The eyes of the baseball world will be on Milwaukee Tuesday and Wednesday. No, the St. Louis Cardinals' series against the Brewers at Miller Park is not exceptionally big, although the Cards are in the wild card race.

What should draw interest is the meeting of baseball owners in town. Some big items could be on their agenda.

First, is preparation for off-season negotiations with the players' union. Bud Selig has done a remarkable job of enforcing a gag order on both sides, so little to no news has leaked out in recent months.

Relations between the two sides are said to be better than they have been in years, but the fundamental issues of leveling the financial playing field in the game, etc. still are very sticky.

Milwaukee fans should have a special interest in the talks, since the Brewers are ending a record attendance season in Miller Park and since the All Star Game is scheduled for the ballpark next season. Any labor problems over the off-season or next year could dramatically damage the Brewers.

Selig knows that as well as anybody, and is not likely to push for anything that will take a bat up to the side of the head of his daughter, Wendy Selig-Prieb, who now heads the franchise. But, the owners and Don Fehr of the union do have minds of their own.

Contraction, primarily the moving or elimination of the Montreal Expos, also reportedly will be discussed. Although I hate to see any city lose baseball, Montreal fans really don't seem to care. In fact, if the crowds get much smaller, the team could move and nobody would notice.

The union won't like elimination of the franchise because 25 jobs could be lost. But, MLB could get around that by having a player dispersal draft and expanding rosters from 25 to 27. There would be a couple Expos who would look very good in Brewers' uniforms next season.

The Brewers could shatter the major league strikeout record of 1,268 by the end of this week. They will go into the Cardinals' series with 1,223 and have been averaging in double figures per game lately.

Jose Hernandez could break Bobby Bonds' record of 189 Monday or Tuesday. He and at least some of the others who can't make consistent contact should be sent packing by next season. The record is an embarrassment.

Jeff D'Amico looked bad for the second game since coming off the disabled list Sunday. GM Dean Taylor really has to consider giving up on Big Daddy for next season.

If Taylor doesn't want to give up on the injury-riddled pitcher, he needs to negotiate a contract that will cost the Brewers very little and then build in incentives for actual appearances and innings pitched.

D'Amico is just too big of a risk to give even moderate money to for next season.

Richie Sexson tied George "Da Boomer" Scott for homers by a Brewers' first baseman over the weekend when he hit his 36th. Sexson should better the record by quite a few homers.

Sexson has put together a nice second half. He too has to cut down on his strikeouts, but should be one of the anchors Taylor builds around this winter.

The Brewers managed a split in Enron Field against the first place Astros. Now, the Cardinals, who have climbed into the NL Central and wild card races come to town for four games.

It's not exactly the kind of record you want to see your team set, but the Brewers are very likely to set the all-time strikeout record on this homestand. Maybe Bernie Brewer should go down the slide backwards when the record is set.