The Mets May Be Climbing Out of the Back Seat  —  It is hard to say, for sure, if the Mets have caught up with the Yankees.  The Mets, after all, have not reached the playoffs since the Yankees beat them in the 2000 World Series.  The Yankees get there every year.

CLOSER HAD FANS WAITING TO EXHALE  —  May 22, 2006 — FOR A couple of terribly uncomfortable seconds, there was a nervous buzz filling the night sky, Mets fans warming up their angst at a couple of minutes past 11 o'clock, the final act of the greatest weekend in the 10-year history of the Subway Series.

Kinsler's return to Rangers delayed  —  Hamstring issue will keep second baseman in minors  —  HOUSTON - The return of rookie second baseman Ian Kinsler's has been put off for at least another day.  —  Kinsler was scratched from the lineup before Triple-A Oklahoma's game at Salt Lake City …

Hill still has lessons to learn  —  Young pitcher hopes to regroup, return to big leagues  —  CHICAGO — Rich Hill has not had the best 24 hours of his young professional life.  —  The Chicago Cubs rookie pitcher fell to 0-4 after taking the loss in Saturday's 7-0 decision to the White Sox …

All eyes on the Yankees: But Phils rip Sox in road finale  —  PHILADELPHIA - It simply does not matter that the Yankees, who arrive tonight to play a three-game series with the Red Sox, are a banged-up and bruised team.  —  They are still the Yankees, and the Red Sox, playing …

Hernandez bears down after pep talk  —  Even after giving up a couple of walks and a couple of runs in the third inning Sunday, Felix Hernandez was in a position to coast.  —  After all, the Mariners had scored eight runs in the second inning, giving Hernandez an 8-3 lead.

Selig: Twins would be gone if vote failed  —  The Legislature's passage of a stadium bill prevented the team from departing Minnesota, and the baseball commissioner was thrilled by the vote.  —  A lot of people didn't believe Minnesota eventually would lose the Twins if a new stadium …

Tony La Russa on Ozzie Smith: 'He's not welcome'  —  KANSAS CITY  —  Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, after reading a story in Sunday's Post-Dispatch that, in part, reiterated Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith's disinclination to participate in club-related field activities as long as La Russa was manager …

Thought processor  —  Rodriguez among many athletes who swear by Fannin and his mental visualization system  —  The Streak is now more than a decade old, but few know about it, and Alex Rodriguez isn't talking about it.  —  For the last 1,560 or so games, the Yankees star has received help …

A rare form of futility  —  ST. PETERSBURG - The odds are staggering, but the Marlins are bucking them.  —  The chances of a team losing four consecutive games in which they've taken a lead into the ninth inning — something only the Marlins and 2002 Tampa Bay Devil Rays have managed to accomplish — come out to about one in 160,000.

Sox, whys and videotape: Feel-good viewing for Schilling  —  PHILADELPHIA - Orioles hitters weren't dazzled by his pitches Tuesday night.  Nor were Yankees batters the least bit baffled by anything Curt Schilling hurled their way in the previous start.  —  The Sox ace has fallen into a rut.

Future Shock  —  Nick Adenhart, RHP, Low Class A Cedar Rapids (Angels)  —  Angels scouting director Eddie Bane ... super-genius!  Adenhart was one of the top high school pitchers going into the 2004 draft season, but he needed Tommy John surgery before the draft and teams stayed away from him …

For the Nationals, Unrivaled Results  —  Team Takes 2 of 3 From O's With Basic Approach: Nationals 3, Orioles 1  —  Remember the images, even if they mean almost nothing to the players on the field.  The "Let's Go O's!" banner along the right field line.  The occasional T-shirt telling …

Weekend Dish: May 21  —  When Nick Adenhart walked off the mound Friday after yet another quality start, the Angels righthander had to pause for a second just to make sure all this was really happening.  —  "It's been going great," the 19-year-old said.  "Sometimes you have to kind of pinch yourself …