Wagner dealing with dead arm  —  Closer expects to be back soon, will evaluate status Sunday  —  NEW YORK — Mets closer Billy Wagner considered playing a joke on the New York media following Saturday's 4-3 win over the Dodgers by wearing a sling on his left arm — the same left arm …

Showing no mercy  —  CHICAGO - It has almost become a ritual.  —  For four days straight Tim Wakefield [stats] sits in the corner of the Red Sox [team stats] clubhouse, legs crossed, zoning in on the day's crossword puzzle.  Every once in a while he might peer up to see what's going on …

Phils' Myers, reporter in shouting match  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies bullpen coughed up another lead.  Then, things really boiled over in the clubhouse after the game.  —  Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a go-ahead homer off Brett Myers in the ninth inning …

Dodgers a disappointment  —  There is no easy way to say this.  The Rockies aren't winning the National League West this year.  That's 15 consecutive seasons without a division crown, but who's counting?  —  Fans are tired of waiting, but wearing the Rockies out for this failure is a bit misplaced.

Heavy rains wring out the worst in Wrigley  —  Recent rainstorms have deluged Chicago's ballparks, but the results have been as different as north and south.  —  Water was being wrung out of Wrigley Field's turf, while the moisture at U.S. Cellular Field was whisked away with a modern pump system.

Pirates Notebook: Struggling Moskos taken out of game action  —  HOUSTON — The Pirates have taken reliever Danny Moskos, their first-round draft pick in June, out of game action in State College to address mechanical issues.  —  "It's not a big deal, and it's not a health issue at all," …

TRADE OPTIONS?  How the Tigers can deal with loss of Sheffield  —  Suddenly, the Tigers' lineup seems flawed.  —  Ryan Raburn began the weekend with more home runs since the All-Star Game than Pudge Rodriguez, Sean Casey or Brandon Inge.  —  Detroit had three hits against Cleveland on Tuesday …

Fall forecast calls for Carlos to be hot at plate  —  The problem with Carlos Delgado, more than anything, is that he has not quite produced as advertised.  This is the ultimate crime in the age of big contracts and salary dumps.  Nobody minds paying top dollar, if you give them the performances that first earned the multiyear deal.

Notes: La Russa defends defense  —  Skipper says pitchers must also shoulder some of the blame  —  ST. LOUIS — One day after he watched his team commit four errors for the second straight game, Cards manager Tony La Russa again aggressively defended his club's defense.

From Camp Moosilauke to Camden Yards  —  The Orioles' 30-3 trampling by the Rangers on Wednesday marked the most inauspicious debut for a man in charge since William Henry Harrison.  Dave Trembley, who hours before had been made Baltimore's manager — he had been the interim skipper …

Sarah's Take: Thinking positive  —  Fans, media need to remain optimistic for playoff push  —  After an extended dry spell, the Dodgers have performed better on this road trip.  The ill-timed losing spell might have put the Dodgers' quest for a playoff berth in jeopardy, but the players still believe they can go to the playoffs.