Xavier struggles against old mates  —  PITTSBURGH - Xavier Nady had a rough series against his ex-teammates, going 1-for-12.  He snapped an 0-for-21 slump yesterday with a sixth-inning double off the right-field wall against John Maine.  —  Nady, sent to Pittsburgh on July 31 for Roberto Hernandez …

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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.

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 …