Roar for Mike & mighty Mets  —  Piazza tips cap but not result  —  Willie Randolph and Paul Lo Duca addressed the Mets in a closed-door meeting before last night's game, imploring the team to "just stay focused on baseball," according to the manager.  —  The Mets then welcomed back their Hall of Fame catcher.

Bowden disputes wrong doing in trade  —  Nats GM said that all information was provided on Majewski  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals general manager Jim Bowden said on Tuesday afternoon that there was no wrong doing when he traded reliever Gary Majewski to the Reds on July 13 as part …

Manager puts rumors of rift with Loria to rest  —  Joe Girardi dismissed the idea that he and owner Jeffrey Loria were having issues and added that he wants to remain the manager for the remainder of his contract.  —  cspencer@MiamiHerald.com  —  WASHINGTON - Joe Girardi doesn't understand what all the fuss is about.

For now, Epstein remains unmoved  —  Criticism comes in many forms when you are general manager of the Boston Red Sox.  It swallowed a great man named Lou Gorman and it no doubt expedited the departure of Dan Duquette.  Being in charge of the Sox makes you a target for nasty newspaper columns …

Yankees Fall After Rivera Blows Save in 9th  —  Ten months later, the Yankees finally made it to Chicago.  They had packed their bags for a trip here last October, and even sent a pitcher ahead of the team.  The Yankees needed only to win the final game of their playoff series in Anaheim …

Garza says he's 'just the new guy'  —  DETROIT - Matt Garza insists he wasn't fazed by all the speculation that had him joining the Twins weeks before Tuesday's actual promotion from Class AAA Rochester.  —  "I keep my head out of the papers, stay off the Internet and just keep out of it," he said.

Indians agree to $14 million deal with Lee  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians pitcher Cliff Lee has always felt at home in Cleveland, and he's now more rooted there than ever.  —  Lee signed a $14 million, three-year contract extension with the club Tuesday, another long-term commitment …

Edmonds says he's 'in limbo'  —  CINCINNATI — Cardinals center fielder Jim Edmonds insists he will play next season but says he has resigned himself to the probability that it will be in a different uniform.  —  His playing time diminished against lefthanded pitching …

AWOL HoJo puts Norfolk job in jeopardy  —  Howard Johnson's days with the Mets look numbered.  Sources say the Triple-A hitting coach was denied permission to attend his son Glen's competition in a Wilmington, N.C., tournament for rising high school seniors that's heavily scouted by major-league teams.

Weeks still undecided  —  Though a return is possible, wrist surgery could be soon  —  cgardner@journalsentinel.com  —  Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks has a hard decision to make in the next few days.  —  Still experiencing discomfort in his right wrist …

No License Is Required to Run a Fantasy League  —  Major League Baseball Advanced Media, the Internet arm of Major League Baseball, had a major setback yesterday in its attempt to regulate the growing fantasy baseball industry when a federal judge ruled that companies do not need licenses to operate such leagues.

Straw, Mets spar over $  —  NEW YORK — Darryl Strawberry and the Mets are no longer on speaking terms, because of a dispute over payment of his deferred salaries, according to a person familiar with the situation.  A recent break-off in negotiations led to Strawberry's decision to boycott the 1986 reunion at Shea Stadium on Aug. 19.

Who Wants To Be The Next K-Rod?  —  Every season there seem to be at least one rookie who comes from out of nowhere and gives his team a boost down the stretch or in the postseason.  Last season, Bobby Jenks didn't pitch in his first Major League Baseball game until July 6 …

Fellow players vote Crawford as fastest  —  SEATTLE - Anyone who watches the Devil Rays knows Carl Crawford is fast.  —  According to other major-leaguers, he is the fastest in the game.  —  In a poll of major-league players by Sports Illustrated released Tuesday, Crawford was the overwhelming choice as the fastest everyday player.

Trust me, the Nats' future is bright  —  WASHINGTON - When teams are out of the playoff chase, you usually hear the same old cliché: "We're building for the future."  —  Talk is cheap.  —  However, we have already begun to implement our plan for a successful tomorrow.