Mets' Jeremi is going, gone  —  Loses poise and place as rotation whirls  —  Jeremi Gonzalez contributed to a loss to the Phillies, then lost his roster spot.  —  The Mets, a day after landing Orlando Hernandez, had another eventful afternoon yesterday involving their starting pitching.

Astros Can't Steal Win Against Nats  —  LeCroy Has Long Day Behind the Plate: Nationals 8, Astros 5  —  His Washington Nationals had just beaten the Houston Astros 8-5, had just won three games in a row for just the second time all year.  Yet here was Frank Robinson, 70 years old …

LEADING QUESTION  —  NEW YORK - You want Bobby Abreu to lead off?  —  You got it.  —  Abreu yesterday changed his stance concerning hitting in the leadoff position.  For years, as the Phillies searched for a consistent leadoff option, Abreu has resisted the suggestion.

'Pen's been mighty: Relievers are doing their jobs  —  Last season, if a starter pitched as well as Josh Beckett did last night and left after six innings because of a high pitch count in a close game with the Red Sox ahead, all bets were off.  —  There was no guarantee the bullpen could hold any team the remaining three innings.

Rest, but no DL for ailing Jorge  —  Jorge Posada has a tear in a hamstring tendon behind his left knee, and while the Yankees say they will evaluate his condition while he rests over the next few days, they were concerned enough about the injury to announce that they will add a catcher …

Griffey fires back at critics  —  Career center fielder angry about suggestions he switch positions  —  Reds center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. decided to talk to the media again Wednesday - largely to explain why he didn't talk to reporters Monday and Tuesday.

Notes: Walker home on the road  —  Reliever appreciates two-fold opportunity in Kansas City  —  KANSAS CITY — The Tigers have had a successful series in Kansas City and nobody has enjoyed the last few days more than reliever Jamie Walker.  —  Besides the positive developments on the field …

A Real Relief  —  Early returns on the official buzzword of 2006?  Bullpen.  —  Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph have prided themselves on a deep and successful relief corps.  The reluctantness to moving Aaron Heilman into the starting rotation and the recent proliferation of arms demonstrate the Mets commitment to the bullpen.

Pirates confronting the question: Why not Freddy?  —  Sanchez shines in Randa's absence, but team will not name him starter  —  It was early autumn, and the Pirates' baseball operations staff was conducting its annual organizational meeting, the one in which depth charts are developed for the following year.

Clemens increases workload  —  Rocket's target still a mystery  —  As rotations around baseball get weaker — with questions surrounding just about all of the so-called contenders' staffs — a decision on where Roger Clemens will play gets more important by the day.

Duncan could be headed downward  —  Eric Duncan, the Yankees' top position-player prospect, is in Tampa these days rehabbing a lower back strain that has kept him on the shelf for two weeks.  He's about a week from returning, but where he is headed, the Yankees can't say for certain.

A-Rod is great - but not in the clutch  —  Don't blame Yanks' woes on Rodriguez; he's done what he's always done  —  Alex Rodriguez is great, but he'll never be a great clutch hitter, writes MSNBC.com's Mike Celizic.  —  Mike Celizic  —  Mike Celizic  —  To those who say he never delivers …

With Canó at His Side, Cabrera Has Easier Time  —  If you want to find Melky Cabrera, just look for Robinson Canó.  Chances are Cabrera will be with him.  —  "They're like shadows of each other," said Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees' third baseman.  "I call him 'The Shadow.' They're always together, tied at the hip."

Eerie memories of a season gone bad  —  Cubs' current troubles parallel what Dusty Baker experienced with the 1996 Giants  —  The scenario looks all too familiar to manager Dusty Baker, whose Cubs have fallen into an abyss reminiscent of his Giants' team of 10 years ago that lost 94 games.