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.

Izzy in NY; Eckstein travels; Edmonds stays at home  —  While Cardinals relief ace Jason Isringhausen was headed for New York for the first in a series of consultations relative to his ailing left hip, shortstop David Eckstein accompanied the team to Milwaukee on Sunday.

So now they'll get to spray at Shea  —  Duke blanks Mets for eight, and clinching party will be at home  —  PITTSBURGH — Like millions of other couch potatoes, the Mets found themselves in front of the television on an NFL Sunday.  But instead of beer and salsa chilling in the refrigerator …

Where will Soriano land next season?  —  Even before Nationals left fielder Alfonso Soriano reached 40 homers and 40 stolen bases, rival executives were growing increasingly excited by his availability as a free agent.  —  After watching Soriano make several athletic plays against his team …

FOX GETS LOST IN THE CROWD  —  IT'S GETTING easier.  Once you get past the stunned wonder stage, and then the anger stage, TV becomes funny.  —  Saturday, top of the first of Red Sox-Yanks, David Ortiz, in the wake of his impolitic remarks about Derek Jeter, came to bat to a hurricane of boos.

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.

Change of tune?  —  Yankees' Williams may retire to further music career  —  Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams is contemplating retirement, though not for the usual reasons.  It isn't because age or diminishing skills have taken their toll; judging by this year and last, Williams' skills …

Aftermath: Mets vs Pirates (09/15/2006 - 09/17/2006)  —  Posted on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 10:43:28 AM EST  —  (Source: fangraphs.com - what's this?)  —  Pedro Martinez's line from Game 1:  —  IP H R ER BB SO HR PC-ST GS  —  3.0 6 4 4 1 4 0 68-46 34

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.

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.

Jonathan Papelbon and Replacement Level  —  Let's talk about replacement level for a moment.  Almost everything there is to know about replacement level is actually contained within this article, but I want to discuss one specific aspect.  It's called chaining, and it's one of the most important …

Notes: Harden has no ill effects  —  Macha cautious even though pitcher expected back Thursday  —  OAKLAND — A day after throwing 60 pitches in a four-inning simulated game, righty Rich Harden was smiling.  —  Expected to come off the disabled list Thursday to make his first start since suffering …

The Week In Quotes  —  September 10-17 … —Phillies 1B Ryan Howard, on whether or not he's clean (Philadelphia Daily News).  Howard hit his 57th home run this past Sunday. … —North Dakota State Senator Joel C. Heitkamp (PhillyBurbs.com) … —Howard … —Howard  —  BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE

Mariners, Rangers looking at tough decisions  —  The Rangers want to keep Buck Showalter as manager?  Fine.  —  The Mariners want to keep general manager Bill Bavasi and manager Mike Hargrove?  Go get 'em.  —  Both clubs, however, should be prepared for possible consequences if they maintain the status quo.

Going Deep: Seven years good luck  —  Minor League 'six-year free agent' is actually a misnomer  —  When the Rangers traded Ugueth Urbina to Florida in July of 2003, one of the three Marlins prospects they got in return was 21-year-old outfielder Will Smith.

Veterans blindsided by Rays' collapse … TORONTO - They've lost so many games in so many ways that at times it seems unbelievable.  —  The Devil Rays' latest folly came Sunday, a 5-3 loss to Toronto in which they blew three leads, to maintain their status as the team with the majors' worst record …

Cruz right for right field?  —  ARLINGTON - Nelson Cruz might be the Rangers' right fielder next season.  —  General manager Jon Daniels pushed to get Cruz along with Carlos Lee from the Milwaukee Brewers in the July 28 six-player trade between the two teams.