JOBA ON WAY TO SEE DR. ANDREWS  —  INJURED SHOULDER NEEDS SECOND LOOK  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — The road from the Carl Pavano Memorial MRI tube to Dr. James Andrews isn't a path a pitcher wants to travel.  —  Yet, at the Yankees' request, that is the one being taken by Joba Chamberlain …

Manny lifts spirits, inspires fear  —  Teammates enjoy scaring opposition with new acquisitions  —  ST. LOUIS — Dodgers reliever Brian Falkenborg has never faced Manny Ramirez or Albert Pujols.  But he's been teammates with both.  Having seen what Pujols means to the Cardinals …

Kasten: Nats not likely to sign all picks  —  Front office probably will adhere to pre-ranked values  —  DENVER — Of the Nationals' top five picks in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, four of them — right-hander Aaron Crow, shortstop Daniel Espinosa, left-hander Graham Hicks and catcher Adrian Nieto — are unsigned.

Swisher's 14th-inning HR lifts ChiSox  —  CHICAGO (AP)—Nick Swisher figured he had the night off.  The Chicago White Sox are glad he got in the game.  —  Swisher, who entered in the 11th to play first base, hit a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the 14th and Chicago rallied …

Bay, Beckett lead Red Sox by Royals 8-2  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)—Jason Bay narrowly missed out on a home run against Kansas City on Tuesday night.  —  He was fine with a four-hit night and a Boston win, though.  —  Bay drove in two runs and scored twice, and Josh Beckett pitched effectively …

Mets rookie Kunz eager to make most of chance  —  Like nearly everyone who picks up a glove and ball in childhood, Eddie Kunz had visions of making it to the big time, even if his home state hasn't exactly produced a slew of major leaguers.  —  As the Portland native said before last night's game …

Dazzling debut leaves Angels dizzy  —  Baltimore's Aubrey Huff greets teammate Nick Markakis, who had just scored during a two-run first inning for the Orioles Tuesday at Angel Stadium.  Baltimore defeated the Angels, 3-0.  —  Orioles rookie Chris Waters allows one hit over eight innings in his first major league start.

D-Backs sign Haren through 2012  —  It's always nice to lock up great talent I hope there's money left for Brandon Webb's extension  —  Dan Haren knows he might have been able to hold out a little longer and get a contract even bigger than the four-year, $44.75 million deal he signed with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

Storm too close for comfort for Astros  —  Some question decision to play with lightning in area  —  CHICAGO — Lance Berkman stood at first base Monday night watching the lightning storm that hovered over Wrigley Field, wondering why he was standing in harm's way for the sake of a baseball game.

Mets check in on Garcia  —  The Mets were heavily represented at today's open throwing session in Miami by free agent Freddy Garcia (pictured).  The veteran right-hander, who is attempting a comeback from shoulder surgery, topped out at 87 mph and reportedly was sharp with...

Carter hopes to climb back to majors  —  FULLERTON, CALIF. — More than three decades after leaving his hometown to pursue a baseball career that led to the Hall of Fame, Gary Carter has returned to chase another major-league dream.  —  Carter, 54, manages the Orange County Flyers …

The most overrated position in sports  —  When Jerome Holtzman, a legendary baseball writer and a good man, died two weeks ago, I hoped some closer would celebrate a save by pumping his fist, falling to his knees, pointing to the sky and shouting, “This one is for you, Jerome!”

Counting down to Shea finale by unis  —  A wide range of players donned Nos. 24 through 30  —  NEW YORK — The games-to-go countdown sign on the outfield wall at Shea Stadium has created a lot of attention this season, especially for fans who associate uniform numbers with club history.

Mets feeling good about Maine  —  The Mets were so encouraged by the bullpen sessions John Maine threw Sunday and yesterday that he is slated to throw a simulated game Friday at Shea, the injured pitcher said before Tuesday night's game against San Diego.  —  That would keep Maine …

Prospectus Today  —  Jeter vs. Reyes  —  I got a great question in my chat session about two weeks ago: … It sat in the queue for a while, because I really had to think about it.  The initial reaction is “Derek Jeter”—who is a first-ballot Hall of Famer in waiting—because we're familiar with his entire body of work.