Mets finally bringing team history to Citi Field  —  Photo credit: Freelance/Photo by David Pokress |  Flushing, NY - Friday, August 14, 2009.  N.Y. Mets vs. San Francisco Giants at Citi Field. the Mets have installed a large video screen in right field at Citi field.  Photo by David Pokress

Dusting themselves off, Sox rally in 9th  —  ARLINGTON, Texas - Covered in dirt, Clay Buchholz walked back into the dugout, his awkward, facefirst belly flop into home plate having yielded nothing more than an out.  The slow-footed Jason Varitek had just beaten out an infield single and advanced to second …

Nats Offer Strasburg Record-Setting Contract  —  The Nationals have offered No. 1 overall draft pick Stephen Strasburg the largest contract ever for a pitcher taken in the amateur draft, according to industry sources.  Their proposed deal is worth more than Mark Prior's $10.5-million contract …

Has Tex locked up MVP already?  —  Is this Tweet from Tyler Kepner for real?  —  By the way, this is probably obvious by now, but Mark Teixeira's the AL MVP.  No question, as Joe Torre would say.  —  No question?  Honestly?  Maybe Kepner just means that Teixeira will win, rather than that he should win.

Reds Sign Leake, Boxberger  —  The Reds have signed their top two picks in the draft, Arizona State righthander Mike Leake (first round) for $2.27 million and Southern California righthander Brad Boxberger (supplemental first) for $857,000.  —  Leake becomes the 16th of the 32 first-rounders …

Braves done in by homers, Phils' defense  —  Atlanta falls six back after Soriano allows dinger in ninth  —  ATLANTA — Ryan Howard hadn't homered against the Braves all season and his success rate against Rafael Soriano was nonexistent.  But with one mighty swing of his bat …

Mariners Sign Franklin For $1.28 Million  —  The Mariners have signed No. 27 overall pick Nick Franklin for $1.28 million.  He's the 17th of the 32 first-rounders to sign and the fifth to get more than MLB's recommendation for his slot.  The commissioner's office's guideline was $1,161,000.

Marlins Ink James For $1.7 Million  —  The Marlins have signed No. 18 overall pick Chad James for $1.7 million.  The 18th first-rounder to sign, James exceeded MLB's slot recommendation of $1,422,000 as well as its 2008 guideline of $1,580,000.  —  A lefthander from Yukon (Okla.) High …

Signing deadline interview with Damon Oppnheimer  —  I had the privilege of speaking to Damon tonight, and while he can't really get into too much detail regarding specific players, he was able to share some of the latest draft news with me.  Hopefully this gives you guys/gals a fix for your nasty draft habit.

With One Swing, Teixeira Makes the Difference as Yanks Top Mariners  —  SEATTLE — It was the masterstroke of the Yankees' off-season, the stealth signing that was no sure thing for the team's ownership.  Brian Cashman, the Yankees' general manager, had already signed two high-priced free-agent pitchers.

Gorzelanny pitches Cubs to 3-1 win over Pirates  —  Tom Gorzelanny pitched five effective innings against his former team, Jeff Baker homered and drove in two runs, and the Chicago Cubs defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 on Saturday.  —  Gorzelanny, who grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago …

MYERS HIT IN EYE (UPDATED)  —  ATLANTA — So, Brett Myers won't pitch tonight at Class A Clearwater, after all, because he was hit in the eye by a baseball while playing catch with his 4-year-old son Kolt.  No word yet on the severity of the injury, but according to a team spokesman …

Work ethic secret to Moehler's longevity  —  Houston (56-60) at Milwaukee (57-58), 6:05 p.m. CT  —  MILWAUKEE — Long before many of his teammates arrive at the ballpark each day, Brian Moehler has already worked up a sweat.  He's probably lifted some weights and ran a few sprints …

Will manager Lou Piniella take the heat for Chicago Cubs' swoon?  —  Players: Criticism of manager comes with the territory  —  As the Cubs continued their mid-summer swoon Thursday with a 6-1 loss to the Phillies at Wrigley Field, manager Lou Piniella is beginning to receive heat for his underachieving ballclub.

Woodward designated for assignment  —  The Red Sox made the expected official after their 8-4 win over the Rangers, designating infielder Chris Woodward for assignment to make room for Alex Gonzalez.  Woodward appeared in five games since the Sox claimed him off of waivers last week in New York …