Backstop battle tightens in AL balloting  —  Mauer, Varitek, Posada narrow Pudge's chances to start in SF  —  Robinson Cano's lead over Placido Polanco at second base is almost gone, Justin Morneau moved past Jason Giambi into second place behind David Ortiz at first base …

Pedro throws off mound for first time  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Not long after Pedro Martinez took the most important step to date in his rehab, throwing off a mound, the Mets righthander adamantly insisted he will make it back this summer.  —  "I don't think there should be any doubt on anybody's minds," Martinez said.

Losing Well  —  Terry Francona dubbed last night's 11-inning loss (which has me a bit groggy this morning, having watched the final three innings) "heartbreaking."  With all due respect to Terry, I disagree.  This might be the most uplifting loss I've ever seen.  —  The Red Sox should have lost this game.

Greg Oden is a freak of nature (updated)  —  The Oregonian has secured the official weights, measurements and testing results from the Orlando predraft camp, and wait until you get a load of the freak of nature called Greg Oden.  —  For starters, his numbers blow Kevin Durant out of the water.

No bull... One-third of the season down, two-thirds to roar  —  Despite a pen in peril and a slew of injuries, the Tigers have proved 2006 was no fluke and they're in the chase for the long haul  —  In those first minutes after a four-run, ninth-inning lead disappeared in the steamy …

Top 50 Draft Prospects  —  The following rankings are based on discussions with scouts, scouting directors, other team personnel, and agents.  They are based purely on projectable pro talent, with no consideration given to actual draft status, which often involves signability and/or perceived bonus demands.

A Dozen Bad Draft Decisions  —  Baseball's draft is going to be televised for the first time ever this Thursday and many people are happy about that.  It's a good way for the league to introduce a new crop of prospects to the general public, it gives people a reason to watch …

Garces still fan favorite as he tries to return to majors  —  NASHUA, N.H. — Sweet Caroline is belted in the middle of the eighth inning as New England's favorite rotund reliever warms in the bullpen.  Geographically, Rich Garces is only 45 miles away from Fenway Park, but on this night …

Blogger Beat: Beerleaguer  —  This season, at the beginning of each series, MetsBlog will attempt to get the perspective of the opposition and their fans.  From this, we hope to be better educated on the opposition going into a series.  It also gives us a fine opportunity to highlight some of our favorite team blogs.

Braves' Carlyle gets first win since '99  —  ATLANTA (AP) — Buddy Carlyle had just pitched the best game of his journeyman career.  So, what was his reward when he got back to the Atlanta clubhouse?  —  A return trip to a place he knows all too well — the minor leagues.

Tom Verducci: Two phenom pitchers with big futures  —  One day last week, San Francisco righthanded pitchers Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum, who can make Giants fans dream of Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry (or maybe, for now among the more grounded dreamers, John Burkett and Billy Swift) …

Former Yanks 3B Clete Boyer dies at 70  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Clete Boyer, the third baseman for the champion New York Yankees teams of the 1960s who made an art form of diving stops and throws from his knees, died Monday.  He was 70.  —  Boyer died in an Atlanta hospital from complications …