It's Lima time, again  —  Lima Time apparently is back.  —  The Daily News has learned that Jose Lima is expected to rejoin the Mets from Triple-A Norfolk, capping a flurry of moves involving the pitching staff.  Yesterday began with the Mets demoting Alay Soler to Norfolk …

Petit to get first major-league start Wednesday  —  Rookie right-handed pitcher Yusmeiro Petit never received a chance to do what he does best — start — when he spent two months with the Marlins earlier this season.  —  But that will change Wednesday.  —  Petit, who made seven relief appearances …

Looking Ahead, Yankees Sign 16-Year-Old Catcher  —  CLEVELAND, July 3 — It may be years before the Yankees find out if they spent wisely Sunday, when they agreed to pay $2 million to a 16-year-old catcher from Venezuela.  But for now, the Yankees are excited to have Jesús Montero …

Even in His Finest Moments, Yankees' Rodriguez Brings Out Detractors  —  CLEVELAND, July 3 — There is a poster of Alex Rodriguez on a pillar next to Derek Jeter's locker in the visiting clubhouse at Jacobs Field.  "The Natural," it proclaims, with Rodriguez's cherubic face smiling beneath a Seattle Mariners cap.

Notes: Guillen got help from brother  —  Outfielder received a DVD showing his hitting in the past  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals outfielder Jose Guillen received a DVD on Friday from his brother, Eddie, that showed his batting stance when he was with the Reds and Angels.

Stats Geek: Pirates could top 1-run loss record  —  The Pirates' annual hunt for dead October is particularly frustrating this year.  Not because there was ever legitimate hope for a winning season, but because there is so much dashed hope in so many winnable games.  —  Maybe it's time to change our strategy as fans.

Cards notebook: Dream weaving  —  Dream weaving  —  The Cardinals are having internal discussions about Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jeff Weaver, who was designated for assignment Friday and must either be traded or released by the All-Star break.  —  Weaver apparently …

Rangers really are boys of summer  —  Been thinking.  Head hurts.  —  I know.  I know.  I should do that less often.  But inside the old cranium, the voices are arguing:  —  Talk about something significant," the one little man says. "  This team is going nowhere.''

The life of Brien  —  Bricks, back roads & broken dreams of a former phenom  —  BEAUFORT, N.C. - A few times a week, often on his way home from work, the greatest pitching prospect the New York Yankees ever had pulls into a little roadside convenience store called In & Out Food Mart.

Piazza may link his future to Padres  —  PHILADELPHIA - Halfway through the 14th season of a Hall of Fame career, Mike Piazza laughs when asked about his future.  —  "In or out of the game?" joked the 37-year-old catcher.  —  But as he thought about the future, Piazza spoke about some options.

Canseco: Major League Baseball is the 'mafia'  —  Canseco: Major League Baseball is the 'mafia'  —  CHICO, Calif. (AP) — Jose Canseco wrote the book that helped persuade baseball to toughen its steroids policy, and he insists there's much more damaging information to come.

All-Star injury won't benefit Crawford  —  ST. PETERSBURG -An injury to one of the American League's All-Star outfielders apparently won't be enough to get Devil Rays leftfielder Carl Crawford into the July 11 game in Pittsburgh.  —  AL manager Ozzie Guillen on Monday told reporters …

Notes: Little shakes up the lineup  —  Lofton moved to leadoff spot; slumping Furcal bumped to No. 7  —  LOS ANGELES — After watching the Dodgers lose their fifth in the last six games Sunday, manager Grady Little held a meeting and told his team he wasn't waiting until the All-Star break to shake things up.

Ex-nemesis Wallace accelerates Bulls' rebound  —  For years, Ben Wallace has made life tough on the Bulls in the Eastern Conference.  —  He's about to make it better.  —  Wallace agreed Monday night to a four-year deal worth $60 million with the Bulls, sources said.