Towers acquires busts, then waits for bust-out  —  LOS ANGELES - Brutal truth be told, they were also-rans as players, discards who'd been written off by two of the few major league teams whose next pennant and World Series will be their first.  Given another century or so.

Notes: Vidro a second baseman first  —  Manager asks veteran to give Johnson a breather  —  WASHINGTON — After Saturday's 8-5 victory over the Brewers, manager Frank Robinson approached second baseman Jose Vidro about starting at first base on Sunday afternoon in order to give Nick Johnson the day off.

Boston's Consolation Prize Is End of Jeter's Streak  —  The Boston Red Sox never recovered from a five-game sweep by the Yankees at Fenway Park in August.  The Yankees' lead was too wide, and the Red Sox' luck was too bad.  But if this is the month for moral victories, the Red Sox scored one at Yankee Stadium this weekend.

Pete's signs of his sorry times  —  Boy, is Pete Rose sorry.  —  Baseball's disgraced all-time hit king may have hit an all-time low by signing balls with this shocking inscription: "I'm sorry I bet on baseball - Pete Rose."  —  Thanks to a New Jersey auction house, you, too, can share in Rose's sorrow.

Cards' Isringhausen done for season with hip injury  —  ST. LOUIS — Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen will miss the rest of the season because of a bad left hip.  —  "This certainly is a significant, serious situation at this point," Cardinals team physician George Paletta said, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Defeatist attitude rankles O's Mora … Third baseman Melvin Mora recoiled in the far corner of the Orioles' clubhouse before a recent game.  —  He wasn't flitting about, no longer being the silly, goofy effervescent Mora that has been standard issue during much of his time in Baltimore.

With Nothing to Celebrate, the Mets Feel Martínez's Pain  —  The sheets of plastic that were hung above the Mets' lockers in anticipation of a raucous celebration were removed without being doused.  The dozens of bottles of Champagne became extra luggage.

At-bats are good medicine for LaRoche  —  First baseman is subject of ESPN report on attention deficit disorder  —  Adam LaRoche isn't sure how much his improved hitting can be linked to taking medication for attention deficit disorder, but producers of an ESPN program decided to pronounce it the direct cause.

Baker gives Rockies a much-needed lift  —  Box score  —  PHOENIX - Finally healthy for a full season, Jeff Baker has begun to force his way into the Rockies' long- term picture.  —  While Jeff Francis was reaffirming his status as a key part of the Rockies rotation in a 6-1 victory …

Tigers deny Polanco done for year  —  GM Dombrowski says second baseman on track for return  —  DETROIT — President/general manager Dave Dombrowski said on Sunday night that Placido Polanco remains on track for a possible return this season, despite comments from Polanco on Sunday afternoon …

White Sox need sweep to stay in race  —  Here's your weekly look forward to what's in store for baseball fans over the next seven days.  —  Series of the Week (with team's most recent Power Ranking in parentheses): Tigers (3) at White Sox (6)  —  This is the series that will be getting …

Chelsea edges Liverpool in Premier League  —  LONDON (AP) — Didier Drogba spun and scored on a rising 20-yard shot late in the first half Sunday, leading Chelsea past Liverpool 1-0 in an English Premier League game attended by Tiger Woods.  —  The Ivory Coast striker settled a long ball …

Martinez still upset a day after return  —  Mets ace eager to put Friday's difficult start behind him  —  PITTSBURGH — Whatever concern about Pedro Martinez exists within the Mets has not yet taken a defined shape.  He says he's fine and prefers to make his next start after four days off.

Cubs' Lee likely out for season to tend to daughter  —  CHICAGO — Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee could be out for the rest of the season because of his 3-year-old daughter's illness.  —  Lee had missed the last two games before he said Sunday he was taking a leave of absence to be with his wife and child.