Wagner Activated, Hernandez Released  —  The Mets have activated Billy Wagner from the 60 day disabled list.  —  To make room for Wagner, the Mets have released Livan Hernandez.  —  Hernandez was 7-8 with a 5.47 ERA for the Mets in 2009, but posted a 7.33 ERA in July and an 11.30 ERA in August.

SHEFF AND METS AT ODDS  —  Gary Sheffield asked the Mets for a contract extension, the club rejected the oveture and now Sheffield has threatened to leave the team and head home, two sources told the Post.  —  As of 6:30 p.m., one of the sources said, Mets officials and Sheffield were in discussions on how to move forward.

Padres get cash for Gaudin ...  SAN DIEGO - General manager Kevin Towers said Wednesday that the Padres will take cash considerations, believed to be $100,000, as compensation for the August 7 deal that sent him to the New York Yankees.  —  The Padres had the option of cash considerations …

Yankees Still Have Something to Prove in Boston  —  BOSTON - The Yankees are 76-45, too many games over .500 to be a fluke.  This is easily their best team in several years, and the rough patches in their schedule - the interleague games in June, the series in Anaheim in July - have been quickly followed by prolonged dominance.

Rumblings and Grumblings: Dangerous closer issues among contenders  —  Several contenders are heading down the stretch with unreliable closer situations  —  It isn't necessarily true that to win a World Series you need a dominant closer.  —  What is necessarily true, though …

Despite Rumors, Nationals Seem Pleased With Acting General Manager Mike Rizzo  —  After six months of acquisitions and signings, almost all of them well-received, Mike Rizzo has finally obtained the one thing he has been trying all along to get — job security.

Steinbrenner High School set to open  —  NEW YORK — What school would have a course entitled BOSS?  None other than Steinbrenner High School, where opening day is Tuesday in Lutz, Fla., near the home of Yankees patriarch George Steinbrenner.  —  The $60 million structure in Hillsborough County …

Teixeira to visit ‘Late Show With David Letterman’  —  NEW YORK YANKEES ALL-STAR FIRST BASEMAN MARK TEIXEIRA MAKES HIS FIRST VISIT TO CBS'S “LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN,” MONDAY, AUGUST 24  —  Teixeira to Also Participate in Outdoor Batting Demonstration During the Broadcast

Jerry Remy returns tomorrow  —  A familiar voice will be in a familiar place when the Yankees come to Fenway Park [map] tomorrow.  —  Beloved broadcaster Jerry Remy, sidelined since May while dealing with the effects of cancer treatments and depression, will make his return to the NESN booth for tomorrow night's game.

Kawakami outpitches Santana in Braves' 3-2 win  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Kenshin Kawakami (FSY) outpitched Johan Santana (FSY), Brian McCann (FSY) hit a solo homer and the Atlanta Braves clawed just a bit further into playoff contention with a 3-2 victory over the New York Mets on Thursday night.

Wake, Dice-K set to pitch Friday  —  Veteran to take hill for Triple-A; righty to throw side session  —  TORONTO — As Red Sox right-hander Brad Penny faces the archrival Yankees on Friday, two of Boston's rehabbing pitchers will also take the mound: Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield will pitch …

Abolish The Draft  —  After watching Stephen Strasburg break a record for the largest bonus signed through the draft, it's not a big surprise that Bud Selig is talking tough on mandatory slotting and saying that he's going to be “very aggressive” in trying to implement a worldwide draft in the next round of CBA negotiations.

Yankees spell out Joba plan  —  OAKLAND, Calif. - Joba Chamberlain shed some light on the Yankees' plan for him, saying yesterday he is scheduled to start six more games this season.  —  The 23-year-old right-hander asked pitching coach Dave Eiland and manager Joe Girardi for clarification of how he would be used.

Tigers score twice in ninth, rally to down Mariners … DETROIT(AP) The Detroit Tigers ‘ moving truck was backed up to the clubhouse door.  —  The Tigers only wish they could pack some Comerica Park momentum with them.  —  Clete Thomas ’ two-out, RBI single capped a two-run rally …

Baseball errs with lax penalty on pitchers who take aim at hitters  —  THE time has come to look hard at the policy of Major League Baseball with regard to pitchers who deliberately throw at the head of batters and the managers who order them to do so.  As the 89th anniversary of the death …

Dodgers' West lead whittled after loss  —  Finale defeat to Cards leaves LA with 3 1/2-game edge  —  LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers' slide resumed Wednesday night, and not just because Clayton Kershaw couldn't get out of the fourth inning or Jonathan Broxton gave it up again in the ninth …