CUBS MIGHT PROVIDE BULLPEN HELP  —  July 19, 2006 — While there are very few stones making ripples in the trading pool, that hasn't stopped teams from doing their due diligence.  With the Yankees interested in upgrading their bullpen if the price is right, the Cubs, who have relievers to deal …

Blown call, rain delay prolong Mariners' misery  —  Yankees win, get new life on disputed play  —  NEW YORK — The Mariners have had more than their share of extra-inning games lately — three times in five games since last week's All-Star Game.  —  Seattle has lost all three …

Angels 7, Indians 5  —  Box score  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Joe Saunders pitched seven sharp innings in an emergency start for the ailing Kelvim Escobar and the Los Angeles Angels extended their longest winning streak of the season to eight games with a 7-5 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night.

Nats' Prospects Have Been Grim  —  Assessments of the Washington Nationals' minor league system read like movie blurbs from a box-office bomb:  —  "Barren," says Florida Today.  "Tattered," reports the Los Angeles Daily News.  "Dry," intones MLB.com.  —  Other recently published descriptions …

Clines, Rothschild will sink or swim with Baker  —  Not many organizations would have gone this long at so bad a clip without at least a coach paying the price for an underachieving group of players.  —  The Houston Astros, who began Tuesday last in the National League with a .257 batting average …

Rain delay gives Loaiza fresh start and win against Orioles  —  BALTIMORE - The A's have come to expect rain delays at Camden Yards, but manager Ken Macha dreaded this one, particularly with a bullpen running on fumes.  —  After a one-hour, 27-minute break that halted play in the top of the third inning …

For Rangers, here's the deal: Don't deal  —  "Just do something" may be among the dumbest phrases uttered in baseball.  Make that double dumb when used in conjunction with trade deadlines.  —  What tends to happen when a general manager tries to "just do something" is that he ends up doing something stupid.

Bonds faces possible grand jury indictment, MLB suspension  —  San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds, who has repeatedly denied he knowingly used illegal performance-enhancing drugs, could be indicted as early as Wednesday by a federal grand jury for perjury and tax evasion, according to attorneys involved in the case.

The hits keep coming for Padres in 10-6 victory  —  SAN DIEGO - Mike Piazza homered for his 1,999th career hit, Mike Cameron hit a two-run shot and Adrian Gonzalez had three more hits to lead the Padres a 10-6 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES  —  Let's play a game called "Guess the Orioles Pitcher."  Here are three pitching lines from the 2006 season:  —  IP ERA K/9 BB/9 HR/9 K/BB  —  63.1 5.97 5.4 3.8 1.28 1.41  —  53.0 1.70 9.5 2.2 0.51 4.31

One-hit wonder  —  Lester's superb 8 innings leads Sox shutout of KC  —  With starters becoming an endangered species — Tim Wakefield's cranky back putting him at least temporarily out of commission along with David Wells (balky knee), Matt Clement (sluggish shoulder), and Lenny DiNardo …

Giants could be looking to deal  —  The Giants are interested in trading for Nationals second baseman Jose Vidro, according to two major-league sources.  —  The disclaimer:  —  A third source with knowledge of the Giants' intentions says Vidro hasn't been discussed.

King could be next reliever to hit road  —  Colorado interested in Red Sox's Seanez  —  Pittsburgh - Ray King spoke with David Cortes before the latter left.  King told him to clear his head and welcome work in Triple-A Colorado Springs.  But with the clubhouse door revolving, King wonders if he's next.

Jose, Mets still in stitches  —  CINCINNATI - Jose Reyes, who missed six straight starts with a cut left pinkie, quickly got tested with a pair of sharp double-play grounders in his return to the lineup last night.  Reyes, mostly affected when catching balls, said Scott Hatteberg's second-inning shot stung …

M&M boys mean more money  —  Roommates Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau of the Twins are expected to receive long-term contract offers this winter that could total $70 million between them.  —  "That would be nice, but who knows?"  Morneau said Tuesday.  "I've got to worry about finishing this year first."

Let debate begin on 'Hometown Heroes'  —  DHL sponsors fan voting for 30 big-league teams' best  —  They live in our hearts as Cooperstown plaques; as statues, monuments, retired numbers and foul-pole flags at Major League ballparks; as baseball cards and beloved memorabilia …