Pirates Notebook: Wilson waives no-trade clause  —  Shortstop Jack Wilson has informed the Pirates he will accept a trade to any of the six teams named in his limited no-trade clause, including the Detroit Tigers.  —  The Pirates and Tigers continue to discuss a multiplayer deal …

Delgado double spurs Mets' big ninth  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  CHICAGO (AP) - Carlos Delgado hit a go-ahead double off Ryan Dempster in a four-run ninth inning, and the New York Mets beat the Chicago Cubs 6-2 Friday to extend their winning streak to three.  —  Delgado's double off Dempster …

Bad-luck Milton Bradley strains right hamstring  —  SAN DIEGO (AP) — Padres left fielder Milton Bradley left Friday night's game against the San Francisco Giants because of a strained right hamstring — yet more bad luck for the injury-plagued Bradley.  —  The switch-hitting Bradley …

Lester, Sox take on Mariners in Seattle  —  Boston (66-42) at Seattle (59-47), Friday, 10:05 p.m. ET  —  Once again, the scheduling gods have denied Jon Lester a hero's welcome.  —  Or, rather, a hero's welcome in Boston, Lester's adopted home.  There will certainly be no shortage …

Dukes charged with violating terms of order … TAMPA - The Hillsborough State Attorney's Office charged troubled Devil Rays outfielder Elijah Dukes on Thursday with violating his estranged wife's protective order.  —  The charge is a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail, prosecutor Douglas Covington said.

A-Rod stays at 499 HRs, Yanks rip Royals  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Melky Cabrera put one into the seats — behind the dugout, that is.  Yep, the New York Yankees are doing just fine without any homer help from Alex Rodriguez.  —  Cabrera hit a bizarre two-run double and Robinson Cano homered …

No respect for Ryan Ludwick  —  Ryan Ludwick is no rookie.  He has been with the Cardinals since May 6 and entered Friday night's game against the Nationals leading the team with nine pinch hits, three pinch home runs and averaging one RBI every six at-bats.  —  Yet "Brian Ludwig" gets no respect.

D-backs claim Cirillo, Kim off waivers  —  LOS ANGELES — The D-backs picked up a pair of veterans Friday, bringing former closer Byung Hyun Kim back to Arizona on a waiver claim from Florida and claiming infielder Jeff Cirillo from the Twins.  —  Kim began his professional career …

160 - The United Countries of Baseball  —  Although also very popular in East Asia and in other parts of the American continent, baseball is the quintessential North American sport, early in the 20th century even labelled the 'national pastime' of the USA.  It remains so today: in the US …

Braves place SS Renteria on 15-day DL  —  Shortstop Edgar Renteria was put on the disabled list by the Atlanta Braves on Friday, one day after he sprained his right ankle while trying to field a hard grounder.  Renteria, hitting .336 with 11 homers and 53 RBIs, was put on the 15-day DL after he was found to have a high ankle sprain.

Robinson Steps In for Selig on the Bonds Watch  —  The official representative of the commissioner's office at Thursday night's Barry Bonds Traveling Home Run Circus Show arrived in his suite at Dodger Stadium literally seconds before first pitch, his expertise with freeway traffic patterns, as a resident Angeleno, in full evidence.

EC Survivor Series: What's the Coolest Jersey in All of Sports?  —  There are many debates in sports.  Who was better: Jordan or Chamberlain?  Which NFL dynasty is the greatest: the 49ers or the Cowboys?  Did Tom Brady really sleep with Tara Reid?  These are all great questions, but I have yet another one for you to ponder.

Needed: Exorcist for Pirates' woes  —  Forget about the CEO, what Pirates need most is an exorcist  —  The most difficult challenge facing the Pirates' next CEO will not be upgrading the team's current talent level or expanding the Latin American base of operation or persuading owner Bob Nutting to increase the payroll significantly.

Same conclusions can be drawn with Bonds, Gagne  —  This is a story of love and hate in the age of the asterisk.  —  As Barry Bonds waltzed into Dodger Stadium, former Dodger Eric Gagne packed his bags in Texas and headed to the bullpen at Fenway Park, traded to the Boston Red Sox …