Judgment days ahead for Girardi  —  As the Yankees slip just out of the Red Sox' radar range, Joe Girardi enters a critical phase of his managerial career.  He must prove he's secure enough to survive the Bombers' recent turbulence without burnout - to himself and his key players.

New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, trainer Ray Ramirez involved in car accident with firetruck … Site Search  —  Search Local Business Listings  —  Home  —  News  —  Weather  —  Sports  —  Entertainment  —  Living  —  Interact  —  Jobs  —  Autos  —  Real Estate  —  Classifieds

Giving Don Fehr His Due  —  There are jobs that demand of the person filling them that they be able to forgo popularity to do them well.  No one likes public defenders.  No one likes tax auditors.  And no one likes the men who have chosen to represent baseball players as if they were a group …

Rockies expose Angels  —  Rout raises questions of whether the team has enough pitching, hitting to vie for title.  —  From seven straight wins to three straight losses, the Angels have gone from a team that seemed to be hitting its stride to one that has hit the skids.

It just doesn't add up  —  May we agree on one thing?  —  Daisuke Matsuzaka was not worth $102 million.  —  There's a lot of financial craziness out there in modern professional sport, but we have not yet reached the point where a third or fourth (and in this case, fifth) …

‘Regular genius’ to be next union chief  —  Likable, respected Weiner in line to succeed Fehr as head of MLB Players Association … Michael Weiner, the man in line to succeed Donald Fehr as executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, has a fondness for Bruce Springsteen.

Mets add RHP Elmer Dessens and LHP Pat Misch  —  Option LHP Ken Takahashi to Buffalo, designate INF Wilson Valdez for assignment  —  FLUSHING, N.Y., — The New York Mets today announced that they recalled lefthanded pitcher Pat Misch from Buffalo (AAA) of the International League and selected …

Giants G.M. Sabean talks about potential trades: ‘We know what we need’  —  The cavalry might come galloping to assist the Giants' offense, but don't expect to hear reveille any time soon.  —  Before watching his lineup struggle in road grays yet again Monday night in a 5-1 loss to the A's …

CC SAYS HE'LL START FRIDAY  —  YANKEES' ACE PLANS TO TAKE MOUND VS. METS  —  ATLANTA — CC Sabathia lowered the anxiety level in the Yankees' universe when he told The Post he will take the ball this weekend when the Subway Series shifts to Citi Field.  —  “I am pitching Friday,” Sabathia predicted about facing the Mets.

Yankees' catcher Jorge Posada say he's pumped up by critics' chatter … ATLANTA - Jorge Posada has heard the whispers.  He knows that sports talk radio lines and Internet message boards are teeming with people insisting his days as a catcher are dwindling - or that they should be, anyway.

And That Happened  —  Braves 2, Cubs 0: Javier Vazquez somehow managed to allow no runs despite giving up nine hits and two walks in six and two-thirds.  Behold!  In these Cubs we have found a team more feeble when it matters most than the Braves!  —  Rockies 11, Angels 1 …

Biggest losers?  —  Futility weighing down Nationals  —  WASHINGTON - The comparisons, charts, and breathless what-pace-are-they-on updates crop up with greater and greater frequency.  The Washington Nationals say they pay no attention when people contrast their current season …

Chipper, McCann need help in ASG race  —  Catcher holds at second; Third baseman remains in third  —  With fans having a little more than a week to cast their final All-Star ballots, both Chipper Jones and Brian McCann have reason to remain hopeful about the possibility of being voted into the National League's starting lineup.

Tuesday Dish: Rays', Red Sox' Top Triple-A Arms Produce Varied Results  —  Durham welcomed Pawtucket to town for a four-game set beginning last Friday, with both second-place clubs looking to make up ground on their respective International League division leaders.

Took a while, but Michael Kay gets it right on YES  —  After Joe Girardi brought Fredi Gonzalez's botched double-switch to their attention in the eighth inning (Yankees-Marlins) Sunday, it took umpires about 10 minutes to “rectify” the situation.  —  The umpires, and the elapsed …

Byrnes reluctantly mulls player moves  —  As Trade Deadline looms, reality sets in for D-backs GM  —  PHOENIX — A few weeks ago, D-backs general manager Josh Byrnes was hesitant to talk about being a seller at the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline.  —  “We've dug ourselves a little bit of a hole to start,” Byrnes said at the time.

Bob Feller turns back the clock with an appearance in old-timers' game … COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — On Saturday afternoon a guy wearing a Red Sox cap walked down Main Street in Cooperstown, N.Y., with three children in tow.  He did a double take.  —  “You know who that is?” he said to his kids …

Cleveland Indians team president Paul Dolan: There will be no ‘rash decisions’ on personnel  —  CLEVELAND, Ohio — Paul Dolan is not happy with the Indians' record, performance or standing in the American League.  As team president, how could he be?  —  “We had much higher expectations for this team,” said Dolan.

No offense Phillies, but pitching is to blame  —  IN SOME WAYS, the concern is understandable.  After all, we aren't dealing with your run-of-the-mill major league offense here.  These are the big, bad home-run-hitting, rawhide-splitting Philadelphia Phillies.