SCHILLING RIPS NEW YORK FANS — AGAIN  —  FACT ‘YANKEES S**K’ MAKES US ‘BITTER AND MAD’  —  Before today's interview with WEEI radio in Boston, Curt Schilling walked the streets of New York polling fans to gage their feelings on Tom Brady's season-ending injury.  —  Well, probably not.

Mets relief pitcher Ambiorix Burgos arrested for beating up girlfriend  —  Mets minor league reliever Ambiorix Burgos has been charged with pummeling his girlfriend at a hotel near Shea Stadium, authorities said.  —  The 6'3", 244-pound pitcher was arrested around 11 p.m. Monday …

A's release 14-year veteran 1B/DH Sweeney  —  DETROIT — Mike Sweeney knows his major-league career might be over.  —  The Oakland Athletics released the 35-year-old first baseman-designated hitter on Tuesday after he struggled to return from operations on each knee.

Smoltz airs the possibility he'll play elsewhere in 2009  —  In interviews, it's always the question you toss off that gets you the most interesting responses.  Over the weekend, I was wrapping up an interview with John Smoltz for the upcoming Braves book (The Quiet Dynasty, on sale spring 2009.

Pujols considering elbow surgery  —  Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, riding what he calls his best wave of offense in a couple of years, raised the specter of his elbow injury Monday, saying in a televised interview that he's considering offseason surgery.

The Story of Billy the Kid  —  Well, as Greg already told you, now it's official: Billy Wagner is facing Tommy John surgery.  —  This sad news doesn't change much about how I feel about this unlikely September and potential October: I never thought we'd get this far, and finding ourselves …

Pudge, Hunter fight in Yankees loss to Angels  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. - One veteran Yankee wondered aloud before Monday's game against the Angels if players had given up on the season.  —  But at least one player showed some fight - literally - in the Yankees' lopsided 12-1 loss to the Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim last night.

Rays have lost fighting spirit  —  BOSTON — Understand, there is no shame in being caught from behind by the Red Sox.  —  Boston has the bigger payroll and the greater pedigree, and most of the world has probably assumed the defending World Series champions would eventually end up on top of the American League East.

Mets join list of teams eyeing K-Rod  —  With Billy Wagner sidelined for perhaps all of 2009 due to elbow surgery, expect the Mets to be major players in the bidding for Francisco Rodriguez this winter when the premier closer hits free agency.  —  The Angels want the 26-year-old right-hander …

Is CC Sabathia's arm falling off?  —  CC Sabathia has been on a tear since joining the Brewers just before the All-Star break.  Okay, you knew that already.  Brewers manager Ned Yost has worked Sabathia hard with a 130-pitch game, two other games over 120 pitches and all but two games over 100 pitches in a Brewers uniform.

With Boras in the picture, Alvarez's career put on hold … If and when Pedro Alvarez signs with the Pirates, he will automatically become the most hated player among fans since Dave Parker allowed himself to get woefully out of shape in the early 1980s and became the target of battery throwers …

C Hernandez, INF/OF Johnson called up  —  UPDATE, 3:15: The Rays have called up Johnson and Hernandez, and to make room on the 40-man roster designated for assignment Joel Guzman.  Johnson may start in leftfield tonight.  —  Johnson spent most of the 2005-07 seasons with the A's, and hit a career high 18 homers last year.

Bank of America nearing major Yankee Stadium deal  —  In the name of tradition, the Yankees have opted to forego selling the naming rights on their new stadium.  Sports business analysts suggested that, in light of the Mets' deal with Citibank, the Yankees could have gotten upwards of $25 million …

At Current Pace, MLB Will Not Have Fifth Consecutive Attendance Record  —  Major League Baseball has enjoyed four straight seasons of record paid attendance, but at the current pace, the league will be coming in just below last year's record figure.  —  As of Saturday, Sept. 6 …

REYES AGAIN BATTLIN' SEPT. BLUES  —  Is Jose Reyes headed for another September swoon?  —  The past week certainly had the makings of a repeat of his final-month flameout last season, when the shortstop's .205 average was a primary reason for the Mets' historic collapse.

Baseball's closer-minded problem … Imagine if every NFL team used the same 3-4 defense, no matter their personnel or even the down and distance variables.  Ridiculous, you would say.  The NFL is a thinktank of innovators, all trying to deploy their personnel in the most advantageous manner.