Halos fall despite Kazmir's stellar debut  —  Lefty retires 18 straight at one point, but Felix even better  —  SEATTLE — As first impressions go, Scott Kazmir could not have done much more in the eyes of his new Angels teammates.  —  “I'm very impressed,” catcher Mike Napoli said.

Meet Baseball's Chattiest TV Announcers  —  If it seems like your baseball team's play-by-play man jabbers endlessly at 1,000 words a minute, well, he doesn't.  But the St. Louis Cardinals' Dan McLaughlin comes closer than most of his peers, talking at an estimated 109.9 words every 60 seconds.

Update on Mariano Rivera  —  He first felt “tightness” in his left groin on Aug. 15 in Seattle.  It went away and came back on Tuesday night.  —  Were this the playoffs, Rivera said, he would be pitching.  But the Yankees have the luxury of a large lead, expanded roster and Phil Hughes.

Posey's surprise promotion  —  The Giants' surprise decision to promote 2008 first-round draft pick Buster Posey might have been made partly to light a fire under Bengie Molina, who has not returned from a quad injury as quickly as they would have liked, but manager Bruce Bochy …

Florida Marlins Team Report  —  INSIDE PITCH  —  Tensions are flaring in the Florida clubhouse as the team fades from the playoff race.  —  The Marlins held a closed-door meeting Wednesday after All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez got into a shouting match with second baseman Dan Uggla …

Harper: Cy of relief for Mariano  —  BALTIMORE - If this were the Oscars, where a long career of unrewarded greatness has been known to help put a deserving nominee over the top, Mariano Rivera would be a shoo-in this season to win his first Cy Young Award.  —  In baseball, however …

Frustrated Pelfrey blows off steam; Mets' lose  —  DENVER - There is frustration,  —  and then there is the scorched-earth kind of rage that Mike Pelfrey was feeling when he was lifted from Tuesday's game after four terrible innings against the Rockies at Coors Field.

Mets won't change dimensions at Citi Field  —  DENVER - David Wright better muscle up.  It's either that or accept modest home run totals for the rest of his career.  The Mets don't intend to adjust the dimensions or wall heights at Citi Field for the 2010 season, the Daily News has learned.

Giambi pinch hit keeps Rockies in wild-card lead … DENVER(AP) The Colorado Rockies ' celebration over Jason Giambi 's heroics quickly turned to concern over closer Huston Street 's ailing right arm.  —  Giambi's pinch-hit two-run single off Brian Stokes broke an eighth-inning tie and powered …

Senate hopeful of the day: Curt Schilling  —  Add another name to the growing list of pols and would-be pols eyeing a run for Edward M. Kennedy's Senate seat: former Red Sox ace Curt Schilling.  —  That's right, Mr. Bloody Sock himself told NECN's Brad Puffer in an interview today that he has been …

Rays' 8th deals Red Sox setback  —  One to shrug off  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - If there's a physical reaction that best sums up last night's 8-5 loss to the Rays, it would be a shrug.  —  Deep down, the Red Sox [team stats] …

A Losing Streak, Elbow Soreness For Stammen  —  On Wednesday afternoon, the Nats, again looking punchless/hapless/toothless (pick your favorite 2009 adjective; insert), lost to the Padres 7-0.  The updated math is pretty depressing.  This team has lost six in a row.  It was just swept by a last-place team.

Ricciardi accepts blame for Jays' downfall  —  Texas Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez, right, tags Toronto Blue Jays Randy Ruiz out at the plate during the fourth inning of American League MLB baseball action in Arlington, Texas September 2, 2009.  The Rangers won 6-4.

Harang nominated for Clemente Award  —  Reds pitcher has made an impact in Cincinnati  —  CINCINNATI — Over the years, Aaron Harang has been known as the Reds' most consistent pitcher, always capable of providing his team with a quality outing.  But for the second time in three years …

Jeter Is Approaching Gehrig With a Sense of the Moment  —  BALTIMORE — The records are piling up for Derek Jeter, and the more he hits, the quicker they come.  Most hits at the original Yankee Stadium.  Most hits by a shortstop.  Most hits in the history of the Yankees.

Sternberg talks attendance, Kazmir  —  Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg addressed the media this afternoon, touching on the hot topics of the moment—primarily attendance and the team dealing away Scott Kazmir last week.  —  Sternberg didn't seem too interested in latching onto …

Beltran not 100% but game to play  —  One of the first things Carlos Beltran said before beginning his minor-league rehab assignment in Brooklyn Wednesday night was that he's “not 100% (healthy), for sure.”  —  But considering the absurd glut of injuries that has torpedoed the Mets this season …

ChiSox score four in 9th, avoid sweep vs. Twins … MINNEAPOLIS(AP) Twice, Joe Nathan and the Minnesota Twins were one strike from finishing a three-game sweep of Chicago and all but burying the White Sox in the AL Central race.  —  Two homers and two walks prompted the rare sight …