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 …

Olsen comes close to complete game in Marlins' victory  —  SAN DIEGO — Scott Olsen dropped his head, turned and headed back to the dugout Wednesday.  —  Never before had a pitcher been so disappointed to see a teammate draw a walk to load the bases.  —  It was the top of the ninth and the Marlins had a three-run lead.

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.

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 …

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

Phillies Notebook: Manuel: Phillies need to land big-time pitcher  —  The Phillies made their best pitch to land CC Sabathia, but didn't have the minor leaguers to match up with a blue-chip prospect like Matt LaPorta.  —  They weren't sold on Rich Harden, thanks to six stints on the disabled list …

Rays rookie Longoria leads voting for final AL All-Star spot  —  The Rays' Carlos Pena ties the score at 1 with a home run in the sixth inning off Yankees starter Sidney Ponson.  Pena has three homers in his past six games.  —  NEW YORK — 3B Evan Longoria already has an American League Player of the Week Award.

The Verdict Is In  —  As we approach 100 comments and 1000 votes, there isn't what I would call a... wide variety of opinion.  So, now is as good a time as any to post a response.  —  The fact that the “buy” vote is residing in Nader neighborhood isn't all that surprising .

Chipper's personal success tempered by team's struggles  —  Veteran enjoying resurgence, but concerned with team's well-being … Q. How would you describe where you are as a player right now, compared to where you perhaps thought you'd be at this stage of your career a few years ago?

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.

Quentin's HRs rally ChiSox from 5 down  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)—Carlos Quentin's towering home runs kept Chicago close, then the White Sox went ahead without so much as a pitch being thrown.  —  Fighting back from a 5- deficit Wednesday night, the White Sox scored the go-ahead run …