Wright expresses dismay at losses  —  Third baseman disappointed after dropping three games  —  ATLANTA — Through all that slippery slope sliding in September, all the moonwalking the Mets have done thus far this season and through most of what they have presented to their public since …

Source: MLB may try instant replay in fall league  —  Major League Baseball is making tentative plans to experiment with instant replay in the Arizona Fall League, according to a baseball official with knowledge of those discussions.  —  If that experiment proves practical and successful …

Pedro says he hopes to pitch two or three more seasons … SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — The end is near.  But not so fast.  —  Pedro Martinez, who returned to the Dominican Republic to be with his sick father, said Wednesday that he plans to stick around for at least two more seasons.

MLB to ban LaTroy Hawkins three games  —  For the second time this season, a Yankees reliever has been suspended for NOT hitting an opposing batter.  —  The Daily News has learned Major League Baseball will hand LaTroy Hawkins a three-game suspension later Thursday, also fining …

Albert Pujols Is A Wrecking Ball  —  It's not often that you knock one player out of the game, allbeit two in one inning.  Well that's exactly what Albert Pujols did on Monday night against the Padres.....  Hell....reading is for suckers.  Let's just watch it go down.  Via Fan IQ....

Grogginess clears for Church  —  Right fielder says he feels free of concussion symptoms  —  ATLANTA — Although his forehead looked as if it had been scrubbed with steel wool and his knees were scraped and his name had been excluded from the Mets' lineup on Wednesday night …

Leyland will honor pace of game memo  —  Tigers manager not happy about new orders but will obey  —  DETROIT — The Tigers will comply with Major League Baseball's attempts to speed up the pace of the game.  But that doesn't mean manager Jim Leyland is happy about doing it.

Josh Beckett Won't Return My Phone Calls  —  ATHLETES DON'T TRUST REPORTERS, REPORTERS RESENT ATHLETES, AND READERS DON'T KNOW THEIR HEROES AS THEY USED TO.  —  In January, I got an assignment from the New York Times Magazine to write a profile of Josh Beckett, the Red Sox pitcher.

Gagne has rotator cuff tendinitis  —  Pittsburgh - Assistant general manager Gord Ash just told me closer Eric Gagne was diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinitis and received a cortisone injection to help speed the recovery process.  —  Gagne will rejoin the team tomorrow in Washington …

Fan killed in fall at Turner Field  —  A Braves fan has died after falling four floors from the stands at Turner Field during Wednesday night's Braves-Mets game, authorities said.  —  The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office identified the man as Justin Hayes, 25, of Cumming.

Mets COO Wilpon declines comment on Randolph  —  Embattled New York Mets manager Willie Randolph apologized Wednesday for the “distraction” he has caused his team, but the silence that followed from the team's owners was deafening.  —  Randolph tried to reach out to the Mets owners Wednesday …

Prospectus Today  —  Central Surprise  —  Behind two big homers by Jermaine Dye and another good start by Javier Vazquez, the Chicago White Sox extended their winning streak to seven games and their lead in the AL Central to 2½ games with a 7-2 win over the Cleveland Indians last night.

Royals notebook: Bannister looks to continue day-game dominance  —  The form chart offers an imposing daily double that favors the Royals as they seek to avoid a sweep in today's series finale against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.  —  Brian Bannister and an afternoon game.  —  “To me,” he said, “it's not a big deal.

Moose to pitch as injured Wang sits  —  Mike Mussina will start Saturday's game against the Mariners on short rest, giving Chien-Ming Wang an extra day between starts to rest his injured right calf.  —  Wang suffered the mild calf strain on Sunday night, and while he felt fine after throwing …

Minor League Transactions  —  This week's installment considers all transactions reported by MLB between May 9 and 17.  —  Last week's transactions available here.  —  Arizona Diamondbacks  —  Placed on 7-day DL: 3B Clayton Conner, SS Mark Hallberg  —  Atlanta Braves

Deal?  For Red Sox, no deal  —  Stars won't jump gun  —  So you believe it makes sense for the young players on the Red Sox [team stats] to jump in on the multi-year contract bandwagon that has been gaining significant steam in the last few months?  —  Think again.