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.

Wagner saves face & series  —  Mets ride off with Subway win  —  After blowing a four-run lead against the Yankees on Saturday afternoon, Billy Wagner went to the movies.  He and his wife saw "The Da Vinci Code" and also spent part of the evening talking about how Wagner had been through bad days on the mound before and rebounded.

Jaw inspiring  —  Cubs get off canvas, salvage series finale  —  Chants of "sweep" swept through U.S. Cellular Field in the bottom of the seventh inning Sunday as psyched-up White Sox fans sensed a three-game pillaging of the rival Cubs.  —  But the Cubs seized the moment …

Wells pronounces himself set to go  —  David Wells gave up two runs in five innings for Pawtucket.  He could be in the Boston rotation as early as Friday.  (AP Photo)  —  MOOSIC, Pa. — David Wells said he's ready, that five innings yesterday in Pennsylvania were enough to prove his right knee …

Pre-dawn vote gives Twins their stadium  —  After hours of committee meetings, years of waiting and dozens of starts and stops, the Legislature Sunday passed a $522 million measure to build a new Minnesota Twins ballpark in Minneapolis.  —  The bill will soon be on Gov. Tim Pawlenty's desk …

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 …

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.

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 …

Wood sore, but not concerned  —  Kerry Wood bristled Sunday when asked about the possibility that he wouldn't start as scheduled Tuesday at Florida.  —  Even though Cubs manager Dusty Baker and pitching coach Larry Rothschild were the ones who said the chance existed that Wood could be scratched …

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 …

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 …

Sale of the Braves Fuels the Corporate vs. Family Ownership Debate  —  They say that the only sure thing in life is death and taxes.  They didn't say that the sale of the Braves would be involved, but that may well be the case.  —  Bear with me.  —  While the sale of the Nationals …