Dehydration, being "stressed out" sent Ortiz to hospital  —  SEATTLE (AP) — Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz said stress and nearly a week of sleeplessness caused dehydration and eventually the irregular heartbeat that landed him in a Boston hospital last weekend.

Little League to enforce pitch count  —  Rules seen as way to protect young arms  —  SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Beaverton, Ore., manager Jeff Keller has accompanied his players to the trainer's room many times this week at the Little League World Series.  The sight, he recalled, has been unsettling.

Padres-Rockies Preview  —  Fresh off a sweep of the NL West leaders, the San Diego Padres will try to reclaim a share of first place on Friday when they begin a three-game set against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.  —  San Diego (65-62) is coming off a 5-5 homestand …

BANNISTER GETS BALL AS DUQUE GETS REST  —  Willie Randolph announced yesterday that Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, who was slated to pitch tonight against the Phillies, won't take the hill this weekend due to his recent heavy workload.  —  Brian Bannister will come off the disabled list tonight …

Sabean looks ahead to Giants' future  —  General manager chats about club's current and future needs … Brian Sabean: Hello, I'm happy to be here with all of you again today.  Thank you for taking the time to join me this afternoon.  I'm always interested to hear what our fans …

Hicks: Rangers have underachieved  —  Owner says that Showalter is safe as the team's manager  —  ARLINGTON — Tom Hicks would have preferred a different kind of conversation on the day of his return to Ameriquest Field after a week of vacation in Argentina.

Crosby on DL for the second time this season  —  ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Oakland Athletics shortstop Bobby Crosby was put on the disabled list Friday after playing just four games since returning from the same lower back strain.  —  The move was retroactive to Tuesday …

Vazquez aims to feed off his recent failure  —  Sunday's setback vs. Twins a learning tool  —  DETROIT — Javier Vazquez will take the mound Friday night against the same Twins team that beat him Sunday.  —  Despite that loss, Vazquez and White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper …

Wagner: Winning the most important  —  Billy Wagner hasn't been asked a question about "Enter Sandman" in months, and with a streak of 10 consecutive saves, as well as 18 in his last 20 chances, there's not much buzz around his locker these days.  —  Which is just fine for a closer …

Tracing his roots as a fan  —  It's not about who's to blame  —  I appeared to strike a chord in the readership earlier this week by writing the following: ``The truth is we need to sit down and figure what sports are all about.  We've lost our way.  It was in reference to the Yankees' infamous five …

Baseball players covet opponents' memorabilia  —  MIAMI GARDENS — It's not quite the same as exchanging sweat-soaked jerseys with an opponent after a 90-minute soccer game.  In many cases the premise behind it is the same.  —  Respect.  —  Some baseball players are among the game's biggest fans …

Lack of HRs bigger issue than OBP, Baker says  —  With the Cubs falling so far out of the playoff race early this season, it has given all the want-to-be general managers plenty of time to figure out how to fix the team for 2007.  —  Sign free agents Barry Zito and Carlos Lee.

DeCinces, Hoiles proud of O's honor  —  Third baseman, catcher enter team Hall of Fame this weekend  —  BALTIMORE — Doug DeCinces faced a truly thankless task during his time playing third base for the Orioles — replacing Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson.  But DeCinces always handled …

Cards Notebook: Edmonds back in lineup  —  New York: Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said Thursday he expects to write center fielder Jim Edmonds into the lineup tonight for the first time in more than a week.  —  Edmonds, recovering from post-concussion syndrome, has not started since Aug. 15 …

Casey's goof just part of stinker of an effort  —  DETROIT — It was the worst play of the worst blowout this season.  It was an amazing fluke, an astonishing rarity, and it didn't mean anything, except that it put a goofy hat atop a stinkin' pile of baseball.

Stretch run sends lineup into spasms  —  Focus wandering in key games, says Hurdle  —  Milwaukee - Pressure.  It causes palms to sweat.  It makes breathing difficult.  It invites doubt, practically sends it a "Candygram."  —  Consider how poorly the Rockies have played under the spotlight of being in a playoff race this month.