Mulder, Edmonds out for season?  —  Report: Cardinals could be without two key players  —  ST. LOUIS (Ticker) — The St. Louis Cardinals reportedly could be without lefthander Mark Mulder and center fielder Jim Edmonds for the rest of the season.  —  The web site of the St. Louis Post …

Wells may go to Dodgers  —  OAKLAND, Calif. - Left-hander David Wells, who is scheduled to start the first game of the homestand tomorrow against the Blue Jays, flew back to Boston yesterday to rest up for the outing.  —  General manager Theo Epstein refused to discuss a report that he is prepared …

Bird knows the feeling  —  On March 17, 1998, Indiana Pacers coach Larry Bird was in the midst of barking instructions to his players during a tight game against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls when he suddenly felt his heart ``kick out.  ``It was all out of rhythm," Bird recalled.

Mets talking to Rockies about Ardoin  —  The Mets, seeking to upgrade their backup catcher and add infield depth, are talking to the Rockies about acquiring catcher Danny Ardoin and infielder Luis Gonzalez for a minor-league pitcher, FOXSports.com has learned.  —  Ardoin, 32, was designated for assignment by the Rockies last Friday.

Notes: Lineup in flux  —  With Thome temporarily sidelined, Guillen juggling order  —  CHICAGO — Even when he returns, Jim Thome's hamstring could continue to affect the White Sox lineup.  —  Manager Ozzie Guillen insinuated that when the slugger comes back — Thome didn't start …

Matsui gets reminder of unhappy time in New York  —  Kaz Matsui was able to escape New York.  —  And yet, at least for the next two days, Matsui still will be unable to escape the suffocating Big Apple spotlight.  —  As if Matsui needed to be reminded he was playing against his former teammates …

Oswalt receives five-year contract worth $73 million  —  Informed the Astros had just given him a five-year, $73 million contract extension Tuesday night, ace righthander Roy Oswalt immediately placed a call to Weir, Miss., to give his father Billy the news.

Skipper Hurdle pulls plug on Barmes  —  Character is admirable.  But as the Rockies have proved the past few weeks, even the best of men can be on the worst of teams.  Once on the verge of being a postseason threat, Colorado has plunged into the National League West basement, falling 10-5 to the New York Mets on Tuesday night.

A Scab By Any Other Name  —  The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) is often called — whether as praise or as caution — the most powerful trade union on earth.  There's no question about the powerful part: the MLBPA has, in less than four decades, taken baseball players …

Old unreliables  —  In a lot of ways, the Giants have absolutely no business being mentioned in the same sentence as the word postseason.  This is not a particularly good team.  In fact, this is an old not particularly good team, prone to slumps, bone-headed plays and, in general, extended bouts of bad baseball.

Notes: Matsui cleared for BP  —  Yankees outfielder is expected to hit indoors on Wednesday  —  NEW YORK — Hideki Matsui was cleared to take full batting practice for the first time on Tuesday, a big step in his hopeful return to the Yankees' lineup this season.  Matsui is scheduled to hit indoors on Wednesday.

Liner hits Mariners' Soriano in the head  —  Reliever stays conscious; M's hold on for sixth win in row  —  There was no joy in victory, no agony in defeat.  —  There were just athletes concerned for one of their own.  —  Mariners reliever Rafael Soriano had to be wheeled off …

Pavano's New Injury Bemuses the Yanks  —  Technically, Johnny Damon has never been teammates with Carl Pavano.  They have occupied the same Yankees clubhouse, but Damon has never played behind Pavano, who has had more disabled-list adventures than any pitcher in memory.

Former student may sue Delsea  —  The attorney for a former Delsea Regional High School baseball player who was banned from playing after he was found with a beer in his hand on a school trip filed a notice of intent to sue the district.  —  Christopher Manganello, the attorney for Joshua Krautwald …

Mets acquire catcher Mike Nickeas from Texas  —  The New York Mets today acquired minor league catcher Mike Nickeas from the Texas Rangers in exchange for outfielder Victor Diaz.  Nickeas will report to St. Lucie (A) of the Florida State League while Diaz will be assigned to Oklahoma (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League.

Offense is absent in 5th straight loss  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — The margin of error is so tiny that Josh Beckett was actually chiding himself for throwing a fastball high and away to Eric Chavez in the fourth inning that resulted in the A's first run.  —  ``That was a dumb pitch to Chavez," …