ON DECK: MARINERS AT YANKEES  —  Two teams with high expectations.  Two teams in last place in their divisions.  —  That's the situation tonight when the Yankees play host to the Mariners for the first of a three-game set (7:05, My9, WCBS).  —  In a season with many letdowns …

Mets swept by Braves in Atlanta  —  ATLANTA - Willie Randolph's job wasn't considered in imminent danger Thursday afternoon, but the manager will be in trouble if the Mets don't salvage the remainder of their seven-game trip that continues tonight in Colorado, the Daily News has learned.

Who's getting the better end of last winter's biggest trades? … The winter of 2007-08 brought us some honest-to-goodness blockbuster trades.  Hitting prodigy Miguel Cabrera, star starters Johan Santana, Dan Haren, Erik Bedard and Dontrelle Willis plus standout shortstops Miguel Tejada …

Angels to play host to 2010 All-Star game  —  Official announcement is next week.  Game hasn't been played in Southern California since 1989.  —  For the first time since Bo Jackson and Nolan Ryan graced Anaheim Stadium, the All-Star game is returning to Southern California.

Ramirez tops order, but who'll bat third?  —  MIAMI GARDENS - Hanley Ramirez was back atop the lineup for Thursday's game.  His statistical history suggests he'll dominate there, so while the Marlins have solved their need for a dynamic presence in that spot, now they're faced with remedying a deficiency in another key position.

Players ratify tougher drug policy … NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball players approved a toughened drug agreement Friday — the last possible day for ratification.  —  The sides announced the agreement April 11 and owners ratified it on May 14.  The deal increases the frequency of tests …

Jekyll and Hyde Pitching Staff  —  The Cincinnati Reds lost to the San Diego Padres Thursday night 8-2.  It's another example of a very strange season for the Reds pitchers.  Look at the home/road splits for the team:  —  Reds 2008HomeRoad Runs per Game  —  4.5  —  Runs Allowed per Game

Prospect Hot Sheet: May 23  —  Usually if a player gets traded three times before he reaches Double-A, it's a sign that he's unwanted.  In Max Ramirez's case, that's not the case.  —  Who wouldn't want a catcher who can hit in the middle of the order?  And while there remain some questions …

Baseball's Nerd Machine  —  The baseball box score, bless its little numerical heart, is dead.  It lived a nice, long life — about 140 years — but it has outlived its usefulness.  Its archaic statistics, pilloried for years by serious statisticians, tell you only what players have done, not what they're capable of doing.

What are the odds?  —  At last, a clubhouse fit for Pete Rose.  —  While Major League Baseball says it's doing all it can to keep tabs on packages coming in and out of stadium clubhouses, always on the lookout for performance enhancers, there apparently is less interest in the betting odds …

Who's Calling the Shots, the Yankees or Ortiz?  —  David Ortiz is a mammoth, powerful and gregarious left-handed hitter, the kind of slugger who would not need acting lessons to imitate Babe Ruth.  Ortiz, the modern-day Ruth from the Boston Red Sox, will get that interesting chance …

Andrew Miller, Marlins finish stifling sweep of Diamondbacks  —  MIAMI GARDENS — The ball settled into right fielder Jeremy Hermida's glove to end the top of the seventh inning when the crowd began to rise.  —  With the applause building, Andrew Miller walked slowly to the dugout having allowed …

Piniella: Edmonds needs to start hitting  —  The relationship between Jim Edmonds and Lou Piniella may be in the incubation stage, but it's off to an interesting start.  —  Edmonds is 2-for-15 in his first four games as a Cub, which is worse than the production Piniella received …

LOTS of Moves  —  The Columbus Clippers break the news of the upcoming moves by the Nationals  — OF Ryan Langerhans purchased by Washington  — RHP Brian Sanches purchased by Washington  — LHP Charlie Manning purchased by Washington  — RHP Chris Schroder optioned from Washington