Notes: Rangers still not selling  —  GM intends to keep club intact despite recent slide  —  ARLINGTON — The Baltimore Orioles traded veteran outfielder Jeff Conine to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday, a sign that at least some players are getting through waivers and can be traded.

Carter ready for big jump  —  KERNAN'S CORNER  —  Sometime, maybe in the near future, someone will ask Gary Carter to manage in the big leagues.  —  Could that someone be Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry?  —  It will be a wise GM who gets Carter.

Guillen praises Gload, vows to play him more  —  What happens to Ross Gload once Jim Thome returns?  He might get some time in left field if Scott Podsednik doesn't step up his offense, though Podsednik has been on base in six of his last eight plate appearances.

3 more fans for A-Rod  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Yankees' win yesterday allowed Alex Rodriguez to smile, as he was appreciative that his baffling struggles didn't hurt the team.  —  Rodriguez said he felt better at the plate, but it didn't show in the results.

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.

It's Open Season on Tickets  —  In an effort to sell more tickets directly to the fans who will use them, the Angels are cracking down on season-ticket accounts.  —  With ticket demand at record levels, the Angels are taking aim at customers who buy season tickets then recoup their expense …

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.

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.

Going Deep: The fall guys  —  There's more to October eligibility than meets the eye  —  When the Rangers signed 39-year-old infielder-outfielder Eric Young to a contract on Aug. 11 to play for Triple-A Oklahoma, the primary objective was not to give the RedHawks a veteran influence …

Notes: Bowden has faith in Church  —  GM pleased with outfielder's commitment to getting better  —  ATLANTA — General manager Jim Bowden said this is not Ryan Church's last chance to prove to the Nationals that he is an everyday player.  Bowden is one of Church's biggest supporters …

Mailbag: Wilson a likely trade?  —  Beat reporter Ed Eagle answers Pirates fans' questions  —  Do you think Jack Wilson is going to be traded after the season?  —  It is entirely possible that the Pirates could trade the popular Wilson, their longest-tenured player, in an effort to acquire …

Future Shock  —  The best offensive prospect in baseball?  One could certainly make the argument.  In his last 50 games, the number two overall pick from last year's draft has slugged 19 home runs and driven in 59.  With home runs in three of his last four contests, he's batting .415 in his last 15 games with eight home runs.

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.

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 …

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 …

Red Sox, Reds are struggling  —  BASEBALL TONIGHT EXTRA  —  The Reds and Red Sox have something in common at the start of this week.  They're both struggling as they get set to take on the West division leaders.  —  On several occasions this season, Cincinnati has had control …