CALLS MET STAR A 2-TIMING 'SCUM'  —  A sexy Long Island teen revealed in an explosive interview yesterday that she and married Met catcher Paul Lo Duca have been carrying on a steamy affair since April, enjoying secret trysts at his pad and sharing intimate phone calls.

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 …

New York Finds New Rivalry on the Left  —  Who Is Best Shortstop, Third Baseman in Big Apple?  —  AOL  —  Sports Commentary  —  They're no longer arguing Mets-Yankees in New York.  OK, some still are, but not the sophisticated fan.  —  Who Would You Rather Have?

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.

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.

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 …

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.

Prospectus Today  —  On Streaks  —  Without taking anything away from the Dodgers, their 11-game winning streak—and really their manic-depressive ride through the second half—shows what scheduling can do to the perception of a team.  —  The Dodgers opened the second half against four …

2006 Draft: Players From Arizona  —  Round  —  Overall  —  Team  —  Player  —  Position  —  Bonus  —  Donald turned down a significant bonus out of high school, though the size of the bonus has grown as the tale has spread through the scouting grapevine.  It was south of the $1 million some have speculated about.

Gammons back at the ballfield  —  ESPN baseball analyst and Hall of Fame baseball writer Peter Gammons saw his first live baseball game in quite a while yesterday, taking in a few innings of Game 1 of the Cape League's West Division playoffs at Lowell Park.  —  Gammons, a huge fan of the Cape League …

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 …

Astros RHP Hirsh to make much-anticipated debut Saturday  —  HOUSTON (Ticker) - The Houston Astros' season has not been pretty to this point, but the future should be getting brighter real soon.  —  The Astros are expected to recall top pitching prospect Jason Hirsh to make his major league debut Saturday against the San Diego Padres.