Jerry pitches in to help Wright  —  ANAHEIM - No, Jerry Manuel wasn't glad he had to make a point about his authority as manager one batter into his first game at the helm.  —  Manuel met resistance from a helmet-tossing Jose Reyes on Tuesday night, when the shortstop's left hamstring tightened and he didn't want to leave the game.

Perception on Mets' Bernazard: He's a bad, bad guy  —  Among their many travails during this trying time, the Mets have this going for them:  —  They now employ the most famous vice president of development in baseball history.  —  Omar Minaya left here Tuesday, after trying to defend …

YANKS FIND SIX-CESS  —  DESPITE STRUGGLES, RASNER GETS VICTORY  —  Six straight starts from the rotation without an implosion, six consecutive wins, six games above .500.  The Yankees have either made some sort of deal with the devil or they are actually playing to their potential.

Jays notebook: Ricciardi trashes Adam Dunn on radio show  —  Slugger Adam Dunn lacks a passion for baseball and definitely will not become a Toronto Blue Jay, general manager J.P. Ricciardi said Wednesday night.  —  Dunn, who plays for the Cincinnati Reds, is often mentioned in trade rumours …

Zambrano removed with shoulder discomfort as Cubs lose to Rays  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Carlos Zambrano will fly to Chicago on Thursday to have his right shoulder examined after leaving Wednesday night's game in the seventh inning with shoulder discomfort.

MRI exam shows Dodgers' Hiroki Kuroda has tendinitis  —  Pitcher has been scratched from his scheduled start Saturday against Cleveland.  —  CINCINNATI — Diagnosed on Wednesday with tendinitis and an impingement in his right shoulder, Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda was scratched …

Seattle Mariners fire manager John McLaren  —  Seattle Mariners have fired manager John McLaren.  —  The club will hold a press conference at 11:30 a.m. during which they expect to announce the club's future plans.  —  Sources say Jim Riggleman, Seattle Mariners' bench coach, will be named to replace McLaren.

Pirates Notebook: GM says .500 mark will not influence moves  —  CHICAGO — If the Pirates' management decides to keep its current roster intact all season, rather than trading key pieces for young talent, it will not be because of a wish to finish .500 or better and break the franchise's 15-year losing streak.

Marlins' No. 1 pick agrees to deal  —  Skipworth will start in Gulf Coast League  —  SEATTLE - The Marlins have agreed to terms with first-round draft pick Kyle Skipworth pending a physical, according to a source who has spoken with club officials.  —  Skipworth, a catcher out of Patriot High School …

Williams on job with Cubs: ‘That would be a betrayal’  —  It wouldn't be Sox-Cubs week without White Sox general manager Ken Williams ruffling a few feathers on the North Side.  —  Then again, it's hard to argue with Williams about his latest comments.  Facts are facts.

Angels could really use a power boost  —  Mark Teixeira would top the Angels' wish list, if only he were available.  Ken Rosenthal says they need a slugger to close the gap.

Steals Have Become More Precise and More Effective  —  Sabermetricians have long hammered home the mantra that stolen bases are an overrated offensive asset.  An out is the most precious baseball resource, and the cost of running into one on the base paths far outweighs the relatively minimal value to be gained from thievery.

Mets in good shape if 'pen is as well  —  New York (35-36) at Colorado (30-42), Friday, 9:05 p.m. ET  —  ANAHEIM — Rummaging through some belongings in his locker prior to Wednesday's game against the Angels, Billy Wagner pulled out a bright pink backpack and, beaming — almost cackling — handed it to Joe Smith.

Minor leaguers feed off rehab stints  —  When players from the big club come down, they pay for postgame meals.  —  When the Angels decided to cut Erick Aybar's minor league rehab assignment a day short and reactivate the infielder Wednesday, the reverberations were felt in the clubhouse …

New York Yankees and Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment to open year-round Hard Rock Cafe in new Yankee Stadium  —  Yankee Global Enterprises to partner with Hard Rock to create NYY Steak  —  The New York Yankees announced today that they have agreed to enter into a long-term agreement …