A starting point for Lester  —  ATLANTA - Can't call the kid a keeper just yet.  But Jon Lester iscertainly working on sticking around and making a much-needed impact with the big club down the road.  —  While he was just so-so in his major league debut against the Texas Rangers a week ago …

Notes: Kotchman ready for more  —  Sidelined infielder cleared for full-time baseball activities  —  ANAHEIM — Casey Kotchman met with a local doctor specializing in infectious diseases on Friday and was cleared to begin full-time baseball activity.  —  The first baseman said he will travel …

Heilman crashes party  —  Buoyed by a 9-1 road trip, a 9½-game lead over the second-place Phillies and a supportive crowd of 45,967 at Shea Stadium that cheered lustily as they took the field for Friday night's interleague game against the Orioles, the Mets were so charged up that they went out and ... short-circuited.

You can knock Jeter, but you can't forget him  —  Signature moments.  You know the type.  Plays that are instantly memorable, that stay with you for years.  —  Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter makes more of those plays than anyone else.  —  That's a subjective view — fire away …

Notes: Road is no sore sight  —  After a tough homestand, D-Backs welcome trip  —  ARLINGTON — Usually a team will look forward to returning home after a road trip, but after the way the last 10 days in the Valley of the Sun went for the Diamondbacks, getting out on the road could be the best thing that happened to them.

Damon trying not to let small injury (hammy) become a big one  —  WASHINGTON - Johnny Damon is trying to find the delicate balance between playing hurt and not playing.  With the Yankees' rash of injuries, he doesn't want to risk having a small injury - right hamstring tightness - become a big thing.

Angels Option Jered Weaver to Salt Lake  —  Breaking News: The Angels just announced that Jered Weaver has been sent back down to the Salt Lake Bees, the team's Triple-A affiliate in the Pacific Coast League.  Bartolo Colon was activated and will start on Sunday.

Notes: Decision on Prior delayed  —  Cubs weighing options on where righty will pitch on Sunday  —  CHICAGO — The Cubs delayed a decision on whether Mark Prior will start Sunday for a day to make sure the right-hander was over any soreness in his shoulder from his last Minor League rehab outing.

Slumping A-Rod says he's figured out slump  —  WASHINGTON — All was not lost for Alex Rodriguez during his 1-for-5 game with three strikeouts Friday night.  He says he and Yankees hitting coach Don Mattingly discovered a mechanical flaw causing Rodriguez's recent slump.

Outfielder signs, spurns Gators  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. |  The Royals succeeded Thursday in luring switch-hitting outfielder Derrick Robinson, their fourth-round pick in last week's draft, away from a football scholarship to Florida.  —  "We've reached agreement with a guy who is electric …

Royals Address Credential Situation  —  Welcome to the first official blog about the Royals, by the Royals!  The Royals are committed to using Royals.com to educate, inform and entertain our fans.  In response to fans wanting to know the real stories behind a number of issues, we have created Around the Horn in KC just for you.

Power Rankings: Mets make their move to No. 1  —  ESPN.com  —  Yes, the White Sox had a fine week indeed.  They took two out of three from Cleveland before winning three of four in Texas.  Pitching, hitting, fielding — all were solid.  Nice job, Pale Hose.

Mets introduce commemorative coins  —  Quarters feature stars from '86 club to celebrate anniversary  —  NEW YORK — The Mets began their season-long salute to the 1986 World Series championship team with Friday's launch of a commemorative quarter series featuring six former Mets players.