1.  Any such merger is being largely driven by competitive pressures.

2.  Dennis Parlato portrays Columbus as a tortured soul driven by a host of demons.

3.  Cubs leadoff man Corey Patterson drove in the go-ahead run on double.

4.  Cuellar, who had several prior convictions for driving while intoxicated, will be tried later on charges of felony drunken driving and intoxication assault.

5.  Deregulation is expected to drive down the cost of electricity, saving residential customers an average of $17 a month, consumer groups say.

6.  Derek Bell is hitting .388, and Moises Alou has driven in 29 runs, and Craig Biggio has 15 stolen bases and a .305 batting average.

7.  Derek Bell, Bill Spiers and Lance Berkman each had two hits Tuesday, and Spiers and Paul Bako drove in a pair of runs apiece.

8.  Derek Harper drove around Price and had a path to the basket until Chris Mills slid across and drew an offensive foul as the two bodies clashed.

9.  Del Papa said that as her husband, Jan-Olaf, drove, she tried to toss toys to her daughter faster than Ellen was dropping them.

10.  Derrike Cope was hired to drive the car for 1997, and Ryan Pemberton came on as crew chief.