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 …

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 …

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 …

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?

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.

Who's drinkin' a beer, BEER!!  —  As everyone knows, Shea Stadium doesn't have that many traditions, save for the ratty-ass apple coming out of the hat.  Roll call?  Nope.  YMCA or Cotton-Eyed Joe?  Nope.  Bob Sheppard?  Nope.  But today I dedicate a post to a true Shea Stadium institution.

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.

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 …

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 …

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?

NBA trade value index  —  Come on, I couldn't have allowed the summer to pass without another edition of America's favorite running column gimmick, "Which NBA player has the highest trade value?"  Besides, the demand for this year's edition was off the charts — a whopping eight readers e-mailed …

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.

"Pittsburgh Just Sits There"  —  Those words were spoken a couple months ago by Peter Gammons on ESPN's Baseball Tonight.  Gammons was contrasting the Pirates to the Reds and Brewers, each of which, he thought, had been successful in making moves to improve themselves.

Padres-Nationals Preview  —  Washington's bullpen could use a break after a couple of long days.  —  Ramon Ortiz looks to give the Nationals a quality and lengthy start Friday when they open a three-game series with the San Diego Padres at RFK Stadium.  —  Livan Hernandez lasted …

Mayor's Stadium Proposal Advances  —  The D.C. Zoning Commission approved the mayor's plan for the new Nationals stadium in Southeast yesterday, including his proposal to wrap four levels of parking inside two condominium towers, a first for Washington architecture.

Williams gets ball as Padres visit Nats  —  San Diego (45-40) at Washington (38-49), 4:05 p.m. PT  —  With the All-Star break right around the corner, the Padres launch a three-game series against the Nationals at RFK Stadium on Friday night.  Woody Williams will get the call against Ramon Ortiz.

Grimsley Near Deal in Dispute  —  The Arizona Diamondbacks and Jason Grimsley are close to settling their compensation dispute, with both parties agreeing to donate the remainder of the pitcher's salary to charity, according to sources close to the negotiation.