Or, taking the long view, the Mets' pitchers have a combined earned-run average of 5.09.

They entered the game with a combined 47.9 scoring average, but together had only 21 last night.

Tracy and another freshman, Aaron Israel, have been alternating all season and their combined goals-against average was 2.71, their save percentage .901.

While Jordan had been his usual uncanny self the first two games, the other Bulls starters were averaging a combined 18.1 points less than their season averages.

Circulation at the Times Company's 21 regional newspapers, which had a combined daily average of 764,800 and a Sunday average of 815,100, was down 1.2 percent from a year earlier.

For the 2008 Elite League, the combined averages of the 7 riders must not exceed 38.85, which increased to 39.9 for the 2009 season.

The five resident arms had a combined earned-run average of 1.13 before the Dodgers appeared.

The combined scoring average in the first nine games was 54 points, which was surpassed by today's total of 72.

Hrudey, who enjoyed phenomenal playoffs, and Bill Smith, who is playing out his contract option, had a combined goals-against average of less than 2.00 this fall.

He finished the season with a combined .311 batting average, .373 on-base percentage, and .547 slugging percentage, with 30 home runs.