Carpenter's return hits a setback  —  Former Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter was examined in St. Louis on Friday after experiencing renewed discomfort in his surgically repaired right elbow and is likely to seek a second opinion regarding his condition soon.

Skipper's a goner if Omar calls for it  —  Willie Randolph's managerial tenure again is on life support, with Fred and Jeff Wilpon believed to have consented to the firing of the fourth-year skipper as soon as this weekend if lone holdout Omar Minaya recommends the move, sources told the Daily News.

In the rotation and not looking back  —  Tonight was a bad night for those who believe the Yankees made a mistake taking Joba Chamberlain out of the bullpen.  Here's why:  —  * He threw 88 pitches.  Jorge Posada estimated that 55 of them were fastballs.  Of that, 10 were two-seam, sinking fastballs.

Percival Returns; Reyes On DL  —  ST. PETERSBURG - Rays closer Troy Percival came off the 15-day disabled list Friday and RHP Al Reyes took Percival's place on the shelf with right shoulder tendinitis.  —  Reyes returned to the DL less than a month after spending 25 games there with a right shoulder impingement.

Burnett makes an impression, stifles Cubs  —  TORONTO — With six weeks to go before the non-waiver trade deadline, interleague play wasn't the only thing the Cubs had a chance to get started Friday night in Toronto.  —  They also got a chance to start looking firsthand at some of the options …

Memo: Umpires would dictate use of instant replay … In an instant replay plan currently being considered by Major League Baseball, video review of disputed calls would take place at a central location and would be the responsibility of the umpire crew chief at each game …

Days may be numbered for Texas Rangers' Tejeda  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  NEW YORK - The Texas Rangers are likely to expose Robinson Tejeda to the waiver wire for the second time this season today.  That is, if they don't have to put Joaquin Benoit on the disabled list first.

Yanks option Duncan to Triple-A  —  With club playing the next 16 vs. the NL, reserve sent down  —  HOUSTON — The more Shelley Duncan sat as a spare part on the Yankees bench, the faster the minutes began to tick on what seemed inevitable.  —  With the Yankees about to embark on a stretch …

Mets sign first round pick infielder Reese Havens and first round compensation selection RHP Brad Holt  —  FLUSHING — The New York Mets announced today that they have signed shortstop Reese Havens and righthanded pitcher Brad Holt and assigned both to Single-A Brooklyn of the New York-Penn League.

Travel travails: Sox trip again  —  CINCINNATI - Minor aggravations, major nuisances, a lousy time had by all.  —  That's how it has been for the Red Sox this spring just about every time they've left Boston, and one night into this six-game trip, which commenced with a 3-1 loss …