No, Runs, No Hits, : No Stadium

“Major League” writer-director David S. Ward (who won an Oscar for writing “The Sting”) has really gotten stung. Facing a July 18 start date, he’s having a heckuva time finding a team to play host to his feature. So far, the Cleveland Indians--ranked third in the American League East at this writing--have tossed him a shutout on using the team’s stadium, name or logo. So Ward’s also scouting Milwaukee--and considering changing his screen team to the Brewers.

“The Indians organization is putting us through a lot of hardship by taking their time on this matter,” said Ward, a Cleveland native. “It seems they have to talk with their various sponsors who advertise in their park before they’ll commit. My film is being held hostage over basically a beer sponsorship.”

Ward doesn’t relish changing the Indians--described in his script as “one of the losingest teams in history”--into the Brewers: “I’ll lose a lot of good jokes about Cleveland. I’ve already had to root against my favorite team all year so the movie ending will work.”