New life in this old rivalry  —  It's been a long time since the Tigers and Red Sox were contenders in the same summer.  That's why this mid-August clash of American League charter members easily holds our attention as we await the arrival of You Know Who Friday.

San Francisco Giants @ Los Angeles Dodgers, 8/13/06  —  Welcome back for our latest edition of Game of the Week, revisiting one of the oldest rivalries in the history of the Senior Circuit, one which survived the transcontinental transplants of two franchises who originated in New York City …

Castilla back with Rockies  —  Original Rockie signs minor league deal, will end career here  —  For all practical purposes, Vinny Castilla said, his big league career began with the Rockies.  —  It is going to end with the Rockies, too.  —  Castilla, whom the Rockies took from the Atlanta Braves …

Martínez Is Hurt and Then Routed  —  After missing nearly a month with a hip injury, Pedro Martínez had again become a master of reinvention for the Mets, using his cunning and guile to replace the speed lost on his fastball.  —  But he will be 35 in October and, like an old house …

Mirabelli was talked out of his slump  —  Catcher credits team's counselor  —  Doug Mirabelli, who has homered in three straight starts for the first time in his career, credits a conversation he had with Don Kalkstein before the All-Star break for helping him find himself at the plate.

Nationals Try To Toss Aside Controversy  —  The day after a pair of chair-slamming incidents, the Washington Nationals clubhouse was quiet again yesterday at RFK Stadium.  —  Catcher Brian Schneider, who got upset with reporters before storming off after Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Mets …

Howard: Letter writer threatened to put him in a wheelchair - 8/15/2006 03:01 AM EDT  —  Talk about focus.  —  In the last 3 ½ weeks, Ryan Howard, a National League All-Star who won the Home Run Derby, has hit .360 with 10 homers and 28 RBI.  In his first full season with the Phillies …

Owners face key winter in building Tribe  —  Paul Dolan says team payroll will top $60 million, likely exceed revenue.  Fans need reason to believe  —  Indians owner Paul Dolan has a far more serious problem than the Indians falling out of contention by June.  —  He needs to give his customers a reason to believe.

Telling signs can tip scales on mound  —  Pitcher's quirks weigh into batter's advantage  —  After a dominating season, Oakland closer Dennis Eckersley struggled in the 1992 ALCS because he was tipping his pitches to Toronto.  ''They knew what I was throwing,'' he said.  (AP/ File)

Ortiz and Nationals Battered by Braves  —  Washington Nationals Manager Frank Robinson would've liked to have sat back in the dugout last night at RFK Stadium, set aside the mounting concerns about his last-place team and admired another outstanding effort by Ramon Ortiz, his most reliable starting pitcher of late.

Rodriguez Says Injuries Led to Change in His Mechanics  —  The important thing, Alex Rodriguez says, is that he is healthy now and has been for a while.  —  "Let's put it this way: For the last three or four weeks, I feel 100 percent," Rodriguez said yesterday.  "I feel good to play that way.

Esprit de clubhouse  —  Current Mets laud title team for camaraderie; choirboys need not apply  —  The 1986 World Series was referred to in Boston and Queens as George Steinbrenner's worst nightmare.  At least one of the Yankees, however, couldn't help but appreciate what was going on across town during that magical season.

You Know What?  The Cardinals Might Just Suck, Eh?  —  Two seasons ago, we headed to Chicago in late September for a friends' wedding.  This friend is a Cubs fans (yes, we have friends who are Cubs fans).  The wedding happened to be the final weekend of the season; if you'll remember …

S. Florida may need to bid farewell to Loria  —  Jeffrey Loria is at it again.  —  The Florida Marlins owner has proved adept at embarrassing himself and the game of baseball, but his latest misstep is an uncharacteristic one.  As you may have heard, Loria was reportedly a hairsbreadth …

Give up on Prior?  Give me a break!  —  Cubs fans are out of their minds if they want to cast him aside  —  HOUSTON — After Mark Prior was placed on the disabled list for the latest time—and pretty soon only Antonio Alfonseca will be able to count 'em up on his fingers …

With faith in friends' approach, DeRosa emerges as a hitter  —  ARLINGTON - Mark DeRosa's cellphone buzzed Saturday with a familiar voice:  —  "I don't even feel like I know you anymore," old teammate and friend Chipper Jones said.  "Who are you?"  —  Good question.