Cubs acquire A's Kendall  —  The Chicago Cubs, looking for help at catcher, acquired Oakland's Jason Kendall on Monday.  —  The Cubs will send catcher Rob Bowen and minor league pitcher Jerry Blevins to the A's for Kendall.  —  Before Monday's game against the Giants, Bowen was designated for assignment.

Team suspends Olsen for 2 games  —  MIAMI GARDENS — Marlins pitcher Scott Olsen, who fought with teammates at least twice last season, has done it again.  —  After a successful, but frustrating, five-inning outing Sunday, sources said Olsen scuffled with fellow starter Sergio Mitre …

Notes: Larkin pays visit to club  —  Will offer wisdom on hitting to Nats during three-day stay  —  WASHINGTON — Barry Larkin, the Nationals assistant to general manager Jim Bowden, was in Robert F. Kennedy Stadium to tutor the hitters, who have a combined .250 batting average entering Monday's action.

ALOU COULD RETURN IN L.A.  —  Moises Alou has now begun his rehab assignment.  —  Alou, who's on the disabled list with a strained left quad, was the designated hitter yesterday for the Gulf Coast Mets in St. Lucie, going 2-for-3 with a home run and a walk.  He's slated to play again today for the Gulf Coast team.

Mets start trip with a slip  —  Open Western swing by falling down Wells  —  SAN DIEGO - The Mets face a stern challenge to their two-month hold on first place in the NL East this week.  —  But even though they started their West Coast swing with a 5-1 loss to the Padres last night …

Phillips Makes Case to Stay, and Igawa Doesn't  —  Andy Phillips homered in his first major league at-bat, in 2004, and it sometimes seems as if it has been all downhill since.  He has had an emotional Yankees career, learning hard the lesson that timing is everything.  Now, at last, it may be his time.

Write Time To Retire No. 3?  —  Ruth's Granddaughter Gathering Signatures  —  NEW YORK - Linda Ruth Tosetti would like to see No. 3 on display at every major league ballpark in honor of her grandfather, Babe Ruth.  —  The No. 42 was retired throughout baseball in 1997 to honor Jackie Robinson …

Granderson nets weekly AL honor  —  Center fielder opens second half with hot streak  —  After receiving the most write-in votes for the All-Star Game, even though he wasn't selected to the American League squad, Curtis Granderson received an honor the following week.

11's barely enough  —  CLEVELAND — Ozzie Guillen was under the impression that general manager Ken Williams' travel plans included joining the team in Cleveland for the three-game series with the Indians.  —  But with the 11-game road trip crawling along after a 1-3 weekend in Baltimore …

Carpenter to be examined today  —  MIAMI — Cardinals team physician Dr. George Paletta will examine pitcher Chris Carpenter today in St. Louis to determine the treatment for swelling in the righthanded ace's elbow.  Paletta was scheduled to meet Carpenter on Monday, but travel arrangements …

Notes: Team optimistic about Otsuka  —  Padilla scratched from rehab start; Melhuse returns to Oakland  —  OAKLAND — This may have been the most-watched bullpen throwing session of the season.  —  Akinori Otsuka threw 30 pitches in the bullpen before Monday's game with the Oakland Athletics …