With His Bat, Abreu Is Making a Case to Stay  —  At the end of May, it seemed preposterous to think that the Yankees would pick up Bobby Abreu's $16 million option for next season.  The team was struggling, and Abreu was batting .228.  —  Now, with the Yankees surging and Abreu helping lead the way …

Cabrera, Willingham lift Marlins by Mets  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Miguel Cabrera and Josh Willingham were two of the last Florida Marlins to leave the field Saturday night.  They might have been looking for more Mets relievers to feast on.  —  Cabrera hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning …

Final analysis: Sox may have fatal flaw  —  Ultimately, in any sport, the challenge is to execute at the most critical moments.  That is why Patriots [team stats] coach Bill Belichick is willing to give up yards, but not points.  That is why third-down conversions and red-zone efficiency are at the core of any team's success.

Bad hammy could land Lo Duca on DL  —  Did the Mets err in letting Paul LoDuca back into the lineup last week, though he was nursing an injured right hamstring?  GM Omar Minaya says no, but LoDuca reaggravated the injury last night and will be put on the disabled list today.

CUBS IN BRIEF: Rumored deal for Podsednik dead  —  DENVER — The rumored waiver-wire trade talks between the Cubs and White Sox over Sox outfielder Scott Podsednik are dead, and, in fact, never had much of a pulse in the first place.  One source suggested the chances were never better than ''one in a thousand'' from the outset.

Baseball Brotherhood: It's Not Just an Expression  —  Justin Upton and Delmon Young began their baseball careers in similar fashion.  Two years apart, they were the first players selected in the June amateur draft, Young by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2003 and Upton by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2005.

BABE HOMERED WITH GIRLS, TOO  —  THE Yankees had their hands full with the Alex Rodriguez scandal a few months back, but A-Rod's alleged dalliances with a busty blonde don't hold a candle to the wild and unquenchable sex life led by home-run king Babe Ruth in the 1920s, a new book on the Bronx Bombers reveals.

SERBY'S SUNDAY Q&A WITH...  TOM GLAVINE  —  August 12, 2007 — The Post's Steve Serby sat down with the 41-year-old Mets lefty who last Sunday night won his 300th career game:  —  Q: Chipper Jones' opinion that steroid questions will haunt A-Rod?  —  A: To a degree, he's probably right.

Win streak takes a dive  —  Mariners lose in Chicago despite Ichiro's best efforts  —  CHICAGO — Elvis has left the building.  —  Ichiro almost did the same.  —  On Elvis Night at U.S. Cellular Field, Elvis lived and the Mariners' three-game winning streak died at the hands of the Chicago White Sox, 5-3.

D-backs' Webb extends scoreless streak  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  PHOENIX (AP) - Two home runs in a game were nothing new for Conor Jackson.  That sacrifice bunt, though, was something else.  —  Jackson drove in four runs with his two-run shots in the first and eighth innings …

Ankiel hits two home runs in Cardinals win  —  ST. LOUIS (AP) — Rick Ankiel has a simple message for St. Louis Cardinals fans.  —  "Don't hold me to days like this," he said.  —  Ankiel homered twice and drove in three runs, the latest power display by the former pitcher …