Lester tested for cancer  —  OAKLAND, Calif. - Not long after the Red Sox sent 22-year-old left-hander Jon Lester back to Boston to be evaluated by club medical officials, sources indicated that one of the club's most promising players is dealing with more than just a bad back.

Give Proctor a break: Rest him  —  Before Game 2 of yesterday's day-night doubleheader, Joe Torre - notorious for going to his top relievers very, very often - was asked about the potential overuse of Scott Proctor.  —  "Am I worried about overusing him?  You're always concerned about it …

Mets' Offense Stands Out, but Defense Is Overlooked  —  For the last 11 games, the Mets have fielded every ground ball cleanly, caught every fly ball without incident and thrown every ball on target.  And yet over the same span, the most prominent story lines have centered on David Wright's slump …

Really, really foul ball sinks Cubs  —  Baker, players shell-shocked after Dempster, Cubs blow a 2-run lead in the 11th to conclude their nightmarish 0-6 trip  —  PITTSBURGH — The more the Cubs struggle in the National League Central, the easier it is for players to tune out the media with iPods and video games.

Girardi back quickly after watching team win in absence  —  · Manager Joe Girardi on Wednesday admitted feeling more at ease watching his club from the bench than from his family room.  At least the Marlins provided quality programming.  —  Girardi was back in the dugout Wednesday …

Mound of troubles for Pavano  —  Carl Pavano was in New York yesterday, but he never set foot in Yankee Stadium, and never had to face his teammates.  And it may stay that way for a while.  —  Pavano yesterday was ordered back into Yankee oblivion — Tampa — after a complete medical procedure …

Sox tickets?  Suddenly, they're not so hot  —  As team slides, demand cools and deals abound  —  Just a few weeks ago, it was a nearly impossible ticket to get — the Red Sox at home.  Now, tickets to Sox games are not only available, they can be had for face value or less.

Lynx headed for Pennsylvania in 2008  —  OTTAWA — Sports fans in the nation's capital just didn't seem to root, root, root for the home team enough, so Canada's last Triple-A baseball team is slated to head south of the border.  —  The International League has approved the majority sale …

Cards Notebook: Eckstein's rehab  —  Eckstein's rehab  —  Shortstop David Eckstein, recovering from a strained oblique, played a light game of catch Wednesday, his first baseball activity since attempting to throw Aug. 18 at Wrigley Field.  If his left side feels fine today, Eckstein may take some swings.

Surgery may await ailing Mulder  —  Cardinals pitcher Mark Mulder will seek a second medical opinion this week before deciding whether to have surgery to mend his left shoulder.  —  "It's a possibility now.  Before I didn't think it was," Mulder said.  "Over the next couple days we'll determine if I need that or not."

Tulowitzki gives glimpse of future … Troy Tulowitzki stood outside the Rockies' clubhouse at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, searching for a cellphone signal.  Through his eyes, it was easy to see the excitement over what the 21-year-old called the greatest day of his life.

Notes: Rotation having problems  —  Robinson concerned with starters not going deep into games  —  WASHINGTON — The Nationals' starting rotation has been struggling in a big way lately.  In their last 10 games, entering Wednesday's action, the starters were 1-7 with a 12.65 ERA (52 runs in 37 innings).

JOSE RIJO  —  Jose Rijo's official title with the Nationals is special assistant to general manager Jim Bowden, but he's really a coach, scout, advisor and front-office executive rolled into one.  The gregarious native of the Dominican Republic won 116 games and was the MVP of the 1990 World Series …

Guillen claims no intent to plunk  —  CHICAGO - With all that was said and what else was implied after Delmon Young's eventful debut, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen had a few things he wanted to say Wednesday.  —  Guillen said he did not order starter Freddy Garcia to hit Young …