Malaise sweeps Sox  —  Lester unable to salvage win  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Red Sox have been here before, unable to figure out a way to win as the pressure to meet expectations becomes almost suffocating.  —  It was in April when they opened the season with 10 losses in their first 12 games.

Major League Baseball prohibits New York Mets from wearing first responders hats on 9/11 anniversary  —  Ronny Paulino wears an FDNY cap during batting practice.  Former Met John Franco (below, leading first responders at Citi Field) says the Mets should have worn the hats during the game.

Cards, Carpenter agree on two-year extension  —  Intent on transacting as much business as possible before dealing with Albert Pujols looming free agency, the Cardinals have reached agreement with 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter on a two-year contract extension worth about $21 million …

Diamondbacks' turnaround makes Towers my pick for GM of the year … Nobody besides maybe the Arizona Diamondbacks themselves figured they'd sniff the playoffs this year, but here they are, within a whisper of clinching an improbable postseason berth.  Everyone associated with the team …

The Future Of C.J. Wilson  —  For years, the Rangers would have killed — or at least gamed the living hell out of the system — to have just one pitcher like C.J. Wilson wedged into the topmost slot of their starting rotation.  For years, that caliber of pitcher eluded their grasp …

Free-agent market could be frenzied  —  Maybe it's wishful thinking, but at least one prominent agent believes that the free-agent market will erupt if a labor agreement is reached by the start of the offseason.  —  The agent cites the overall weakness of this year's class …

Ricketts willing to wait on Epstein  —  Some baseball insiders believe Red Sox GM is intrigued by Cubs vacancy  —  Theo Epstein talks on his cell phone at Fenway Park in Boston.  (CHARLES KRUPA, Associated Press / September 25, 2003)  —  On Baseball  —  Theo Epstein is bored in Boston.

Pirates extend GM Huntington's contract  —  PITTSBURGH — Speculation about general manager Neal Huntington's job security can now be put to rest, as the Pirates announced on Sunday that Huntington has signed a three-year extension to remain in Pittsburgh.  The contract also includes a club option for 2015.

Burnett Makes a Pitch for History  —  Considering the chorus of boos A.J. Burnett hears nearly every time he walks off the Yankee Stadium mound, you probably assumed he couldn't do anything well (besides cash checks, maybe).  But it turns out there is one thing the Yankees' righthander does better …

Jeff Samardzija's improvement puts him in line for a 2012 rotation spot  —  Jeff Samardzija of the Cubs pitches in the eighth inning at Wrigley Field Thursday, August 11, 2011, in Chicago.  John J. Kim~Sun-Times  —  NEW YORK — No chance for the Cubs to compete again by next year?

Epstein: J.D. Drew has a broken finger  —  In an interview with WEEI's Dennis and Callahan on Monday morning, Theo Epstein disclosed that right fielder J.D. Drew has an avulsion fracture of his middle finger, an injury he suffered in his rehab game with Triple-A Pawtucket on Aug. 30.

Padres Hold On for 7-6 Win Over Diamondbacks  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Nick Hundley homered and the San Diego Padres held on for a 7-6 victory Sunday that snapped the Arizona Diamondbacks' franchise-record home winning streak at 15 games.  —  Hundley, Jesus Guzman and James Darnell had two RBIs apiece …