With No Team Close Behind, the Mets Start to Look Ahead  —  The lineup Willie Randolph unveiled for last night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers offered the slightest hint that he was looking ahead.  From top to bottom, the eight position players formed the deepest and most complete batting order …

Notes: Silva apologizes to teammates  —  Liriano's Minor League start up in the air; Garza earns honor  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Twins pitcher Carlos Silva felt like he was doing the best thing for his club when he pulled himself after the sixth inning of Wednesday's game due to a stomach ache.

The Running Man  —  "When I got hurt this year I feel that really affected me, took a lot away from me.  I wasn't able to steal bases.  Every time I hit the ball in the hole I wasn't able to run.  I just couldn't run.  It's kind of frustrating because you feel like you would have done a better job.

`No-Hitter Night' fails to bring out Marlins fans  —  MIAMI (AP) — The game began on a damp, typically dreary night at the Florida Marlins' ballpark, with a couple of thousand fans in the stands, reaffirming that the city has yet to embrace its young, overachieving, playoff-chasing team.

Prospectus Today  —  Dateline: Minneapolis  —  The Twins get one last chance to put two playoff spots in play this weekend, kicking off a four-game series with the Tigers tonight at the Metrodome.  They lead the White Sox by a half-game (one in the loss column) for the wild card …

Thunder make room for Matsui  —  Rehabbing Yankees slugger forces changes in playoff lineup  —  TRENTON, N.J. — When Hideki Matsui was asked on Wednesday night when he'd be ready to return to New York, the veteran outfielder from Japan said wanted the Yankees to make that decision for him.

Lester ready to fight cancer  —  Rookie to begin chemotherapy treatment at Dana Farber  —  BOSTON — With his composure and fighting spirit both intact, Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester addressed the media for the first time since being diagnosed with a treatable form of anaplastic large cell lymphoma …

Comerica officially survives blogger invasion  —  I wish I had some sort of excellent memory for conversations, because I'm pretty sure if someone had just transcribed everything we all said to each other while at Nemo's and then the ballpark, I'd be free of blogging for the rest of the season.

Hafner an AL Aaron Award finalist  —  Secret to designated hitter's success is in preparation  —  CLEVELAND — In the strictest sense, the job description calls for him to come up to bat between three and five times a game.  Nothing more, nothing less.  —  If he really wanted to …

Stands empty as Cubs return to cellar  —  The smallest crowd at Wrigley Field in four years watched the Cubs plummet to the depths of the Tampa Bay Devils Rays on an otherwise perfect afternoon on the North Side.  —  Pittsburgh center fielder Chris Duffy hit the first two home runs …

Francisco is back with Rangers  —  SEATTLE - The Rangers' long wait for Frank Francisco is over.  —  General manager Jon Daniels said Thursday that Francisco, who hasn't pitched in the majors since the end of the 2004 season, will join the Rangers today for the final three weeks of the season.

Q&A with manager Frank Robinson  —  Beat reporter Bill Ladson sits down with the Nationals skipper … MLB.com: How surprised are you that the Nationals are having a disappointing season?  One would think the team got better with the addition of Alfonso Soriano.

Job News ... Finally  —  A couple weeks ago, I discussed the contract negotiations I was going through regarding a new job.  I had to keep the actual details quiet, because things were still going on behind the scenes in order to get everything finalized.  I initially expected to get the go-ahead …

Yost dismisses detractors  —  He says staying cool better than yelling  —  thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com  —  When local fans take aim at Brewers manager Ned Yost - and he was dodging fire right and left during his club's recent 10-game slide that ruined its playoff hopes - the complaints often have a similar theme.

Notes: Maldonado makes the big time  —  Catcher's perseverance pays off with callup  —  CHICAGO — Carlos Maldonado's road to the big leagues has not been short, and it has not been easy.  —  The 27-year-old catcher finished his 11th Minor League season before joining his first Major League team on Wednesday.