All eyes on Pelfrey; Reyes out  —  To say the Mets didn't agonize about which game of Saturday's doubleheader to start prized rookie righthander Mike Pelfrey would be an understatement.  Manager Willie Randolph joked that he "just flipped a coin" when he decided Pelfrey's major-league debut …

Oswalt, Ordonez added to All-Star squads  —  PITTSBURGH (AP) — Houston pitcher Roy Oswalt and Detroit outfielder Magglio Ordonez were added to the All-Star rosters Friday, taking the place of injured Pedro Martinez and Manny Ramirez.  —  Ordonez will join Detroit teammates Ivan Rodriguez …

Cardinals designate RHP Ponson for assignment  —  HOUSTON (Ticker) - What began as a nice season for Sidney Ponson has evolved into a disappointing one.  —  Ponson, who began his first campaign with the St. Louis Cardinals with a 4-0 record, was designated for assignment by the team Friday.

Indians sign Taiwanese right-handed pitcher Sung-Wei Tseng  —  Pitched for Chinese Taipei in the World Baseball Classic and currently the No. 1 starter for the Chinese Taipei National Team touring the U.S.  —  CLEVELAND — Tseng, 21, pitched for Chinese Taipei in the 2006 World Baseball Classic …

Johnson's last shot?  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Exactly 375 major league pitchers have tossed at least 1,000 innings in the last 32 years.  Guess where Jason Johnson ranks among them in career winning percentage?  —  If you guessed dead last, you win a prize.

Baker denies contract offer  —  Internet report says manager turned down deal  —  MILWAUKEE — Dusty Baker denied an Internet report Friday that said he had turned down a contract extension from the Cubs within the last two months.  —  The alleged offer to Baker was for between $4 million …

Power Rankings: Tigers still looking up at White Sox  —  ESPN.com  —  We understand how important the ESPN.com Power Rankings are this week.  It's the last one before the All-Star break, a significant marking point in the regular season.  OK, if you want to get technical …

NL teams look to move as deadline nears  —  Every National League contender has multiple flaws — even the Mets, who probably could use two starting pitchers, not just one.  —  The challenge for each team will be to rank its needs, then address them.  A thin trade market only increases the degree of difficulty.

Notes: DaVanon in leadoff spot  —  Counsell dropped to No. 8 spot as he tries to regain form  —  DENVER — As Arizona tries to build some momentum in its final series before the All-Star break, the team will bring a new look to the plate, with leadoff hitter Craig Counsell dropping …

Thome is carrying a big stick … Halfway through another baseball season, here's what we're wondering:  —  Is Jonathan Papelbon going to give up fewer runs all season than Eddie Guardado gave up in his first inning of the season (three)?  Are we really about to see a catcher (the amazing Joe Mauer) do a Ted Williams?

ESPN.com's Ultimate All-Star Game … The All-Star Game is supposed to be an annual showcase reserved only for the greatest major league players of the moment.  But who would win a showdown between the best all-time National Leaguers and the best all-time American Leaguers?

Gagne to have surgery, done for season  —  Dodgers closer shelved with herniated disk in back  —  LOS ANGELES — Eric Gagne's season, all two innings of it, is over.  —  Gagne will undergo lower back surgery Saturday at St. Vincent's Hospital to repair a herniated disk between the L4-L5 vertebrae …

Mascot charged with fondling fan  —  GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — A man who played the mascot for a minor league baseball team was arrested after a woman said she was fondled at a game in April.  —  Cecil McLaurin Amick III, 37, of Boiling Springs, portrays Reedy Rip'It, a giant frog …

Are we there yet?  —  Road Warriors give new meaning to journeymen ballplayers; next stop: L.I.  —  BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — For first baseman Mike Huggins, the worst of it is packing every three days.  —  "Everybody gets to know what clothes you have," he said.  "You get on a schedule: blue Monday, red Tuesday ... "

Notes: Halos get creative with lineup  —  Scioscia does some shifting against A's Zito on Friday  —  OAKLAND — Manager Mike Scioscia looked at his personnel and at the opposing pitcher on Friday and thought it was a good time to juggle his lineup.  —  A's left-hander Barry Zito took the mound …

Scout's honor  —  The sound of twisting metal woke up the whole neighborhood.  There had been a nasty accident.  A 16-year-old fussing with the radio lost control of his car, crashed into a parked one and thrust it into the next driveway.  The kid was OK, just nervous that the guy whose car he destroyed might kill him.