Latest blow may be the lowest of all  —  How could it get worse?  —  Here's how it could get worse.  The Red Sox can't hold a 5-3 lead entering the eighth.  Derek Jeter fists a two-out game-tying single to right in the ninth.  The Red Sox can't score after getting the first two men on in the ninth.

Baker endures as Cubs' expectations fall short  —  CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs manager Dusty Baker, sitting in his Wrigley Field office, slowly opens a letter, and cringes.  —  It begins with a nasty racial epithet, but Baker keeps reading.  He finishes the letter, slowly crumbles it in a ball and tosses it in the trash bin.

Future Shock  —  A couple of pieces of housekeeping before we get going;  —  Numero Uno.  I will be taking an oh-so brief vacation this week, but will return at the end of the week, so no crying.  There's no crying in baseball (prospectus).  —  Numero Dos.

Rangers' bullpen depleted  —  DETROIT — While the Rangers were thrilled with three victories in four games against the Tigers, their pitching staff has been taxed.  —  Ron Mahay has pitched the past two days, and Akinori Otsuka has pitched three straight days.

Under The Knife  —  Cascade Blues  —  Okay, so shoot me, but I was watching the Colts-Seahawks game tonight while the Sox and Yanks were in rain delay, and something in particular caught my eye.  One of the things that NBC is doing to promote its new Sunday night game is a modified fantasy contest …

Day Off Is Long Time Coming  —  And on the 25th day, the Angels rested, their grueling string of 24 games in 24 days finally ending Sunday and their first day off since July 27 coming today.  —  The Angels were 14-10 during the stretch, absorbing their share of bumps and bruises along the way …

Only 100 at-bats?  Lee would go batty  —  Derrek Lee could have called it a season and rested his right wrist for next year, but he doesn't want to sit if he still has a chance to play.  What does Lee hope to accomplish by coming back for the final month of meaningless games?

The Week In Quotes  —  August 14-20 … —Beane, on Frank Thomas … —A's first baseman Nick Swisher, on Frank Thomas (Kansas City Star)  —  GUILLEN, FOR THE PEOPLE … White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, on how former pitchers Jon Rauch and Damaso Marte wore out their welcomes (Chicago Sun-Times)

OMAR GETS MOTA; GREEN MAY BE NEXT  —  While Omar Minaya added another power bullpen arm, yesterday, trading for the Indians' Guillermo Mota, the Mets' GM has also made progress in importing Shawn Green from Arizona to play right field, The Post has learned.  —  Green has decided to waive …

Duque delivers, Mets sweep  —  Orlando Hernandez felt sore while warming up yesterday, so the Mets dispatched Darren Oliver to the bullpen in case they were about to lose yet another starting pitcher.  —  In the end, however, not only did Hernandez take the mound at Shea …

From Out of Left Field, A Lifesaver for Yanks  —  When they first worked out Melky Cabrera, the Yankees wasted no time signing him.  It was the fall of 2001, and Cabrera was 17 years old.  The Yankees invited him to their academy in the Dominican Republic, knowing another team would watch him the next day.

Braves question LaRoche's bunt, thinking  —  Miami — Adam LaRoche surprised everyone in the Braves dugout when he bunted in the ninth inning Sunday — and this wasn't a pleasant sort of surprise.  —  With runners at first and second, none out, and the Braves trailing by one run …

Reports: Barfield taken to hospital after fight with son  —  HOUSTON — Former All-Star outfielder Jesse Barfield was taken to a hospital Sunday after he suffered a head injury when he was shoved down a flight of stairs by his 18-year-old son, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Reds ready to make playoff push  —  Houston (59-65) at Cincinnati (64-60), 7:10 p.m. ET  —  This could be the start of a stretch that makes or breaks the Reds' playoff hopes.  —  Cincinnati will be playing 16 straight games, and 19 of the next 22, against teams still alive with postseason aspirations …