in His ...

Infield

Here’s another reason for the Dodgers to have a happy, healthy Cesar Izturis at third base, if not shortstop: The ball is always in play, particularly in the first two-thirds of the game.

Dodgers starters strike out an average of 5.3 batters per nine innings, 28th in baseball.

One Last Thing From ...

Who Else?

Ozzie Guillen, on sensitivity training classes: “If they want me to do it, make sure it’s after 12 o’clock. I don’t get up until after 12 o’clock.”

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-- Tim Brown