Wilkerson expecting full recovery before next spring training  —  ARLINGTON — Outfielder Brad Wilkerson's season is over following surgery on a partially torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder Aug. 22.  Wilkerson is already looking to 2007, and is getting his rehab under way.

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: 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 …

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 …

Keppinger finally joins team  —  Infielder was called up from Omaha on Friday, but travel issues delay his arrival to majors.  —  TORONTO |  Infielder Jeff Keppinger finally made it.  He was in uniform Sunday when the Royals closed their three-game weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays …

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.

Baker reveals his wounds  —  Manager says Cubs have made him feel wanted 'sometimes'  —  ST. LOUIS — Cubs general manager Jim Hendry insists he still has not decided whether to offer a contract to Dusty Baker when the season ends.  —  But the more Baker talks about his future …

Padilla's gem helps Rangers win, 3-0  —  ARLINGTON - If there is one thing on which the Rangers can count on from Vicente Padilla, it is that he will make things difficult.  —  Sometimes he does it to opponents.  Sometimes he does it to the Rangers.  —  Sunday, he did it to both.

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.

Making a few tweaks to Rangers' scary story  —  ARLINGTON - Tom Hicks was calling it all "baseball bad luck" and reminding us "Buck doesn't swing the bat or throw the ball," as if it were a threat, when a stranger interrupted to say he was writing a book on the Rangers.  —  No, kids, it wasn't Stephen King.

Matthews still feels the glove  —  ARLINGTON - It might seem like ages ago, but at one time, Gary Matthews Jr. wasn't the Rangers' starting center fielder.  —  He wasn't even in the Opening Day lineup and didn't see his first action until the team's 10th game.

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.

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.