AMBRES CALLED UP TO BIG CLUB  —  The Mets temporarily will be without Damion Easley, who was put on the bereavement list yesterday and was replaced by Triple-A outfielder Chip Ambres.  —  Easley also wasn't with the Mets for Monday's game against the Padres.  The Mets reserve is with his father, Raymond.

Where are the contenders for Tex?  —  I am a simpleton.  —  I did not play baseball beyond little league.  I did not graduate with honors in finance, economics, business administration or sports management.  I do not have a law degree.  —  So, this is my simpleton understanding …

Sanders likes thought of trade to the Sox  —  The trade talk is inevitable, and Reggie Sanders knows it.  —  The 39-year-old outfielder plays for the last-place Kansas City Royals, notching a double in three at-bats during their 9-3 win against the Red Sox [team stats] last night at Fenway Park [map].

Yankees in wrong setup with Farnsworth  —  Kyle Farnsworth wasn't happy when Newsday approached his locker yesterday afternoon, and I'm pretty sure it's not because he hates Long Island.  At this point, the highly paid reliever regards virtually anyone with a media credential as the enemy.

Does Jo-Jo have some mojo?  —  Isn't the great thing about baseball that you don't have to wait a week for a clean slate?  Just 24 hours.  And tonight the Braves get one with Jo-Jo Reyes on the mound.  —  After what happened to Kyle Davies Monday night - let me rip the scab off that wound …

Williams in no mood for Dye's frustration  —  For the last few days Jermaine Dye has kept to himself in the White Sox clubhouse, off in a corner with headphones on.  It has not gone unnoticed among his teammates and the apparent reason is management's refusal to talk about extending his contract as it did Mark Buehrle's.

Positional Rankings - Catcher  —  Like I did last year, I'm starting the positional rankings with catcher, and one thing quickly becomes clear: there is very little catching in the minor leagues.  In fact, it just plain stinks.  As in the past, I bounced these lists off many scouts and front office folks …

Hard to believe, but Dodgers lose 26-hitter  —  Phillies roll to a 15-3 victory, tying the 49-year-old L.A. record for most hits by an opponent.  —  Dodgers Manager Grady Little could have rested his weary pitching staff Tuesday night and installed a pitching machine on the Dodger Stadium mound.

Rays clear spot for Reyes … ST. PETERSBURG - The Rays made the first of what could be several roster moves over the next few days after Tuesday's win over the Angels, optioning left-handed reliever Jon Switzer to Triple-A Durham to make room for closer Al Reyes, who will be activated from the disabled list today.

PIRATES  —  PITTSBURGH (AP) -Colorado had never won a series in PNC Park.  To break that streak, the Rockies turned to the stadium's career wins leader.  —  Josh Fogg scattered five hits over seven innings as Colorado beat Pittsburgh 6-2 on Tuesday night, handing the Pirates their fifth consecutive loss.

Is Bonds boycotting ESPN?  —  Tuesday, July 17th, 2007 at 5:03 pm in Giants, Radio/TV.  —  I have been thinking about this for a long time now — specifically since May 29, when Barry Bonds ignored pleas to play in that Mets game a.k.a. Armando's Last Stand — and on Monday night …

Interview - (Part 1) Dick Moss - MLBPA Legend & Agent  —  In Major League Baseball history, there may not be a more seminal point in its history as the period in which the players organized themselves as a union, and started chipping away at the control that the owners had had over them since the dawn of professional baseball.

Tavarez looks for fresh start  —  When Julian Tavarez is asked about his last four starts, three losses and a no-decision, he makes sure to interject a qualifier.  It's not his last four starts that are at issue.  It's his last two.  Or maybe three of four.

YANKS EYE BETEMIT  —  The Yankees tried to acquire Wilson Betemit at last year's trade deadline for Scott Proctor, and they are making the same attempt again this year.  —  Betemit's team, the Dodgers, had to move Chad Billingsley from the bullpen to the rotation, so they are now looking …

Cubs let Giants walk away  —  When Will Ohman came in to face pinch-hitter Barry Bonds in the eighth inning Tuesday, Wrigley Field went into lockdown mode.  —  The volume was cranked up and, with the game on the line, the heat was on.  —  When Ohman retired Bonds on a liner to left with two runners on …