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.

First pitch, August 15  —  REHABBING  —  Right-hander Mike DeJean who appeared in only two games before requiring surgery on his right shoulder, is moving forward with his recovery and said he is scheduled to begin throwing on Oct. 14.  He is expected to face hitters in December …

Betemit's Full-Time Work Is Exemplary  —  So this is what Wilson Betemit can do as an everyday player.  —  Stuck behind Chipper Jones and Rafael Furcal for years in the Atlanta Braves system, Betemit has blossomed given regular playing time with the Dodgers.

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 …

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 …

Division Roundup, NL West  —  Promotions to the big leagues have left some holes in the Sidewinders' offense, but highly regarded prospects Alberto Callaspo and Chris Young (.278/.368/.543) are both doing their best to make up for it.  At .336/.403/.470, Callaspo is already approaching season-highs …

Kornheiser, Not Yet in Game Shape On 'MNF'  —  Tony Kornheiser played it safe in his "Monday Night Football" announcing debut last night, making few missteps but offering little for the highlight reel.  It wasn't exactly clear at times why he was there at all.  —  It's still early, as the coaches like to say.

Angels Are Past Break-Even Point  —  They lose to Yankees, 7-2, and split series in New York — normally a satisfactory result, but not when it drops them 5 1/2 behind A's in West.  —  NEW YORK — The Angels may hold a long-term lease on the New York Yankees — they're the only team …

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.