Notes: Mets focusing on this season with Green  —  It's easy to understand why the Mets want right fielder Shawn Green for the rest of this season: With Cliff Floyd on the disabled list, they've been rotating Endy Chavez, Michael Tucker and rookie Lastings Milledge in their corner-outfield spots.

Phillies CF Rowand could miss rest of the year with broken ankle  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Aaron Rowand is hoping to emulate former Eagles receiver Terrell Owens by coming back from an ankle injury to shine in the postseason.  —  Rowand could miss the rest …

Rangers GM talks to his future free agents  —  GM begins early discussions with club's impending free agents  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - General manager Jon Daniels has begun talking with agents representing the club's impending free agents but said he doesn't want it to become a distraction in the clubhouse.

Dodgers' Loss Is Out of Sight  —  Padres' Peavy shuts them down and San Diego continues its dominance in the series with a 1-0 victory that cuts lead to two games.  —  SAN DIEGO — Jake Peavy took a seat in the dugout, looked at the scoreboard and saw nothing.

A bad deal for Sox: Front office caught in a mess with trade for Lopez  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. - Now, somewhat astonishingly, this is not solely about the deals that Red Sox officials failed to make at the annual trading deadline.  It is also about a trade the Sox did make that has blown up in their face like a trick cigar.

Girardi Doesn't Dodge Query On Hit Batters  —  Florida Marlins Manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday that he does not instruct his players to stay in the way of breaking pitches to get on base, an accusation levied by Washington Nationals Manager Frank Robinson following Monday night's 3-1 Florida victory.

Inflation slows plan at Wrigley  —  Cubs still committed to build restaurant, museum and shops  —  Rising costs have delayed plans by the Chicago Cubs to begin construction this fall on a restaurant and parking garage facility adjacent to Wrigley Field, but the team remains committed to the project, a Cubs official said Tuesday.

Being Julio Franco  —  Were this story to start with my stomach doing a loop-de-loop, it would not sufficiently explain how I tried to stifle the aging process, so let's instead begin with the two-pound omelet and work from there.  —  Every morning, Julio Franco takes 20 or so eggs …

Notes: View from the top  —  Hart adapting well to role as team's leadoff hitter  —  cgardner@journalsentinel.com  —  Corey Hart is getting his chance to play every day in the outfield, and the 24-year-old is trying out a new spot in the batting order.  —  Milwaukee Brewers manager Ned Yost …

Looper hears familiar jeers  —  The setting and greeting were familiar for Braden Looper, only this time the uniform and result were different.  —  Last night Looper returned to the Shea mound for the first time as a St. Louis Cardinal and, much like in his two seasons as Mets closer, was roundly booed.

Sore hamstring or hurt feelings?  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Nice lineup last night.  On the heels of the Lost Weekend, the Red Sox attempted to rebound against the Angels with Kevin Youkilis hitting cleanup, and the trio of Doug Mirabelli (.200), Gabe Kapler (.219), and Dustin Pedroia (big league debut) at the bottom of the order.

Eckstein put on 15-day disabled list  —  Eckstein to DL  —  NEW YORK — The Cardinals expect to put shortstop David Eckstein on the 15-day disabled list today and general manager Walt Jocketty said he is hunting for a veteran infielder to help the team through Eckstein's absence.

Oy Vey, What a Game  —  One of 2 posts on Wednesday, with the other celebrating Julio Franco's 48th birthday, which can be found here...  http://metswalkoffs.blogspot.com/2006/ 08/me-and-julio-down-by-ballyard.html&n bsp; —  Anyone know the Hebrew or Yiddish translation of Walk-Off Home Run?

No end to the team's injury ills  —  A's notebook  —  TORONTO — When the A's road trip began Friday night in Kansas City, manager Ken Macha was thrilled his injury list was down to one: pitcher Rich Harden.  —  But as he's learned often during this injury-filled season, the injuries don't stop.