Francoeur: Marquis would love to join Mets next season  —  Jason Marquis apparently holds no grudge toward the Mets for their lack of interest in him last winter.  —  Jeff Francoeur told The Post yesterday that Marquis, whom he considers a close friend, desperately wants to pitch for the Mets next season …

DIVIDED LOYALTIES: WHY ONE SOX OFFICIAL WILL FIND IT HARD TO ROOT AGAINST ZACK GREINKE … digit from 88 to 96 mph on the radar gun with his fastball.  —  But in 2005, Greinke took his lumps.  He went 5-17 with a 5.80 ERA, marks that were puzzling based on his stuff and his feel for the game.

Sluggish offense wastes Laffey's outing  —  Lefty allows just one run; Cabrera's defense shines  —  CLEVELAND — The Indians have found their way back into the American League Central basement.  Getting out is going to require a better effort than the one the Tribe delivered Tuesday night.

Joba's job on the line  —  Yankees starting pitcher Joba Chamberlain reacts on the mound after giving up a three-run home run on Sunday in Seattle.  —  “It's time for him to step it up,” the manager said.  “He needs to step it up.”  —  As Girardi spoke in the Yankees' dugout before Monday night's …

On Jackson and tipping pitches  —  One of the things pitching coach Rick Knapp mentioned Sunday that he and bullpen coach Jeff Jones were working on with Edwin Jackson in his morning side session was a quirk that they believed was tipping his slider, letting hitters know it was coming.

HILL REACHEAS 100 RBI MARK AS JAYS OUTLAST ORIOLES  —  TORONTO — Aaron Hill hit the game-winning double in the 11th inning for his 100th RBI of the season as the Toronto Blue Jays rallied for a 6-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.  —  Hill, who added his 33rd homer of the season …

NY Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte says shoulder fatigue no longer an issue … ANAHEIM, Calif. — Loss to the Angels aside, the Yankees scored a major victory on Monday night when Andy Pettitte emerged from his start feeling good.  —  “Physically, everything was good,” the lefty said after pitching six solid innings.

Cook to start to Friday against Cardinals; two minor leaguers suspended  —  DENVER — Aaron Cook will be rewarded for a month of tireless rehab, starting Friday at Coors Field against the St. Louis Cardinals.  Cook has been out with a strained right shoulder, but has been making steady progress.

Cards void Mateo's contract  —  The Cardinals announced today that they terminated the contract of top Dominican prospect Wagner Mateo because of “pre-existing injuries and physical defects” discovered during a physical exam.  —  Post-Dispatch baseball writer Joe Strauss reported Saturday that Mateo has vision problems.

Cooper might not be the only manager fired  —  The spring day that Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane picked up Cecil Cooper's contract option for 2010 was the day another club official predicted Cooper would not last the season.  The option, the official said, gave McLane cover to drop …

Barmes, Hawpe homer as Rockies win wild one over Padres  —  DENVER (AP) — Brad Hawpe (FSY) homered for the first time since Aug. 29 and the Colorado Rockies beat San Diego 11-10 on Tuesday night despite a rare rough outing from lefty Jorge De La Rosa (FSY) and a four-run ninth-inning rally by the Padres.

Padres Team Report  —  Because Kevin Kouzmanoff has been the Padres' third baseman as long as Chase Headley has been in the major leagues, Headley has been playing out of position in left field.  —  But with Kouzmanoff out of the lineup since Sept. 8 because of a strained left calf muscle …

Safe at Second, but No Stolen Base to Show for It  —  A player takes an unchallenged lead off first base, dashes to second and makes it safely without a throw.  The runner has advanced but because there was no attempt to thwart him, he does not receive a stolen base.

SANCHEZ HELPS MARLINS EARN DOUBLEHEADER SPLIT WITH PHILLIES  —  The Sports Network  —  Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Anibal Sanchez dazzled the Phillies over eight stellar innings, and Dan Uggla and Cody Ross hit solo home runs, lifting Florida to a 3-0 win over Philadelphia in the nightcap of a doubleheader.

Werth packing plenty of punch for Phils  —  In second season as a regular with Philadelphia, right fielder making a major impact  —  PHILADELPHIA — The champagne celebration and parade down Broad Street were too cool for words.  But when Phillies right fielder Jayson Werth reflects upon …

Contenders take aim at securing playoffs  —  Yanks look to clinch berth; others try to lower magic numbers  —  The Yankees are looking to clinch a playoff spot.  The Angels are chasing the Yankees for the best record in the American League as well as closing in on the AL West title.

Game 152: Yankees at Angels  —  YANKEES (95-56)  —  Pitching: RHP Chad Gaudin (1-0 3.68).  —  ANGELS (90-60)  —  Figgins 3B  —  Izturis 2B  —  Abreu RF  —  Guerrero DH  —  Hunter CF  —  Morales 1B  —  Rivera LF  —  Aybar SS  —  Mathis C  —  Pitching: vs. RHP Ervin Santana (7-8, 5.43).

At Pivotal Point in Career, Dukes Trying to Step It Up  —  Nationals Outfielder Is Seeking More of the ‘Amazing’  —  One recent afternoon, hours before yet another baseball game, Elijah Dukes out of nowhere got really excited about something he did long ago that was kind of amazing — “even amazing to me,” Dukes said.

Despite big mistakes, Jim Hendry deserves one more shot  —  (M. Spencer Green, Associated Press / January 8, 2009)  —  Based on 2 division titles, Chicago Cubs GM can turn roster around  —  I'm trying to come up with someone who has had a worse year than Jim Hendry, of course exempting …