Notes: Asst. GM high on additions  —  Rizzo originally drafted Chico, Mock; no damage in Hill's elbow  —  WASHINGTON — Assistant general manger Mike Rizzo was pleased that the Nationals were able to acquire left-hander Matt Chico and right-hander Garrett Mock from the Diamondbacks for right-hander Livan Hernandez on Monday.

Owner, manager boil, but don't overheat  —  A bizarre clash of egos ended with a truce, but not before the Marlins almost lost the best young manager in baseball.  —  Heated words on a super-heated summer Sunday took owner Jeffrey Loria and manager Joe Girardi to the brink, but they found a way to calm down and shake hands.

Beltrán No Longer Just a Shadow of Himself  —  The children sitting in a classroom at Harlem RBI headquarters yesterday afternoon knew the basics about their special guest, Carlos Beltrán.  They all professed to like the Mets more than the Yankees, and they said that center field was their favorite position.

Detroit 9, Twins 3  —  DETROIT - The Comerica Park scoreboard didn't explain half of the Twins' horror after Monday night's 9-3 defeat to the Detroit Tigers.  —  Francisco Liriano, Minnesota's rookie All-Star, is out indefinitely with what appears to be a left elbow injury.

Cardinals pummel Reds with longball, increase lead in NL Central  —  CBS SportsLine.com wire reports  —  CINCINNATI — Maybe it was only one good night for the St. Louis Cardinals, who didn't want to read too much into their most lopsided victory of the season.  —  The scoreboard suggested otherwise.

Time to tip our caps to the Yankees  —  They've been credited with ruining baseball, but have no direct affiliation with Bud Selig, Scott Boras, Victor Conte or Chris Berman.  —  They're the alleged architects of a lopsided playing field, but have failed to win the World Series since Al Gore finally realized …

Piazza emotional on eve of return to New York  —  SAN DIEGO — His eyes were filled with tears when he departed Shea Stadium, and 10 months later, Mike Piazza fears the same emotion could overwhelm him again tonight in his return.  —  The standing ovations, the curtain calls, the video tribute.

Stern isn't waving goodbye yet  —  Adam Stern fans, your hero lives to play in Pawtucket for another day.  —  The Canadian Babe Ruth, whose signature moment as a pro came when he gave a spectacular performance in a win over the US in the World Baseball Classic this spring …

Fans at Fenway Face Test of Faith  —  THE Boston Red Sox are a poor excuse for a good baseball team.  For the second year in a row, they have squandered an advantage they had over the Yankees, this year even more grievously than last.  Like last year, they will very likely pay for their profligacy.

Jays keep Ortiz blue … TORONTO // Whether they really believe it or are just saying the right thing to not further damage the psyche of a veteran pitcher who has completely lost his way, the Orioles maintain that they have seen some progress in pitcher Russ Ortiz.

Nomar's recovery being recognized  —  Garciaparra a nominee for Comeback Player of the Year  —  Nomar Garciaparra doesn't consider himself a comeback player.  To him, this season is just an extension of the last — another year he is grateful to be able to play.  —  But it's hard for anyone else to ignore his comeback.