Mets part ways with Franco  —  The Mets are expected to remove Julio Franco from their roster today to make room for Lastings Milledge, Newsday has learned.  An announcement will be made before today's game.  —  It's not clear whether Franco, who turns 48 next month, will retire …

Mets designate Franco for assignment  —  Says he will seek new chance in striving to play at 50  —  NEW YORK — For weeks, Julio Franco had spoken privately of the need to find work elsewhere and the need to get enough at-bats to allow him to continue his career and reach his objective of playing at age 50.

Four score  —  Toronto ace Roy "Doc" Halladay seems be the cure for what's been ailing the Red Sox offense.  Boston jumped on Halladay in the first, scoring four runs and sending all nine men to the plate to erase a 1-0 Blue Jays' lead.  —  David Ortiz, showing no effects from his balky knee …

Club's course of action generates plenty of interest  —  A number of the top team officials in the major leagues convening for the All-Star festivities in San Francisco privately wondered whether the Astros would make any changes at the All-Star break or heading into the July 31 trading deadline.

A-Rod: He and Yankees will talk at end of season  —  After the New York Yankees on Wednesday indicated they would break from tradition and negotiate during the season with Alex Rodriguez on a contract extension, the slugger swiftly reiterated that he isn't interested in talking contract until after the season.

Reds' possible game plan: Let's make a deal  —  While the team may be looking to dump salaries, GM Krivsky says there's a 'lot of misinformation' out there.  —  CINCINNATI — As one member of the Cincinnati Reds traveling party likes to say every night after a defeat, "Tomorrow is the first game of the rest of the season."

Henderson joins Mets coaching staff  —  Exact role, including work with hitters, still to be revealed  —  NEW YORK — The impatience — and relative lack of productivity — of Mets hitters seemingly led to impatience with hitting coach Rick Down.  New York has dismissed Down and added Rickey Henderson …

Harden heads back to disabled list  —  Right-hander's shoulder problems continue after one start  —  OAKLAND — The A's opened the second half of the season by making an all-too-familiar roster move, placing righty Rich Harden on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 8, with a strained right shoulder on Thursday morning.

Tejada on the mend … The latest examination of shortstop Miguel Tejada's fractured left wrist brought encouraging news to the Orioles, who are hopeful he can begin baseball-related activities within the next few days.  —  "They told me I'm fine," said Tejada, who was examined yesterday in Baltimore.

Schrodinger`s Bat: Dropping One Down by Dan Fox  —  Dropping One Down … Willy Taveras, commenting on his bunt single against the Yankees' Roger Clemens on June 20th.  —  There are times when the fan in you simply has to marvel at what you see on the field.

Giants, GM Sabean nearing extension  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Brian Sabean and the San Francisco Giants were closing in Thursday on a new multiyear contract extension for the general manager.  —  An official in Major League Baseball familiar with the negotiations, requesting anonymity …

Pirates are 40-48 at the break _ and happy about it  —  PITTSBURGH —The Pittsburgh Pirates are one of the few teams in the majors that could be excited about a 40-48 record at the All-Star break.  —  The Pirates are on pace for a 15th consecutive losing season, one short of the major league record …

Giambi-Mitchell meeting set for later this month  —  NEW YORK — Jason Giambi's meeting with baseball steroids investigator George Mitchell will take place later this month.  —  Giambi agreed to the session on June 21, and lawyers have worked since then trying to get a date that worked for all involved.

Baseball's Most Impressive Records  —  You often hear discussion of what are baseball's most unbreakable records; it's a hardy perennial of the barroom or talk radio debate (I recently got a marketing email from a company selling a video on the topic).  —  But "unbreakable" isn't really the yardstick for a great record.

Boy Blunder  —  Is baseball's youngest general manager man enough to rebuild the Rangers?  —  The Texas Rangers stink and, fittingly, general manager Jon Daniels feels like raw fish.  —  "I put our name on the list," Daniels says as I arrive for lunch at Las Colinas' Blue Fish restaurant.