Oh, how sweep it is  —  Mets get first three-game sweep at home, widen division lead to 14  —  It is a formula that helped deliver the Mets from the cellar of the National League East this time last season to the most wins in the league and a virtually insurmountable first-place lead with a 69-44 record.

Stopper couldn't close the deal  —  After 7 strong, Schilling falls flat  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A few days ago, in his pregame sitdown at Kauffman Stadium, Terry Francona talked about his ace — how solid he's been, how consistent, how accountable.  —  ``When we're on a losing streak," …

Marlins Feast On Nats' Relievers  —  Loss Is Fourth In Past 5 Games: Marlins 9, Nationals 6  —  This is supposed to be happening in New Orleans or Harrisburg or some other minor league hamlet where pitchers can implode and it is labeled part of the learning process, not a disaster.

The Shifting Swings of A-Rod and Andruw: Part 2  —  I started posting these comparisons of Major League hitters on my blog, and they usually show how a player's swing has changed or how player A might be better off if he could swing like player B, but with the opportunity to write a guest article here …

Heart shows way on Valentin's day  —  This year's Mets, unlike their fumbling ancestors, have become the unAmazin's.  They won their fifth straight yesterday, almost routinely, own best record in the league and have spent exactly one day out of first place.

Notes: Patterson up for new challenge  —  WASHINGTON — With right-hander Livan Hernandez no longer on the Nationals, it means, starting next year, that John Patterson will be the ace of the pitching staff, and the right-hander welcomes the challenge.  —  With a younger staff expected …

Ringolsby: Girardi may be losing control in Florida  —  LOS ANGELES - Baseball had its first managerial change of the season this week.  —  But it doesn't count because nothing really changed.  —  Florida owner Jeffrey Loria fired manager Joe Girardi on Sunday afternoon …

Spilborghs could return in center  —  Los Angeles - The Rockies have searched everywhere but Google for a center fielder.  —  The journey from the trade market to the waiver wire has led back to Triple-A Colorado Springs.  There are strong indications that Ryan Spilborghs will be promoted …

Longshot Lo Duca  —  Sources: Bookies stalk Met catcher  —  At least twice during the past year, illegal bookmakers came out of the shadows and into the world of baseball to pressure Paul Lo Duca into paying gambling debts, several sources have told the Daily News.

Marlins: Outfield juggling act of necessity  —  WASHINGTON — Marlins manager Joe Girardi penciled in a different outfield alignment in each of the three games against the Nationals and used six players.  —  Outfield-by-committee has been necessary because no one has hit well enough long enough …

Eager Kazmir ready for normal workload  —  OAKLAND, Calif. - It has been 19 days since Scott Kazmir last pitched in a game, but it might as well be an eternity.  —  Kazmir returns to the mound for the Devil Rays tonight, having been sidelined by inflammation in his left shoulder, and he can't get there soon enough.

ABC Sports Is Dead at 45; Stand by for ESPN  —  ABC Sports, which once defined sports television and was the home of Roone Arledge, Jim McKay, "Wide World of Sports," Howard Cosell, 10 Olympics and Mexican cliff diving, died yesterday after one final big gulp by ESPN.

Rangers get away from Pineiro  —  Early duel turns into rout down the stretch in opener  —  ARLINGTON — It all seemed to be going so well for Joel Pineiro.  —  The fortunes of the Mariners' up-and-down starter were headed straight up after five innings, as he held the Texas Rangers scoreless on three hits.

Pirates Notebook: Interleague will be Central affair again, plus Seattle  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  HOUSTON — In many of Major League Baseball's 30 markets, interleague play brings plenty of excitement for the public and the participants.

Who Needs a Heart When a Heart Can Be Broken?  —  Like something from Mark Twain's imagination, the big, red paddle wheel on the Mississippi Queen slowly churned through the muddy Ohio River, just beyond the right-field seats of the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.