Future's Cliff hanger  —  Floyd: Achilles just won't heal  —  Cliff Floyd would have been out of the Mets' lineup for the second consecutive game last night had heavy rains not made their scheduled game a doubleheader against the Braves today.  —  Floyd, who was activated last week …

Free-Range Ryan  —  Ryan Howard's prodigious and prolific home run hitting is beginning to draw national attention.  The clear majority of it is praise, however, some of the attention — sometimes subtly, sometimes bluntly — questions whether or not Howard is natural or chemically enhanced.

Enjoy it for what it's worth  —  Another strange night in the ``let's-take-a-year-off-from-the- playoffs" Red Sox season.  Good news all around at Fenway.  Almost perfect, in fact.  —  The first great development came when David Ortiz returned to the lineup for the first time since Aug. 27.

Building a contender on the cheap like the Marlins will be tough to duplicate  —  What the Mini Marlins have done this summer has been historical, uplifting, unprecedented and inexplicable.  —  But will it be trend setting?  —  Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery …

O'Connor Gets the Start Over Traber  —  This much we know: Left-hander Mike O'Connor was recalled from Class AAA New Orleans yesterday by the Washington Nationals, and he will start today's homestand-ending game against the St. Louis Cardinals.  —  That's the simple part of the equation.

Pirates leap past Cubs, 6-5, to escape last place  —  Bay homers twice, Torres slams door in ninth  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  CHICAGO — No, there was no champagne uncorked when the Pirates edged Chicago, 6-5, last night at Wrigley Field.

Moehler will start for Nolasco again  —  MIAMI GARDENS — Pitcher Brian Moehler's season is coming full circle.  —  The veteran right-hander will make his second straight start Saturday in place of rookie right-hander Ricky Nolasco, who is recovering from soreness behind his right knee.

Teahen out to have surgery  —  Third baseman is done for year because of torn labrum in shoulder.  German, Keppinger to take his spot.  —  Before Mark Teahen took the field Tuesday night, he knew it was going to be his last game of the season.  —  Teahen will undergo season-ending surgery Friday …

No Setbacks for Rivera; No Concerns for Torre  —  When the subject is Mariano Rivera, Yankees Manager Joe Torre puts his faith in the results of last Thursday's magnetic resonance imaging exam.  Since that test showed no structural damage to Rivera's elbow — only a mild muscle strain — Torre said he was not worried.

Cardinals group visits Bush  —  WASHINGTON — On the same day that he gave a major speech regarding the nation's war on terror, President George W. Bush hosted a contingent of Cardinals in the Oval Office on Tuesday morning.  —  Bush, former general partner of the Texas Rangers and a close friend …

Top minor leaguers for each MLB team  —  AMERICAN LEAGUE  —  Baltimore: RHP Brandon Erbe: Erbe's win-loss record (5-9) didn't get much help from a weak low-A Delmarva team, but the rest of the 18-year-old's performance was impressive, including 133 strikeouts in 114 2/3 innings.

Former Giant Williams claimed off waiver wire  —  A's notebook  —  OAKLAND — There's still a month left in the season, but the A's are already looking ahead to next year.  By claiming ex-Giants pitcher Jerome Williams on waivers from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, the team has some reinforcements entering spring training.

Notes: Arias to sit and learn  —  Talented shortstop will see plenty of pine behind Young  —  OAKLAND — Triple-A Oklahoma shortstop Joaquin Arias joined the Rangers on Tuesday and Michael Young was one of the first to greet him with a handshake/embrace.  —  It was an interesting moment …

Tigers sunk by Mariners after delay  —  Offense silenced late as Miller takes first Major League loss  —  DETROIT — The one-hour, 23-minute rain delay on Tuesday night knocked out Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman.  The Tigers offense seemingly left the game before the rain arrived.

Baker receives major promotion  —  Outfielder enjoyed big year for Sky Sox  —  San Diego - If Jeff Baker can excel at multitasking, he might have a spot on the Rockies' 25-man roster next season.  —  Baker, right-handed pitchers Denny Bautista and Ubaldo Jimenez, left-handers Mike Venafro …

Cards Notebook: Albert's homers are clutch  —  More Albert  —  Locked in a race for MVP with the Philadelphia Phillies' Ryan Howard, Albert Pujols finds himself at a disadvantage in home runs and RBIs.  However, he has no competition in what his home runs have meant.