Despite Replacement, Billy Stands By Big Brother Cal

Statisticians won’t be able to diminish what Cal Ripken Jr. has accomplished, no matter how they decide to treat the streak in the record books, brother Billy says.

“Even if there are some games played with replacement players and then he picks right back up, I’m sure they’ll put an asterisk next to it,” Billy Ripken said Friday. “But I think people will look at that asterisk and just kind of wipe it off the page.”

Cal Jr. has played in 2,009 consecutive games and needs 122 more to surpass Lou Gehrig’s ironman streak of 2,130 straight. Cal, however, has ruled out crossing any lines during the strike, leaving his streak in limbo.

But since the Baltimore Orioles are refusing to use replacements and are likely to forfeit their games, the streak probably will remain intact no matter what.

Billy has had an awkward situation of his own to deal with this spring.

Cleveland offered him a chance to play shortstop at Triple-A Buffalo, with no promises of a big league opportunity once the strike ends. He accepted.

Braves replacement killed

Pitcher Dave Shotkoski, signed by the Atlanta Braves to be a replacement player, was shot and killed Friday night near the hotels where the team is staying for spring training at West Palm Beach, Fla.

Authorities suspect robbery as the motive, but details are sketchy.

Shotkoski, 30, had pitched one inning during the exhibition season. He joined the Braves, the team that originally drafted him in 1985, in January after being out of baseball since March 1992.

No talks planned

Mediator W.J. Usery failed in an attempt to put together a baseball bargaining session this weekend.

Usery, who on Wednesday night said he hoped to announce a resumption of talks within 24 hours, was publicly silent for the second straight day.

Union head Donald Fehr awaited a telephone call from acting commissioner Bud Selig, but hadn’t received one as of early Friday evening.

“Nothing’s new. Haven’t heard a thing,” Fehr said.

Selig briefed about 18 owners during a late afternoon conference call.

Unsatisfied at the Stick

A labor leader promises a “Fan Unappreciation Day,” complete with pickets, if the San Francisco Giants begin the season with replacement players.

A city supervisor wants to go one step farther, seeking a ruling that would block the Giants from playing at Candlestick Park if the baseball strike continues.

Another supervisor plans to introduce legislation making it much more difficult for San Francisco teams to use replacement players in the future.

With the season scheduled to start in eight days and negotiations stalled between baseball owners and players, the three officials are taking steps they say are necessary to protect the city and its workers.

Not welcome here

Dave Hollins, Tommy Green and Curt Schilling have struck out with Philadelphia Phillies owner Bill Giles.

The three showed up at Jack Russell Stadium late Thursday afternoon to use the artificial turf field and covered batting cages. Lenny Dykstra and Bobby Munoz joined them, too.

Giles’ reaction? Never again during the strike.

“I’ll admit it,” Schilling said. “We sneaked in here. What are they going to do - fine us? All we’re trying to do is stay in shape if this thing is settled.”

Giles said a few players, including Schilling and Greene, visited him Wednesday and used the back field at Jack Russell “for maybe a half-hour” afterward.

Howe has thought about return

Steve Howe, the striking left-handed reliever who has been working in the Yankees’ ticket office this spring, said he has considered crossing the picket line.

“Am I thinking about crossing today? No. I’ll put it to you blunt. Any guy who has told you that he has not thought about going back to work - ‘crossing’ is a bad word - is lying.”

Howe has been at spring training in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., since Feb. 24. He took an office job to fulfill conditions of the probation connected with his 1991 arrest and plea bargain for attempting to possess cocaine.

Replacement M’s shut out

At Chandler, Ariz., Tim Dell pitched four no-hit innings as Milwaukee had its first shutout of the spring, downing Seattle 5-0.

Milwaukee general manager Sal Bando had given training-camp players until Friday to decide whether they will stick with the team. Of more than 40 players present, none bowed out.