Glavine gets credited with a $acrifice  —  One Mets official described it as "financial engineering."  A more common term might be "payroll flexibility."  But in reworking the contract of Tom Glavine last winter, the bottom line is the same: The Mets wanted to create a war chest for this season …

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.

RANGERS NOTES  —  Lineup shifts with Kinsler's return at 2nd  —  ARLINGTON - Ian Kinsler was activated from the disabled list Thursday, six weeks after suffering a dislocated left thumb.  He was immediately inserted into the lineup at second base, batting ninth.

'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.

Torn tendon will sideline Yankees catcher  —  NEW YORK — Yankees catcher Jorge Posada has a torn hamstring tendon in his left knee and will be sidelined at least a few days.  —  Posada wasn't placed on the disabled list following his MRI exam that revealed the injury …

Why Albert Pujols will break the single-seaon home run record  —  Albert Pujols is having an almost unbelievable year.  He's hitting .323.  His on-base percentage is .449.  He's on pace to hit over eighty home runs.  It's ridiculous.  The season's a little over a quarter done …

No love lost between Mesa, Vizquel  —  Jose Mesa says it's over.  Omar Vizquel doesn't believe him.  —  So simple, yet so complex.  The former teammates who once rallied for the same cause are now vicious rivals.  —  Nine years after their Cleveland Indians won the American League pennant …

Nix remains patient in journey back  —  Oklahoma outfielder determined to return to Majors  —  COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Laynce Nix's pro career has had its highs — Nix jumped from Double-A to the Majors in July 2003 and started for the Rangers right away.

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.

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.

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.

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 …