Moves by Mets reek with panic  —  If a blink can make a sound, that sound you heard Thursday was the Mets blinking.  A first-place team fired its hitting coach and added to its staff one of the biggest Me-Firsters in the long history of baseball.  A first-place team sought to quiet …

Pods puts himself on mislabeled list  —  BALTIMORE — Scott Podsednik is hoping to be off the 15-day disabled list and back in the starting lineup by next week in Cleveland.  —  The way the White Sox' leadoff hitter sees it, he then will have about 10 weeks to try and prove manager Ozzie Guillen wrong …

Ichiro's extension with Mariners worth $90 million  —  SEATTLE — Great week to be Ichiro Suzuki.  —  The Seattle leadoff man signed a $90 million, five-year contract extension Friday, three days after he was the unanimous MVP of the All-Star Game.  —  The deal ensures Seattle …

Phillips' 6 RBIs spark Reds past Mets  —  NEW YORK (AP) — With do-it-all cleanup batter Brandon Phillips leading the way, the Cincinnati Reds are playing much better than a last-place team under interim manager Pete Mackanin.  —  Phillips hit a first-inning grand slam and drove in six runs …

Sheffield: Torre unfair to black players  —  SEATTLE (AP) — Detroit slugger Gary Sheffield had an idyllic view of the New York Yankees when he joined the team before the 2004 season.  —  Sheffield also had a strong friendship and trust with Barry Bonds when he went to California and to train with the slugger one offseason.

WIN OR TRADE WINDS  —  If this weekend's series with the Dodgers doesn't go well, get ready for a fire sale  —  How convenient for the Giants that three nights after they hosted a fantabulous All-Star Game, their World Series begins.  —  This Series is a three-gamer against the Los Angeles Dodgers …

Notes: Wilkerson's role now uncertain  —  With Teixeira coming off the DL, spot may be filled  —  ANAHEIM — Brad Wilkerson, a big part of the Rangers strong finish to the first half, was out of the lineup on Friday with the return of Mark Teixeira off the disabled list.

Hendry confident 'Z' deal can get done  —  When Tribune Co. put up the for sale sign on the Cubs and reportedly clamped down on any new contract for Carlos Zambrano at the end of spring training, it left the financial doings of one of baseball's highest-salaried teams in question.

Royals acquire Colon from Tigers  —  Club will send player to be named later to complete deal  —  CLEVELAND — Roman Colon, a pitcher who was suspended this season for punching a Minor League teammate, was obtained on Friday by the Royals from the Detroit Tigers.

Bernie mess may haunt  —  ST. PETERSBURG - When the Yankees decided not to include Bernie Williams in their 2007 plans, they had no idea it could have a greater impact on the club down the road.  —  But that might be the case, according to a baseball source, as several members …

Giambi Meets with Mitchell Investigation  —  Jason Giambi of the New York Yankees met with Senator George Mitchell and members of his law firm, DLA Piper, today, Baseball Commissioner Allan H.  (Bud) Selig said this afternoon.  —  Details of the conversation, which was not recorded, were not released.

Notes: Ledezma placed on restricted list  —  Lefty's return to U.S. delayed due to damaged visa  —  ATLANTA — Braves general manager John Schuerholz had no problem with Wil Ledezma heading back to his native Venezuela during the All-Star break.  But he would have liked for the left-handed reliever …

Notes: Lewis added to Tribe bullpen  —  Move from starter to relief role accelerates development  —  CLEVELAND — The summons Jensen Lewis had dreamed of receiving since he was a little boy growing up in suburban Cleveland came late Thursday night at a restaurant in Durham, N.C.

Carpenter experiences setback in rehab  —  By  —  PHILADELPHIA — Rehabilitating starter Chris Carpenter's next start is "undetermined" after the 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner suffered renewed stiffness and swelling of his right elbow following Sunday's three-inning start for Class A Palm Beach.

Cleveland 5, Kansas City 4  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — Ryan Garko hardly had time to enjoy his game-winning hit Friday night before getting leveled by his happy roommate.  —  Garko singled home the winning run with one out in the ninth inning to give the Cleveland Indians a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals.

Marlins at midseason  —  The Marlins strike out too much.  They don't walk enough.  They don't have great situational hitters.  That said, this offense works in the one place it matters most: scoring runs.  Only the Phillies (456), Brewers (430) and Rockies (428) scored more first-half runs than the Marlins (424).