Lowell's early sizzle ended with late fizzle  —  CHICAGO - There seemed to be some signs the past two days that third baseman Mike Lowell is beginning to emerge from a drought that has dogged him the last three weeks.  But slumps can be stubborn things and continue to find players at the most inopportune times.

Marlins Notebook: Olsen rolls ankle but should make next start  —  NEW YORK — Left-hander Scott Olsen, who rolled his right ankle in the sixth inning Saturday, said he still plans to make his next start Thursday against St. Louis.  If he can't, left-hander Andrew Miller could get activated from the disabled list and replace him.

Cubs roll; Edmonds winning over Wrigley fans  —  Everyone who said it would be a cold day in August before Cubs fans cheered former Cardinals center fielder Jim Edmonds for a warning-track fly ball were apparently right on the money.  —  With unseasonably cool temperatures dipping …

Yankees aren't the gold standard in '08  —  Reality dropped onto the Yankees yesterday like the lid of a coffin slamming shut on their playoff hopes.  —  You could sense it in their hushed voices and downcast eyes.  You could feel it in the mood of a clubhouse that couldn't be any lower if it were located in the La Brea tar pits.

Unimpressive debut with Rox for Livan  —  San Diego hitters torch Hernandez for nine runs in less than three innings in his first start for Colorado.  —  The Denver Post  —  Chalk up another swing and a miss for the 2008 Rockies.  —  This time, the whiff involved newly acquired starting pitcher Livan Hernandez.

Pitch to Giles may show Padres' intention to pinch  —  As part of a pitch to get Brian Giles to accept a trade to the Red Sox this past week, a Padres executive painted a stark fiscal picture for 2009, saying club owner John Moores might shrink the payroll to $40 million.

SEE?  WE AREN'T CHEAP BASTARDS AFTERALL!  —  Mr. Lerner handed over several suitcases full of cash yesterday, temporarily silencing legions of know-it-alls (*cough* *cough*) who have nothing better to do with their time than dream up new ways to spend his money.  Thank you, Mr. Lerner.

Stewart's second stint with Jays ends with release  —  TORONTO — The Blue Jays released outfielder Shannon Stewart on Monday, bringing his second stint with Toronto to a disappointing finish.  —  Signed as a free agent during spring training, Stewart hit .240 with one homer and 14 RBIs in 52 games this season.

Inventor of Gold Glove Award dies  —  Longtime Mt. Prospect resident made sure that best fielders in Major League Baseball were recognized  —  In a long career in the sporting goods industry, Elmer Blasco was best known as the creator of Major League Baseball's annual award for the best defensive players at each position.

After the Walks, a Walk-Off in Milwaukee  —  Nationals Yield 13 Free Passes; Ayala Yields Winning HR: Brewers 5, Nationals 4  —  Walks have always enjoyed a secure, time-trusted role as winning's greatest inhibitor — walks kill, the cardinal rule of pitching goes — but for the longest …

If Barry walks in, Coop walks out.  Things are getting interesting around here.  —  “Bonds is not a fit for us.  If he would come, I would go.  I wouldn't want to deal with it.”  —Cecil Cooper  —  I used to threaten to resign about three times a year.  I did it in Washington and Baltimore, in Dallas and Austin.

Moyer doesn't rule out playing to 50  —  Pirates manager Russell thinks left-hander can do it  —  PHILADELPHIA — It was meant as a compliment, not as a goal.  Pirates manager John Russell goes way back with Phillies starter Jamie Moyer, the oldest player in the Majors.