Papelbon throws some heat at critics  —  Critics of closer get a brushback  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Jonathan Papelbon, one week ago, was surging toward another untouchable autumn, more infield jigs and magazine covers to come.  He allowed zero earned runs from July 21 to Sept. 8 …

Henry: Epstein has new deal  —  Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein has agreed to a contract extending beyond this season, but the deal has not yet been formalized or signed, according to owner John Henry.  —  “We are all on the same page with regard to our vision for the organization,” Henry wrote in an e-mail this afternoon.

Vets Committee to consider 10 for Hall  —  Hodges, Santo, Kaat, Torre head list of post-1943 players  —  NEW YORK — Former Most Valuable Players Dick Allen, Joe Torre and Maury Wills are among the 10 finalists announced on Tuesday to be under consideration for election to the National Baseball Hall …

All kinds of personnel news  —  Chicago — Dale Sveum has yet to manage his first game as the Brewers' interim skipper but we've already gotten all kinds of personnel news this afternoon at Wrigley Field:  —  *Reliever David Riske is having surgery to remove a bone spur and is done for the season.

Jeter passes Iron Horse in Stadium hits  —  Captain collects 1,270th knock at Cathedral, now first all-time  —  NEW YORK — Derek Jeter notched his 1,270th career hit at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, moving past Lou Gehrig for the most all-time hits in the Bronx.

Mets turn to Pelfrey with '07 collapse rearing its ugly head  —  History will have its long tentacles wrapped tightly around the Mets tonight as they try to preserve their next-to-nothing lead over the Phillies.  Just a half-game separates the Eastern Division rivals who are accelerating …

Ten of Baseball's Unforgettable Wild Card Teams  —  Wild card season is upon us.  That time of the year when the division races are mostly sewn up, and you start looking at teams from all over the league, trying to keep track of half a dozen different schedules all at once.

Phils' Happ to start in Kendrick's place  —  ATLANTA (AP)—The Philadelphia Phillies are looking for a boost from a rookie as they fight for first place in the NL East.  —  Left-hander J.A. Happ, who has made only two starts this season, will replace Kyle Kendrick in the rotation for Wednesday night's game against the Atlanta Braves.

LA feels good about Saito's return  —  But left triceps irritation causes concern about reliever Kuo  —  PITTSBURGH — The Dodgers seem relatively confident they will have Takashi Saito in their bullpen the rest of the way.  —  But Hong-Chih Kuo?  Maybe not so much.

Marlins end Oswalt's streak in 5-1 win  —  MIAMI (AP)—The Houston Astros are running out of time to solve their problems at the plate.  —  Jorge Cantu hit a three-run homer and rookie Chris Volstad allowed one run in eight innings to lead the Florida Marlins to a 5-1 win over the Astros on Tuesday night.

Teagarden, Texas Rangers topple Tigers, 11-8  —  rdurrett@dallasnews.com  —  ARLINGTON - If the Texas Rangers plan on putting Brandon McCarthy on their preliminary starting rotation list for 2009, they better do it in pencil.  —  The biggest question regarding McCarthy, 25, is his health.

Mad Dog stays loose in first show  —  What was Chris Russo's first official show for Sirius XM Satellite Radio like yesterday?  —  To borrow a familiar Russo phrase: loosey goosey.  —  Sure, the topics were more national in scope than at his longtime perch at WFAN, and he had to talk more than ever …