Mariners release first baseman Richie Sexson  —  OAKLAND — Seattle Mariners Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Lee Pelekoudas announced today that the Mariners have released first baseman Richie Sexson.  —  “We felt that at this time it was in the best interest of the ballclub …

La Russa is seeking help now, not later  —  PHILADELPHIA — Moved by what he has received from a team recognized as overachievers, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa on Wednesday urged that the front office and ownership “use every resource we can” to improve as quickly as possible following significant moves …

Zito factored tabloids into choice of team  —  (07-10) 04:00 PDT New York —  All week, the tabloids here have gone cuckoo over the impending divorce of Alex Rodriguez and his wife, Cynthia, as well as their alleged love quadrangle with rockers Madonna and Lenny Kravitz.

Trade involving Fuentes likely  —  MILWAUKEE — With the market for starters thin, there's growing buzz that Rockies closer Brian Fuentes will be the next pitcher traded this month.  —  Sitting in the visitors dugout Wednesday at Miller Park, general manager Dan O'Dowd said there was nothing brewing, if you will, at the moment.

Josh Johnson starting from scratch  —  SAN DIEGO - Called into the office at Double-A Carolina after his July 4 rehab outing, Josh Johnson experienced a bit a déjà vu.  —  “It was just like back in '05 when I got called up,” Johnson said.  —  After a prolonged absence recovering …

Final Vote battles tight as deadline nears  —  Record number of ballots cast in support of 2008 candidates  —  Evan Longoria of Tampa Bay and Corey Hart of Milwaukee each were leading close two-man races with only hours remaining in the Monster 2008 All-Star Game Final Vote …

Pirates promote Munoz: Bullington lost to Cleveland  —  The Pirates today promoted starter Luis Munoz from Class AA Altoona to fill the roster spot left by the optioning of John Van Benschoten last night.  —  Munoz, 26, was 3-3 with a 5.45 ERA for Class AAA Indianapolis before being demoted to Altoona …

Inside Pitch: Cubs, Brewers aren't locks  —  Acquiring aces may not be enough to boost NL Central clubs  —  The Brewers and Cubs have drawn aces in CC Sabathia and Rich Harden, respectively, but not everyone is ready to stamp the two teams as playoff bound.

Build a Wiffle Ball Field and Lawyers Will Come  —  Some town-owned land in Greenwich, Conn., has been turned into a Wiffle ball field by teenagers.  Neighbors are complaining.  Jeff Currivan, 17, shown at bat, said, “They think we're a cult.”  —  GREENWICH, Conn.

HAL'S NOT HAPPY WITH YANKS' START  —  According to Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi, the meeting was routine, but Hal Steinbrenner emerged from a lengthy, closed-door session with his general manager and manager yesterday to say he was disappointed in the Yankees' performance so far this year.

Manny's call from the Wall  —  During the sixth-inning pitching change in the Sox-Twins game yesterday afternoon, Manny Ramirez climbed into the Green Monster and could be seen talking on a cell phone as Javier Lopez entered the game in relief of Sox starter Josh Beckett ...  (Boston Globe Staff Photo / Jim Davis)

Door suddenly open for Mets to redeem themselves  —  Their one and only All-Star Game participant was handed to them on the electoral vote, and today they might sneak another player in on the popular vote.  Yet it really doesn't matter all that much that the Mets won't be well represented Tuesday in the Midsummer Classic.

Why Does Everyone Want Frenchy to Go the Other Way? … Putting aside the sample size issue, I am tired of hearing people (I'm talking directly to you Joe Simpson) praise the virtue of hitting to the opposite field.  While the ability to hit to all fields is a nice skill, not everyone has it.

Fenway firepower cements Sox sweep  —  Each starter collects at least one hit in 23-hit attack on Twins  —  BOSTON — Just call it the Boston tee-off party.  How else to describe the utter destruction done by the Red Sox's offense in an 18-5 romp over the Twins on Wednesday?