No big free agents in '09  —  ADDITIONAL NOTE (9:51 a.m.): Some of you are shocked and accused me of burying the lede when I mentioned lower down that Chuck Armstrong had blocked the Washburn deal.  I guess this just didn't surprise me, since Armstrong said the day of Bill Bavasi's firing …

Pedroia Surprise MVP Candidate  —  BOSTON — With every hit, the chants grew louder at Fenway Park.  —  By the time the Red Sox finished their homestand with a victory over the Orioles Wednesday, cries of “MVP, MVP” reverberated each time Dustin Pedroia stepped into the batter's box.

Sweep revenge in sight for Mets?  —  Eight.  That's how many wins in a row the Phillies posted against the Mets to close last season and contribute to one of the greatest collapses - or comebacks, depending on your perspective - in baseball history.  —  Now, the Mets have a chance for payback.

Rodriguez strikes out on 4-2 pitch  —  Angels don't notice mistake and have no course for appeal  —  DETROIT — Yes, it even can happen in the Major Leagues.  —  Angels second baseman Sean Rodriguez actually struck out in the fourth inning on Thursday at Comerica Park on a 4-2 pitch.

La Russa expects commitment from club  —  Cardinals manager Tony La Russa (Chris Lee/P-D)  —  PHOENIX — Just over three weeks remain in the first installment of his two-year contract.  Tony La Russa says he likes his team and likes his job.  —  But with the Cardinals listing toward …

Pettitte's future up in the air  —  The smart money early this season would have been on the Yankees re-signing one of their veteran starting pitchers - Andy Pettitte - while saying thank you and so long to the other, Mike Mussina.  —  With just a few weeks left in the season, the odds have shifted.

Minor League All-Star Team  —  Matt Wieters headlines our team of top prospect performers  —  C Matt Wieters  • Orioles  —  In The Year of the Catcher, the 6-foot-5 Wieters rose above the rest.  Sure, switch-hitting Carlos Santana (Indians) nearly led the minors in both runs scored and RBIs …

Twins end road trip with loss to Jays  —  Team falls 1 1/2 games behind White Sox in AL Central  —  TORONTO — It was a road trip the Twins had been dreading all season.  —  Their longest such trek in 39 years, the Twins endured 14 games in 15 days, across four different cities …

Wild Schedule  —  The Brewers lost their fourth game in a row, falling to the Padres 5-2.  Every starter in the Milwaukee lineup collected exactly one hit, but they could not string them together.  This against a pitcher, Shawn Estes who spent three months recuperating from a broken thumb …

Marking time: Six look back at McGwire's home-run achievement  —  IT WAS A STORY told with exclamation points, not question marks.  It was a tale writ large and narrated in heroic terms.  It was a Paul Bunyan character with Popeye forearms riding to the rescue to save baseball after a ruinous strike.

Ex-Orioles infielder Todd Cruz dead at 52  —  Six weeks ago, during the 25th anniversary celebration of the Orioles' last world championship, Todd Cruz stood on the field at Camden Yards and reveled in the moment.  —  “Being with these guys here is like being a little kid …

Wolf keeping all options open for '09  —  Veteran lefty has never been to postseason in 10-year career  —  DENVER — When general manager Ed Wade acquired Randy Wolf from the Padres in exchange for a Minor League pitcher, he was criticized, and even ridiculed, for bringing an expensive soon …

Overworking the Workhorse: Risk or Reward?  —  With every pitch Mike Pelfrey throws Friday night against the Phillies at Shea Stadium, the pitching coach Dan Warthen will be one of the more fidgety people in the Mets' dugout.  Even if the 24-year-old Pelfrey pitches effectively, with little stress …

Martis outpitched in Nats debut  —  Rookie labors through five innings; Belliard strains groin  —  ATLANTA — Nationals right-hander Shairon Martis and catcher Luke Montz made their Major League debuts on Thursday night against the Braves, marking the first time in franchise history …

Wily Kazmir dominates Yanks in finale  —  Rays ace allows just one hit in picking up his 11th victory  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Six goose eggs by Scott Kazmir and a healthy dose of Willy Aybar put the Rays back in business on Thursday night.  —  Thanks to the pair's contributions …

Zambrano may miss only one start for Cubs  —  Shoulder trouble not considered serious  —  Carlos Zambrano showed up for his rescheduled MRI, his anti-inflammatory shot and the charter flight to Cincinnati, all in one day.  —  The Cubs now hope he will show up for a start next weekend in Houston …