Mets fall to D-backs despite meeting  —  Few grand plans have gotten off to a worse start than the Mets' new one did Tuesday night.  —  They haven't played like a playoff team, but the Mets still believe they are one.  And Tuesday, before facing the Diamondbacks, the Mets players emerged …

Pujols is hurt in Cards' win  —  CINCINNATI — Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park offered the Cardinals several reasons for jubilation, one for dismay.  —  The outcome was a 7-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds, a decision for Mitchell Boggs in his debut as a major-league starting pitcher …

Win-now mentality has Dodgers looking to deal Kemp  —  Matt Kemp may become a superstar, but it'll take time.  That means the win-now Dodgers have to make a tough call on him, Ken Rosenthal says.

Mets call up Zephyr slugger Chris Aguila  —  Former Marlin Chris Aguila is headed to New York, Surfing the Mets has learned.  He'll replace Abraham Nunez, who was designated for assignment after Tuesday night's game.  —  Aguila (above r.) has been on a longball tear at Triple-A New Orleans.

Cairo's numbers don't measure his value  —  Utilityman gets job done off bench even if stats say otherwise  —  TORONTO — If performance was always judged strictly on numbers, then it's likely Miguel Cairo would no longer have a place in the Major Leagues.

Players ID'd in Mitchell report remain unemployed … These are tough times for unemployed players named in the Mitchell report trying to find work in baseball, whether they happen to be a home run king such as Barry Bonds or a 31-year-old such as Jay Gibbons or an extra outfielder, such as Nook Logan.

Lies, Damned Lies  —  Chipper's Chase of .400  —  Chipper Jones is not a .400 hitter.  However, that doesn't mean that he won't hit .400.  What we have on our hands is a classic case of the irresistible force against the immovable object.  On the one hand, it's exceptionally unlikely …

Bondy: Victory is nothing to go wild about yet  —  OAKLAND - Chien-Ming Wang finally looked like Chien-Ming Wang Tuesday night, against a team that might well become the Yankees' primary roadblock to a wild-card berth in October.  —  His pitch count was minuscule.

Glavine goes on the DL with elbow strain  —  Chicago — Braves left-hander Tom Glavine strained his pitching elbow during Tuesday night's game against the Chicago Cubs and was placed on the disabled list after the game.  —  He will return to Atlanta on Wednesday and will have an MRI on Thursday.

Rasner reminisces, looks ahead  —  New York (33-32) at Oakland (34-30), Wednesday, 10:05 p.m. ET  —  OAKLAND — If Darrell Rasner takes a few steps off the pitcher's mound on Wednesday and looks beyond the left-field fence, he can spot the tribute the A's marked for their 1989 World Series championship …

Author of “Eight Men Out” dies  —  HUDSON, N.Y. (AP)—Eliot Asinof, an author who invited readers behind the scenes of the sports world with books including “Eight Men Out,” died Tuesday at the age of 88.  —  The Ancramdale resident died at a hospital in Hudson of complications from pneumonia, said his son, Martin Asinof.

While Texas Rangers round the bases, fans stay at home  —  It is June.  The Texas Rangers' overall record is probably slightly better than you thought it would be before the season.  It is undoubtedly a lot better than you thought it would be on say April 15.  Nolan Ryan is back with the team.

Why Chipper Jones won't be able to hit .400 … Chipper Jones single-handedly has made batting average cool again, as soothing to a baseball romantic as vinyl to an audiophile.  Yes, we have better, more advanced delivery systems of baseball statistics and rock and roll …

‘Lot of unknowns’ after Smotlz's shoulder surgery  —  Braves veteran had significantly damaged labrum  —  If the Braves were hoping to find an easy solution within John Smoltz's damaged right shoulder, that wish went unanswered Tuesday.  —  The Atlanta ace has a damaged labrum …