Bleeding deeply - Spiraling Sox spin way toward Quits-ville  —  SEATTLE - No one can truly know what ever burns in another man's soul.  But from the outside, at least, the 2006 Red Sox certainly look like they are starting to quit.  There is just no way to prove it.  —  "He said he couldn't play.

Notes: Rowand has surgery on ankle  —  Center fielder has screws inserted; return this season unlikely  —  NEW YORK — The Phillies have already accepted that Aaron Rowand won't be back for the regular season.  —  They may also have to face the possibility that he won't be there for the postseason either …

Notes: Callups could come in waves  —  Triple-A playoffs may delay some players' ascension to Majors  —  PHOENIIX — With Sept. 1 less than a week away, the Diamondbacks front office will have some decisions to make when big-league rosters expand from 25 to 40 players.

Without Paul, it's wild pitch  —  Unsung Met is staff's hero  —  John Maine learned quickly.  It's generally foolish to ignore Paul Lo Duca.  —  "My first game," Maine said, "he wanted a curveball and I wanted a fastball.  It turned into a base hit."  —  That was back in May, at home against Washington.

Best Efforts Not Enough For the Nats  —  The thought of a pennant race has long since fizzled.  Injured players have filtered out of the clubhouse, their seasons ended prematurely.  On Sunday, the Washington Nationals lost another difficult-to-digest game, a 13-6 decision to the Atlanta Braves …

Setback for Pavano Isn't Cause for Worry  —  There is a widespread perception in the Yankees' clubhouse that Carl Pavano simply does not want to pitch.  With each physical setback, that feeling grows.  —  Pavano may start this week for the Yankees.  But no one around the team will believe it until it happens.

Notes: Izturis improving at third base  —  Angels benefiting from better defense in second half  —  ANAHEIM — With one barehanded grab on Saturday, Maicer Izturis showed how far he has come as a third baseman.  —  Playing a position he learned only last season, Izturis one-handed …

Notes: Rare leadoff sighting for Wilson  —  Molina plays catch, only available in emergency; Reyes shines  —  ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals used their fourth different leadoff hitter since David Eckstein's injury when Preston Wilson hit in the No. 1 spot on Sunday night against the Cubs.

Full Play-by-Play Chicago vs. Minnesota  —  GameCenter  · Full Play-by-Play  · Box Score  · Recap  · Game Chart  · Photos  · Live game log (Glog)  —  TWINS 1ST  —  Mark Buehrle pitching:  —  Strike looking, Ball, Foul, Ball, Castillo struck out swinging.

Rangers' Wilkerson looking to 2007  —  ARLINGTON - Outfielder Brad Wilkerson can't wait for 2007.  —  His right shoulder, which gave him fits throughout the 2006 season, is fixed.  He had surgery last week and said he should be 100 percent by the time spring training arrives.

Smoltz waiting for word on future  —  Two years after he was generally mocked and lampooned for claiming his arm would be better off throwing 100 pitches every five days than a dozen every couple, John Smoltz is the only starting pitcher the Braves can depend on.  That his arm hasn't fallen off, therefore, is a given.

Team USA rides Suzuki to win  —  Walk-off homer in 10th sends Brazil to 8-7 defeat  —  Kurt Suzuki just might be rethinking his greatest baseball moment.  —  Suzuki, a 2004 second-round draft pick of the Oakland Athletics, blasted a walk-off home run in the 10th inning Sunday …

Pirates Notebook: Littlefield confident 2007 payroll will be 'plenty'  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  The Pirates' owners, managing general partner Kevin McClatchy and chairman Bob Nutting, have yet to determine the payroll for 2007.  But general manager Dave Littlefield …