Mets have a plan post-Minaya  —  PHOENIX - High-ranking personnel within the Mets organization believe John Ricco ultimately will emerge as Omar Minaya's successor as GM, the Daily News has learned.  —  Ricco, 41, joined the organization as assistant GM in April 2004 after spending 12 years working …

Game 113: Blue Jays at Yankees  —  YANKEES (69-43)  —  Pitching: RHP Joba Chamberlain (8-2, 3.73).  —  BLUE JAYS (54-57)  —  Scutaro SS  —  Hill 2B  —  Lind LF  —  Overbay 1B  —  Wells CF  —  Ruiz DH  —  Encarnacion 3B  —  Barajas C  —  Inglett RF  —  Pitching: RHP Scott Richmond (6-6, 3.97).

Hardy Not Placed On Waivers  —  Tom Haudricourt at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel talked to Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who dismisses rumors that J.J. Hardy might have been claimed by the Red Sox, and says in fact Hardy was not placed on waivers at all.  —  Buster Olney at ESPN had reported yesterday …

The Nats' GM Search Narrows  —  The Washington Nationals are narrowing their search for a permanent general manager, with Mike Rizzo, Boston assistant GM Jed Hoyer and Arizona player personnel vice president Jerry Dipoto emerging as the primary candidates, according to industry sources.

Rockies' Fowler has precautionary MRI on knee  —  As the Pirates come to Coors Field for a three-game set beginning tonight, the Rockies are awaiting word on injured center fielder Dexter Fowler.  He underwent a precautionary MRI on his left knee this afternoon and is out for tonight's game.

New York Yankees' Ian Kennedy throws off mound  —  TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees pitcher Ian Kennedy threw off a mound for the first time since undergoing surgery May 12 to remove an aneurysm from beneath his right biceps.  —  Kennedy threw 25 pitches during a bullpen session Tuesday.

Kemp's big hit helps Kuroda beat Giants  —  Dodgers outfielder smacks three-run double in opener  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Fights in the stands, cops on the field, hecklers hollering at Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers couldn't have been more comfortable.  —  Even though they played at AT&T Park …

For Tigers, Tazawa is one that got away  —  Detroit (59-52) at Boston (63-48), 7:10 p.m. ET  —  BOSTON — This wasn't exactly the way the Tigers would have liked to see Junichi Tazawa's first Major League start.  —  Detroit was one of the handful of teams interested in the Japanese youngster …

Wakefield to return next week?  —  Red Sox manager Terry Francona just completed his pregame briefing during which he announced the following:  — Tim Wakefield will start for Triple A Pawtucket on Friday, with George Kottaras behind the plate.  If all goes well, Wakefield could be pitching for the Sox as soon as next week.

A-Rod on fire since caught kissing actress Kate Hudson at Yankee Stadium  —  A-Rod may have a new lucky charm.  —  The Yankee slugger's latest girlfriend, movie star cutie Kate Hudson, loves to cheer him on from the stands - and he's been on top of his game ever since they went public.

Selig's saving grace: Return records to Maris, Aaron  —  will be remembered as a joke and the commissioner himself as a failure, the man who presided over an era in which baseball's only real currency, its hallowed history and its sacred numbers, became as worthless as Confederate money.

Orioles, Tolliver Agree On $200,000  —  The Orioles and fifth-round pick Ashur Tolliver have agreed on a $200,000 bonus, pending the results of a physical today.  MLB's recommendation for Tolliver's draft slot (146th overall) was $174,600.  Tolliver's bonus matches Daniel Tuttle's (Reds …

Merlyn Mantle dies at age 77  —  Merlyn Mantle, the widow of Mickey Mantle who was by turns the adoring, troubled and stoic partner in a 43-year marriage to the Yankee icon, died Monday in a hospice in Plano, Tex. She was 77.  —  The cause of death was the effects of Alzheimer's disease, the Yankees said in a statement.