He's catching grief during Amazin' '06  —  This is how fast it changes for everybody and how fast it changed for Paul Lo Duca, a good Brooklyn-born catcher and a good guy this season batting No. 2 for the Mets, the No. 1 team in the National League and maybe in town.

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 …

Reds Mulling Action On Majewski's Injury  —  One day after placing reliever Gary Majewski on the disabled list with a sore shoulder, Cincinnati Reds General Manager Wayne Krivsky continued to explore possible recourse for the fact Majewski apparently was injured at the time of the July 13 trade …

Girardi on market?  Cubs may sniff  —  MILWAUKEE — The aftershocks of Joe Girardi's reported dispute with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria could be felt as far away as Chicago, where the Cubs have yet to decide whether to bring back manager Dusty Baker in 2007.

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.

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 …

Cabrera controls Jays in O's win … TORONTO // He threw strikes, spotting his fastball and his curveball with pinpoint precision.  He was frequently dominant yet never wild.  And yes, Daniel Cabrera could have even been described as economical.  —  His first appearance after a 3 1/2 -week demotion …

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.

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.

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 …

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.

ROID TEAM WILL QUIZ YANKEES  —  Members of former Senator George Mitchell's investigation team will interview members of the Yankee organization near the end of this month, The Post has learned.  —  Mitchell, who was appointed by Commissioner Bud Selig to investigate steroid use in baseball …

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 …