Pays to be hot in AL Central  —  Catcher Joe Mauer leads the majors in batting and longest sideburns.  Rookie starter Francisco Liriano has strangled opponents to a .203 batting average.  First baseman Justin Morneau takes the biggest cuts this side of Paul Bunyan.

Testing reveals partial tear in Wood's rotator cuff  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) — Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood has a partial tear in his right rotator cuff and will be out at least four weeks.  —  Wood underwent an arthrogram at Northwest Memorial Hospital on Friday, and the exam revealed the tear.

Notes: Guillen looking to second half  —  Right fielder has been slowed by soreness in right elbow  —  WASHINGTON — Before Saturday's game, Jose Guillen talked about his desire to get the first half of the season, one in which he's struggled at the plate and has battled injuries, over with.

Florida Marlins: Cabrera takes his lumps, then gets the boot  —  NEW YORK — Miguel Cabrera's comments weren't directed at third-base umpire Charlie Reliford, yet they perturbed the 16-year veteran enough to eject the Marlins' All-Star.  —  It started in the ninth inning of Saturday's opener …

Baker disputes rift on coaching staff  —  MILWAUKEE — Cubs manager Dusty Baker disputed a Tribune article that said his staff is composed of Baker's "handpicked" coaches and coaches general manager Jim Hendry has chosen.  —  Baker said Saturday they are all "my coaches."

Let the debate begin  —  The MVP of the American League last season, according to the voters, was the third baseman for the Yankees.  The MVP of New York for the first half of this season - and maybe the National League by October - is the third baseman for the Mets.

OH, HENRY!  GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION  —  July 8, 2006 — Five years ago, Henry Owens was a catcher on a lightly regarded college team, dreaming of being a doctor, not a Major League Baseball player.  —  A year ago, he was toiling in Single-A, learning his new trade as a pitcher.

Reyes learns new lesson  —  HOUSTON — The education of Anthony Reyes continued Saturday.  The lessons came in an instructive, "unforgettable" five-inning no-decision against future Hall of Famer Roger Clemens.  —  "I think it's going well," Reyes said.  "I'm learning hitters, learning swings and learning how to call games.

Move it on over in clubhouse doghouse  —  Morgan Ensberg and Brad Lidge surely never thought it would  —  be like this.  Failing in crucial situations.  Boos ringing in their ears.  —  Uncertainty that they'll ever again be what they once were.  —  "Whenever you start feeling too cocky …

Pitchers deliver comedy to pre-game show  —  If you've been watching the Marlins' telecasts on Fox Sports Net, you know some of the best action this season has been happening off the field, courtesy of pitchers Josh Johnson and Logan Kensing.  —  "They're kind of like Beavis & Butt-Head tour the country …

Lowe's early struggles too much for LA  —  Starter gives up seven runs; Dodgers' comeback falls short  —  LOS ANGELES — For the third straight start, Derek Lowe could not go past the fifth-inning mark.  And in the first inning in Saturday's 11-7 loss to the Giants, it seemed like he couldn't get anything past the Giants' batters.

Notes: Bullpen finding the groove  —  Relievers contributing from front to back of 'pen  —  DENVER — Friday night's 4-3 victory over the Rockies belonged to the bullpen.  Five Arizona relievers came in the game beginning in the fifth inning, shutting down the Rockies, and preserving a one-run lead on three hits through five innings.

Drafting a lineup from June pickings  —  All indications point to catcher Chris Iannetta being the next homegrown player to step in and fill a position in the Colorado Rockies lineup.  —  The 2004 fourth-round Rockies draft pick has become the everyday catcher for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox in his third professional season.