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.

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.

The Case for Derek Jeter, MVP  —  In the movie industry, many recipients get an Oscar years after they really ­deserve one, and often as a kind of lifetime achievement award.  Paul Newman, for ­instance, took one home in 1987 for his performance in “The Color of Money,” …

Rays avoid collapse, beat Red Sox 8-5  —  Buzz up!  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—The Tampa Bay Rays keep finding ways to hang in the AL playoff race.  —  “You're not always going to win.  It's not always going to be an oil painting,” manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday night …

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 …

Jeter Nears a Record Gehrig Couldn't Savor  —  His body betraying him for reasons he could not understand, Lou Gehrig came to bat at Yankee Stadium in the fourth inning against the Washington Senators on April 29, 1939.  —  He had only three hits in the young season.

New York Mets' future looks downright gloomy  —  Trading Jose Reyes could be a huge step toward jump-starting moribund franchise  —  Their season hasn't just been a disappointment.  It's been a Freddy Krueger movie.  —  But at least there's one good thing those fast-sinking New York Mets can say about their 2009 horror show:

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 …

Cameron ‘willing to make a sacrifice’ to stay in Milwaukee  —  Impending free agent Mike Cameron said yesterday that he'd like to remain in Milwaukee beyond this season and “would be willing to make a sacrifice to make that happen.”  —  Cameron is earning $10 million this season and would fetch …

CC named AL's best August pitcher  —  Yankees lefty unbeaten during historically strong month  —  Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia has been named the American League Pitcher of the Month for August.  —  In six starts last month, Sabathia posted a perfect 5- record with a 2.64 ERA while leading …

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.

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.

Mets' Wright won't get big head over helmet  —  DENVER - The Hall of  —  Fame contacted the Mets Wednesdayabout David Wright's new headgear.  And no, it wasn't to say he looked like the Great Gazoo, Beetle Bailey or Dark Helmet from “Spaceballs.”  —  >> See David Wright in his new helmet against the Rockies

Former pitcher Koosman given 6 months in prison  —  MADISON, Wisconsin (Reuters) - Retired baseball pitcher Jerry Koosman, a member of the 1969 World Series champion “Miracle Mets,” was sentenced on Wednesday to six months in prison for nonpayment of taxes.  —  Before being sentenced …

MLBTR Looking For Writers  —  Would you like to join the MLB Trade Rumors team?  We are looking to add a couple of writers.  The position pays on an hourly basis.  The criteria:  — Strong evening availability - typically 5-10pm CST shifts.  Weekday daytime availability is a plus.

Throw Hard or Go Home  —  Last week, while attending a minor league game between Kane County and Beloit, someone noticed me leaning to the right after nearly every pitch to see what the radar gun held by the player tracking pitches said.  “You care about how he's pitching, or how fast he's throwing? …

Phillies make moves, Condrey update  —  Lefthander Antonio Bastardo, 23, was activated from the 60-day disabled list and optioned to Double A Reading.  —  To make room on the 40-man roster, the Phillies designated righthander Steven Register for assignment.