Ugly Outing by Mussina Casts Cloud on Future  —  In a different time, when the Yankees were touched by magic, even their horror stories had happy endings.  David Cone went from pillar to punching bag in 2000, but his season ended with a clutch relief appearance that helped win the World Series.

A's Loaiza auditions well in loss  —  Esteban Loaiza made his final start of August, and we'll know soon if it was his final start with the A's.  —  Contenders have until Friday, the final day of August, to add players to their rosters and make them eligible for the postseason.

Owner needs to let new hires do their jobs … It was only a matter of time before somebody got tossed overboard by the sinking ship the 2007 Houston Astros have become.  —  And that was so clear to one and all, you can bet your commemorative Jeff Bagwell T-shirt that Tim Purpura …

Prospectus Hit and Run  —  Stars, Scrubs, and the Scooter  —  Last week, we looked at Replacement Level Killers as they pertained to contending teams.  We can also demonstrate just how replacement-level production can grind an entire offense to a halt.  —  We'll start with a look …

Martínez Is Pleased With Test  —  Pedro Martínez's normally pinpoint control was not present Monday night.  He threw far more balls against the Class A Palm Beach Cardinals than he had in any of his other rehabilitation efforts.  Yet Martínez said that was a good thing.

Nats' power surge for naught  —  Young, Pena, Zimmerman go deep in loss to Dodgers  —  LOS ANGELES — For the third game in a row, the Nationals had problems getting quality innings out of their starting pitcher and it ended up hurting them as they lost to the Dodgers, 5-4, at Dodger Stadium on Monday night.

Howry: Cubs fans better than Boston rooters  —  USA Today recently proclaimed the Boston Red Sox America's team in a front-page article about their rabid fan base and national following.  —  Whether Red Sox Nation is bigger or more fervent than Cubs Nation is a debate that could draw some heated arguments.

Angels' Lackey blanks Mariners again  —  SEATTLE (AP) — John Lackey was dominant.  He was nasty.  He was just plain sick.  —  Yes, he really was.  —  Lackey, pitching with a possible case of strep throat severe enough to cause the Angels to form a Plan B in case he couldn't start …

MINAYA PLANS TWO WAVES OF SEPTEMBER CALL-UPS  —  The Mets plan to make minor-league promotions in two waves — one on Saturday on the first day permitted, and the second after Triple-A New Orleans' season ends, according to Minaya.  Joe Smith and David Newhan figure to be the first call-ups …

Notes: Marlins look to play spoiler  —  Club hopes to knock Braves out of playoff contention  —  MIAMI — Stuck in last place in the National League East, the Marlins are now in position of playing the role of spoiler.  —  The Braves, meanwhile, headed into Monday seven games behind …

Column: Pirates need to talk to LaCava  —  Bob Nutting says the Pittsburgh Pirates' next chief executive officer will be a baseball man and recognizable to people inside the game.  —  Who the replacement for Kevin McClatchy will be, though, is anyone's guess.  —  Nutting is one of the most low-key owners in baseball.

Bloodied but unbowed in the NL East  —  After last night's 9-2 loss to the Phillies, Orlando Hernandez was the first one to get his hands on the remote control for the two hanging TVs in the near-empty visitors clubhouse.  Apparently, El Duque was uninterested in Pedro Martinez's start …

Sheffield goes on the DL  —  DETROIT — Gary Sheffield said this was the plan all along, that he would give his shoulder about a week to improve, and if it didn't, the next step would be the disabled list.  —  And that's what the next step was on Monday, when the Tigers placed Sheffield …

Irked Wright ejected  —  PHILADELPHIA - David Wright jawed with C.B. Bucknor over disputed strikes in the fourth inning last night.  And when the plate umpire called Wright out on strikes for the third time in the game to end the top of the eighth, Wright had had enough.