Sources: Mets close to acquiring Conine  —  FOXSports.com, Updated 21 minutes ago  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  The New York Mets are on the verge of acquiring utility player Jeff Conine from the Cincinnati Reds for two Class-A position players, according to Major League sources.

Angels beat Yanks on Budde's hit in 10th  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The firsts just keep on coming for Ryan Budde.  —  Three weeks after making his major league debut, Budde doubled in the winning run in the 10th inning and the Los Angeles Angels beat the New York Yankees 7-6 Monday night …

Wakefield strong as Red Sox top D-Rays  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Tim Wakefield continued his dominance over Tampa Bay, allowing four hits over seven innings as the Boston Red Sox blanked the Devil Rays 6-0 on Monday night.  —  Wakefield improved to 19-2 …

Pierre not bothered with OBP issues  —  Center fielder focused on doing little things to help team win  —  LOS ANGELES — What is it about the on-base percentage that a player like Juan Pierre — who leads the Dodgers in at-bats, runs scored, hits, stolen bases, triples and games played …

'Wild Bill' Hagy dies at 68  —  Longtime Orioles fan known for leading raucous cheers at Memorial Stadium in the 1970s and 80s  —  Orioles fan 'Wild Bill' Hagy pumps up the crowd at Memorial Stadium in 1978.  —  William "Wild Bill" Hagy, the bushy-bearded cab driver from Dundalk …

Beltran named NL Player of the Week  —  Mets center fielder hits .375, drives in 10 runs in six games  —  After missing 18 games with a strained oblique, Carlos Beltran returned to the Mets lineup in a big way this past week.  —  Beltran was 9-for-24 with four homers and 10 RBIs in six games …

NL West: Predictions  —  Over the past three weeks, Arizona has taken control of the National League West.  I asked team bloggers from around the division whether they thought the Diamondbacks would hang on and what the NL West order of finish would be.  Here's what they said:  —  Jim McLennan, AZ SnakePit:

Mailbag: Is Gold a rare find?  —  Reporter Sullivan answers fans' questions about Rangers  —  What are the Rangers' future plans for Nate Gold?  He seems like he might be able to fill in nicely at first base.  —  Many are asking about Gold, so let's review:

A-plus for Pedro  —  Martinez dazzles in third Single-A start  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - He'd lost a nine-pitch battle to a Single-A hitter and there was a palpable feeling at Tradition Field that Pedro Martinez was ticked off in the third inning of last night's game.

Notes: Acta feels he owes former club  —  Manager played, coached and managed in Astros system  —  HOUSTON — Manager Manny Acta spent 10 years as a coach and manager in the Astros Minor League system after six years in the organization as a player.  —  Acta was signed by the Astros …

So much for that theory  —  Well, hope you chewed on that Colome-to-Arizona-for-Chris Carter-to-send-to-Boston deal.  Because it's not happening.  —  I've been told that the PTBN (Penguin To Be Nippy?  Phillie To Be (a) National?) in the Pena deal is not on the major league roster right now, and it most certainly is not Colome.

Season in doubt for Rangers' Otsuka  —  Reliever to get third opinion on sore right forearm  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  BALTIMORE - It becomes less and less likely that reliever Akinori Otsuka will pitch in another game for the Rangers this season.  —  Otsuka, who has not appeared …