I know there's been grumbling, but not much. I think overall this deal really doesn't increase that level to any degree that one would worry about.

I think 50-100 and lifetime is eminently fair. I don't even begin to understand how anybody could not think that that was fair.

No one denies that it is a problem. It's a problem we can and must deal with now, rather than years from now when the public says, 'Why didn't you do something about it?' I'm very worried about this.

You know, not that I'm not sensitive about it. Last year when we had the congressional hearings on March 17, people said there's a dark cloud hanging over the game. Turns out last year may have been the greatest year in our history in terms of attendance and everything else.

There's got to be fairness, and there's got to be decency here. And if I'm overprotective of players, which some say I am, so be it. Then that's what I'll be.

While I believe in the sanctity of completing Major League Baseball's entire 162-game championship season schedule using every practical means at our disposal, the Giants have requested that, due to cross country travel and other logistical issues that have arisen, it would be in their best interest to forego playing Monday's game,