Major League Baseball put the suspensions of Baltimore's Jay Gibbons and Kansas City's Jose Guillen on hold for 10 days, giving lawyers for players and owners more time to reach an agreement toughening their drug rules.

The outfielders were suspended for 15 days each by commissioner Bud Selig on Dec. 6, following media reports linking them to performance-enhancing drugs. The penalties were to start tomorrow, when the U.S. portion of the major league season begins.

"Pretty surprising," Gibbons said after yesterday's announcement. "Put it this way: I'm cautiously optimistic — at least they're talking."

Negotiators are close to an agreement that would call for more frequent drug testing and would strengthen the authority of the independent program administrator. If there is an agreement, the suspensions of Gibbons and Guillen most likely would be eliminated as part of an overall amnesty for players implicated in the Mitchell Report.

The suspensions would start April 9 if an agreement isn't reached and no other actions are taken.

NATIONALS

ACTA TO CATCH FIRST PITCH

The White House said yesterday it had no input on the decision to have Nationals manager Manny Acta catch the ceremonial first pitch from President Bush tomorrow night. Acta was picked instead of starting catcher Paul Lo Duca, whose name appeared prominently in the Mitchell Report on drug use in baseball.

"It was a decision that was made by the Nationals," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said.

Nationals president Stan Kasten said Lo Duca was never considered to catch the pitch. He said the team owners chose between Acta and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, both of whom will accompany the president to the mound.

"Myself and the Lerner family thought it would be appropriate to represent our team and the youth of our team," Kasten said. "Ryan Zimmerman would be a good person to accompany the president, and our leader, our manager, Manny Acta. Those choices seemed obvious to us."

Lo Duca, publicly at least, took the news in stride.

"That's OK," the catcher said. "Hopefully, I'll still meet the president."

MAJOR LEAGUES

RISE IN TICKET PRICES

Major League Baseball's average ticket price increased 10.9 percent this season to $25.40, the Team Marketing Report said yesterday. That's the steepest increase since a 12.9 rise in 2001.

The World Series champion Red Sox, playing in the major leagues' smallest ballpark, have the highest average at $48.80, up 10.1 percent.

The Chicago Cubs are second at $42.49, up 23.9 percent.

NL West champion Arizona has the lowest average at $15.96, even with a 15.7 percent increase. Atlanta was 29th at $17.05 and Pittsburgh 28th at $17.07.