Team's rap is no better than kid's  —  Cliff Floyd, in the role of mentor, sat down with Lastings Milledge last season and tried to explain to the kid that the Mets are no place to strut your nonsense.  —  "I told him, 'When the career's over, your friends will still be there,'" Floyd said last night at Shea.

Mets score five in ninth to top Cubs 6-5  —  NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets spent most of the afternoon resting up for the Subway Series.  Then in one sudden burst, they went rushing into their biggest rivalry.  —  Carlos Delgado's two-run single capped a five-run rally in the bottom …

Blackout Policy to Be Discussed, but Change is a Ways Off  —  As reported in April (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=1041 Itemid=52), one of the topics that will be covered today at the Owners Meetings in New York will revolve around blackout restrictions for packages such as MLB Extra Innings.

Notes: Saltalamacchia here to stay  —  Rookie to serve as backup catcher and first baseman  —  WASHINGTON — Jarrod Saltalamacchia's stay at the Major League level is going to last much longer than two weeks and it appears that Scott Thorman is going to be given the chance to play first base on a regular basis.

New York vs. Chicago  —  Preview  · Winning Edge  · GameCenter  · Full Play-by-Play  · Box Score  · Game Chart  · Live Commentary (Glog)  —  CUBS 1ST  —  Jason M. Vargas pitching:  —  Strike looking, Theriot grounded out to shortstop.

Clemens has last workout before rehab start  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Roger Clemens spent almost four hours working out at the New York Yankees' minor league complex Thursday, one day before his first minor league start.  —  The seven-time Cy Young Award winner is scheduled to throw 45 to 60 pitches for Class-A Tampa on Friday night.

Times are tough — is team, too?  —  Josh Beckett will miss tomorrow's start, plus who knows how many more.  J.D. Drew would have been out of the lineup last night after losing a Tuesday night duel with the fence in right-center.  No longer is it a perfect little Red Sox world.

Bad news keeps coming for Twins  —  Club learns Crain likely out for season after another loss  —  CLEVELAND — The bad news seems to be piling on the Twins lately.  —  It just wasn't enough to pick up another loss to an American League Central opponent on Wednesday night.

Notes: Ruiz maturing behind plate  —  Backstop has made great strides since Spring Training  —  PHILADELPHIA — A glance at Carlos Ruiz's .295 average shows how far he's come at the plate, but to understand his confident strides behind it, ask Jamie Moyer.

Mets place Alou on DL, recall Vargas  —  Callup scheduled to start Thursday's finale against Cubs  —  NEW YORK — The Mets made their anticipated roster move early Thursday morning, placing injured outfielder Moises Alou on the 15-day disabled list and recalling left-hander Jason Vargas …

Former closer Percival thinking about return  —  Troy Percival is considering a comeback.  —  The four-time All-Star closer, who retired as an Angel on Opening Day, resumed throwing about a month ago and is serious about reviving his major-league career, according to his agent, Paul Cohen.

Farnsworth criticizes Clemens  —  Kyle Farnsworth went on a Chicago radio station this morning and criticized Roger Clemens for his "family plan" agreement with the Yankees.  —  "It might cause some friction ... Granted this is going to be his 23rd or 24th year and he can get the opportunity to do that …

Church, Bullpen Are Nats' Saviors  —  Washington Takes 5th Win in 6 Games: Nationals 6, Braves 4  —  The Washington Nationals have been sending starting pitchers to the disabled list with disturbing regularity.  Opportunistic hitting and an unflappable bullpen, however, have provided the remedy.

Ramirez to try hitting third  —  PITTSBURGH — Hanley Ramirez leads the majors with a .343 batting average from the leadoff spot, but he won't bat there for a while.  —  After helping spark a 9-3 victory Tuesday, Ramirez was back in the third spot Wednesday for the second straight game.