ALEX LAUGHS AT PHILLIES TRADE RUMOR  —  July 21, 2006 — TORONTO - Alex Rodriguez laughed when a trade rumor that circulated through Wall Street yesterday was relayed to him.  —  "It doesn't make any difference," Rodriguez said of the rumor that had the Yankees third baseman going to the Phillies …

Padres interested in Mariners' Beltre  —  The Padres, continuing their search for a third baseman, are taking aim at a talented, expensive and perhaps unattainable option — the Mariners' Adrian Beltre.  —  The Mariners likely will entertain offers for Beltre only if they fall out of contention by the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

Jersey barriers: Sox' rookie pitchers can't shake their big numbers easily  —  One of the lesser-known dramas that perennially repeats itself in a big league clubhouse is the pursuit of the pet uniform number.  Roger Clemens, for instance, upon joining the Toronto Blue Jays …

Analysis of the Wickman Trade  —  Bob Wickman makes sense for the Atlanta Braves.  He's a proven steady closer who somehow gets results.  He's basically a two pitch pitcher with a fastball as his main weapon and a plus slider as his out pitch.  In looking at the chart below …

Abreu trade unlikely  —  CINCINNATI - While industry buzz was that the Mets and Phillies were engaged in talks that would include a Bobby Abreu-for-Lastings Milledge swap, Mets insiders said yesterday that deal seemed unlikely.  —  Still, Mets GM Omar Minaya has shown a willingness in the past to trade away top prospects.

weasel?  we'll show you weasel.  —  Is there no end to the depths of Ozzie Guillen's insanity?  —  Via the Detroit Free Press: … A BUNCH OF LITTLE WEASEL GAMES.  —  Of course then the article goes on to talk about how the win yesterday was helped along by The River Thames bowling …

Going to bat for housing  —  Ex-Met Vaughn a developer  —  Mo Vaughn, who struck out as a New York Met, is hoping to be a bigger hit now for the city.  —  The hulking first baseman, who retired from baseball because of a wrecked knee, is fixing up run-down low-income housing as his second career.

Quite frankly, Baker bails out  —  Host denies incendiary e-mail came from staff  —  Cubs manager Dusty Baker hasn't had much love for ESPN since the cable network ran a story in 2002 that revealed his long-standing dispute with the Internal Revenue Service.

Sosa return to Cubs unlikely  —  Cubs general manager Jim Hendry shook his head and rolled his eyes Thursday when asked about Sammy Sosa possibly making a comeback.  —  "I don't talk about that,'' Hendry said.  —  Hendry's body language said enough — that Sosa certainly wouldn't be extended an invitation to rejoin the Cubs.

TBS may pitch to Costas  —  Could the arrival of a new player - Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) - on Major League Baseball's national TV landscape signal the return of Bob (Rapping Roberto) Costas, one of the game's marquee play-by-play practitioners, to the broadcast booth?

test of willis  —  like i was saying yesterday: "baseball news often breaks when i'm called away from the laptop, so don't be at all surprised if the cardinals announce a trade this afternoon."  —  so, next best thing.  this ain't no idle rumor; jock is indeed deep into negotiations for dontrelle willis.

Wakefield Injury Confirmed  —  BOSTON — The Red Sox might never know exactly what happened to Tim Wakefield's rib, but now they know why he's still in pain.  —  Manager Terry Francona confirmed Thursday that Wakefield has a stress fracture in one of his ribs and the right-handed knuckleballer …

Plenty to choose from for hole in OF  —  While the Yankees feel better about their team today than say three weeks ago, they still enter the final 10 days before the trade deadline expected to make a deal, or two.  —  Manager Joe Torre and general manager Brian Cashman have both stated …

Lines remain open, but no urgent need to deal  —  CINCINNATI — Pedro Martinez is a week away from rejoining the rotation, rookie Mike Pelfrey continues to impress and the Mets have scored the most runs in the National League.  —  For all those reasons, the front office is not overly anxious …

Endy extra good!  —  Double in 10th lifts Mets  —  CINCINNATI - Some fast thinking by Endy Chavez helped cap the Mets' successful road trip with a victory.  —  Chavez, facing Gary Majewski in the 10th inning yesterday, knew his former Expos and Nationals teammate's propensity for high-octane fastballs.