Notes: Mets un-locked on Tuesday  —  Starting with Wright, club changes it up with short haircuts  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The Mets conduct scouting meetings before the first games of all series, baseball versions of X's and O's.  What they had Tuesday before they engaged the Giants in the second …

Indians fan wants last laugh  —  Vernon Wells may get another chance to meet his heckler friend on Sept. 10.  —  Jeff Raycher, Vernon Wells heckler extraordinaire, has a surprise in store for the Blue Jays centre fielder.  —  Raycher, 28, and his buddies plan to drive to Detroit for the Jays' makeup game there on Sept. 10.

Notes: Wagner struggles, goes on DL  —  Simontacchi and Batista called up to the big-league club  —  MILWAUKEE — The Nationals purchased the contracts of right-hander Jason Simontacchi and infielder Tony Batista from Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday.  The team also placed reliever Ryan Wagner …

Sluggers Cited in Steroid Inquiry  —  Investigators of steroid use in baseball are seeking medical records from at least two of the game's premier sluggers over the past dozen years, Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro, along with records from dozens of other players suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs …

Rickey Henderson considering comeback  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Roger Clemens' big announcement this week has Rickey Henderson hoping some club might give him one more chance to make a major league comeback.  —  Otherwise, he will call it a career — for good this time.

Infield Defense — Back to Basics … In recent years, methods for evaluating defense have been springing up like mushrooms after a spring rain.  We've got UZR and PMR and the plus/minus system, all based on play-by-play data.  Then there are the zone rating-based systems, one from Chris Dial …

Pirates' pitchers need to be more like Maglie, Drysdale  —  At Don Drysdale's funeral, an emotional Bob Uecker began telling the assembled mourners about "the first time Don touched me."  Then, he interrupted himself.  —  "Well, here, I can just show ya," the former catcher said.  "See this mark right here?"

Turnbow answers fans questions  —  Pitcher takes time before Tuesday's game to chat … Derrick Turnbow: Hello everyone, sorry for the delay, let's get started.  —  jenksws05: Derrick, White Sox fan here, but I have been living with a Brewers fan for the past four months.

Smoltz-Maddux rivalry: Round 4  —  Former teammates haven't faced each other since 1992  —  Could it really be 17 years?  —  John Smoltz, then in his second full major league season, led the National League in walks in 1990.  Greg Maddux gave up more runs (116) than in any season in his life.

Pieces found along the trail  —  Picked-up pieces while bracing for Barry Bonds's Fenway visit next month, which looks more and more like a showdown with Hank Aaron's home run record . . .  Something "Evita"-esque about Roger Clemens in George's private suite Sunday.

Angels place pitcher Justin Speier on 15-day disabled list  —  Club recalls infielder Kendry Morales from Triple-A Salt Lake  —  ANAHEIM — The Angels Tuesday placed right-handed pitcher Justin Speier on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to April 30) due to a non-baseball related medical condition.

Cubs fall to Pirates in 15  —  The Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates battled through 15 innings Tuesday night at Wrigley Field in a game that featured more twists and turns than an episode of "Lost."  —  After Ryan Dempster blew his first save this season in the ninth, Alfonso Soriano saved …

Rangers' Wood starting to impress  —  rdurrett@dallasnews.com  —  ARLINGTON - Mike Wood will get another chance to do his best Kevin Millwood imitation.  But tonight, he'll take his act to the big stage at Yankee Stadium.  —  Wood filled in for Millwood, who is on the 15-day disabled list …

Missed call haunts Yankees  —  Disputed stolen base in eighth leads to game-tying run  —  NEW YORK — You could see the dirt, the outfield grass, and the disgust on the faces of Yankees fans.  You could see the beginning of a Mariners game-tying run.  And you could see what eventually doomed the Yankees on Monday night.