I-Rod, A-Rod feud visible in crystal ball

Commissioner Costas, another flag for Yankees ahead in 2001 season

Dec. 26 --- A-Rod vs. I-Rod? Selig out, Costas in? There's more ... Why rush to buy tickets? We've got the scoop on everything that will happen this season:

APRIL 1: WEARING a T-shirt that says "I-Rod=A-Rod," catcher Ivan Rodriguez refuses to play in the Rangers' opener against the Blue Jays in his native Puerto Rico. April 9: The Pirates open PNC Park with a thrilling 9-8 victory over the Reds in 17 innings. Ken Griffey Jr. goes 0-for-7, grumbles about the shower heads in the visiting clubhouse and says he wants to be traded back to the Mariners.

April 15: The Yankees fall to 5-7. Boss fumes.

April 16: The Mets fall to 4-9. Coaches fired.

April 17: The Rangers fall to 3-10. I-Rod and A-Rod wrestle in the clubhouse.

April 28: Umpire John Shulock protests the return of the high strike by calling strikes on nine straight wild pitches by Rick Ankiel.

May 7: The Rangers fall to 10-23. Manager Johnny Oates fired.

May 11: Mike Mussina no-hits the Orioles at Yankee Stadium.

May 25: Manny Ramirez gets lost driving to Fenway Park.

May 26: Carl Everett confronts Ramirez in the Red Sox clubhouse, shouting, "$20 million a year, and the chump can't buy a map?"

June 7: Larry Walker sprains his neck turning to watch a home run off Denny Neagle and is lost for the season.

June 9: Ichiro Suzuki improves his league-leading batting average to .476. Rangers owner Tom Hicks flies to Japan in search of "some real players."

June 11: The Yankees fall to 29-34. Joe Torre fired.

June 12: The Mets fall to 25-38. Bobby Valentine fired.

June 13: Torre named Mets manager.

June 15: The Mets and Yankees meet for the first time since the Subway Series. Roger Clemens starts at Shea Stadium, and Torre calls him "a head-hunter" after he throws at Mike Piazza.

July 3: Celebrating his return to Cleveland, Manny Ramirez gets lost walking from the team hotel to Jacobs Field.

July 4: Mike Mussina no-hits the Orioles at Camden Yards.

July 10: Fans at Safeco Field hold signs saying "252! 252!" as Alex Rodriguez returns for the All-Star Game. "It's not about the money," one fan chortles. "It's his batting average."

July 30: Jason Giambi rejects the A's offer of a 10-year, $25.2-million extension. A's officials deny they misplaced the decimal point.

July 31: The A's trade Giambi to the Yankees.

Aug. 14: Phillies manager Larry Bowa charges the mound after reliever Jose Mesa allows a game-winning grand slam. It is the first time in major league history that a bench-clearing brawl occurs with only one team involved.

Aug. 25: Mike Hampton falls to 12-17 but seems almost gleeful afterward, telling reporters he is the new president of the Wheat Ridge (Colo.) PTA. "Sandy Alderson said he didn't want to hear me talk about the Wheat Ridge school system," Hampton says. "Well, at least I'll have something to do during the lockout."

Sept. 1: The final month begins with three low-revenue teams in first place --- the Marlins, A's and Pirates.

Sept. 2: Commissioner Bud Selig dismisses the standings as an aberration.

Sept. 15: The Royals take the lead in the AL Central, making it four low-revenue teams in first place.

Sept. 17: Selig resigns.

Sept. 18: Bob Costas named commissioner.

Sept. 19: A new labor agreement is reached. Terms include a $1 million minimum salary plus private jets.

Sept. 25: The Yankees lose their 16th consecutive game but clinch the AL East when the Red Sox blow a 13-2 lead to the Orioles.

Sept. 30: Torre resigns as Mets manager amid reports he's heading back to you-know-where.

Oct. 1: Torre rehired by Yankees.

Oct. 19: Hampton's walk-off homer in Game 7 lifts the Rockies past the Cardinals in the NLCS.

Oct. 20: Rockies manager Buddy Bell announces Hampton will play the outfield on days he does not pitch in the World Series.

Oct. 23: Hampton, attempting to rob Derek Jeter of a homer, is mugged as he leaps over the right-field wall at Yankee Stadium.

Oct. 25: Yankees win World Series. Torre cries again.

TSN Senior writer Ken Rosenthal covers baseball for The Sporting News. E-mail him at krosenthal@sportingnews.com.