Grimsley asks for and gets release from D-Backs  —  PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday released pitcher Jason Grimsley, one day after his home was searched by federal agents as part of an investigation into steroid use by athletes.  —  General manager Josh Byrnes told …

Mets Are Bruised, and Martínez Is Battered  —  LOS ANGELES, June 6 — Not much went the Mets' way Tuesday night, the least of their problems being their 8-5 loss to the Dodgers.  —  José Reyes did not start because of a sprained right wrist.  Cliff Floyd sprained his ankle running …

Draft Chat: Jim Callis  —  Q: … A:  —  Jim Callis: Hi, everyone.  Let's see how many questions we can knock off in 90 minutes, before I have to do some radio before chatting at ESPN at 2 ET . . . Parmelee is comparable Moses.  Both were considered among the best pure high school bats in their respective draft years.

Reyes Is a Dynamo, but He's Still Not Playing the Percentages  —  LOS ANGELES, June 6 — Coming off a tough loss Sunday, José Reyes set the tone for the Mets' 4-1 victory Monday by hitting a homer to lead off the game.  It was his sixth home run of the year, one fewer than his career high, set last season.

Padres-Brewers Preview  —  With their lineup struggling, the San Diego Padres hope Chan Ho Park can continue his dominance over the Milwaukee Brewers when the teams' four-game series at Miller Park continues Wednesday.  —  The Brewers (28-31) defeated the Padres 5-1 on Tuesday behind a three-hitter from Dave Bush .

Yanks' Class of 2006 is complete  —  New York selects 25 pitchers and 25 position players  —  NEW YORK — After two days and 50 rounds, the Yankees have their Class of 2006.  —  New York selected 25 pitchers and 25 position players, seven of whom are outfielders.

Alas, the odds are against M's top pick  —  This just in from Twilight Zone News Services:  —  SEATTLE — Picking up a phone to answer a call from the Seattle Mariners, highly regarded pitcher Brandon Morrow suffered an injury to his pitching elbow Tuesday that may have to be repaired by "Tommy John" ligament replacement surgery.

Road to Recovery  —  "It was about what I expected."  —  That is how Nationals starting pitcher John Patterson summed up his first rehab start at Potomac.  He pitched three and a third innings of a 4-1 loss at home to Winston-Salem.  Patterson surrendered four hits, one walk, and two runs …

Lies, Damned Lies  —  Tony LaRussa and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Long Game  —  Each year, there are a handful of relatively ordinary baseball games that forever etch themselves in my memory.  Last Friday's Cubs-Cardinals game is one such contest.

Reliever to have surgery, career likely over  —  CHICAGO — Chicago White Sox reliever Jeff Nelson said Wednesday he will have surgery on a nerve in his elbow next week, a procedure that will probably end the 39-year-old right-hander's career.  —  Nelson was -1 and allowed a run and three hits …

Prospectus Today  —  OBP Is Life  —  OBP is Life.  Life is OBP.  —  That's not mine.  It's Gary Huckabay's, one of the many pithy-but-salient observations he's made over the years.  It's one I've been repeating a lot this morning as I talk about the Yankees' success.

Nats hire Davey Johnson as special consultant to GM  —  WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals hired former major-league manager and player Davey Johnson on Wednesday as a special consultant to general manager Jim Bowden.  —  The 63-year-old Johnson will contribute to player personnel matters …

Rangers pick lefty from Alabama  —  ARLINGTON - Most things being pretty equal, the Rangers' first-round draft decision Tuesday came down to taking a lefty or right-hander.  —  In the case of the Rangers, left is always right.  —  And so, the club chose diminutive Alabama high schooler Kasey Kiker …