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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

Numbers tell tale about feats of Cla  —  DENVER - Cla Meredith's run of 20 2/3 scoreless innings isn't the only impressive statistic involving the rookie sidearmer.  —  During the streak, opponents have batted .103 against Meredith (7-for-68).  And the right-handed reliever has thrown …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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.

Interview with Matt Meyers of Baseball America  —  Matt Meyers is an Assistant Editor and does the Mets Top 30 Prospects over at Baseball America.  He spoke with me to discuss some things on the Mets and their prospects.  —  Pat Andriola: Were we all wrong about Lastings Milledge?

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.

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.

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.

On file: Steroids' risks, ravages  —  Medical records of ex-Panthers reveal ill effects, multiple refills leading to Super Bowl  —  The federal steroids case involving members of the Carolina Panthers Super Bowl team provides an unprecedented look at what some athletes risk to play professional sports …