Barrett will catch more bench time  —  Piniella believes rest should 'help' catcher  —  Cubs catcher Michael Barrett's playing time will be reduced in the coming weeks, even though Henry Blanco is at least two weeks from returning from the disabled list.  —  "It has been a tough couple of weeks …

Heat on Giambi as Selig leans toward suspension  —  Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig is heading toward suspending Jason Giambi next week if the New York Yankees slugger does not cooperate with former senator George Mitchell's investigation on steroid use, according to a high-ranking MLB official.

Posada power  —  Homer continues catcher's hit parade  —  ALEX RODRIGUEZ can opt out, or so everyone has heard about 252 million times.  Mariano Rivera is unsigned beyond this season.  And so is Joe Torre.  —  But how many Yankees have been more indispensable in what could be their pinstriped swan songs than Jorge Posada?

Rocky horror  —  Things turn ugly for Sox in latest loss  —  He was sitting and waiting as the media walked into the Fenway Park interview room minutes after a 12-2 Red Sox' loss to the Rockies last night, his hands folded, his blue button-down shirt crisp, and his manner all but screaming his desire to get this done, fast.

Pirates Notebook: Wilson feels 'one day' led to benching  —  Quite obviously, Jack Wilson is being benched.  —  Just as obviously, he is not exactly beaming about it.  —  Although Wilson said nothing inflammatory after learning Pirates manager Jim Tracy would go with Jose Castillo …

Wheeler shoves Sampson in dugout  —  Reliever says altercation just product of his frustration  —  HOUSTON — Chris Sampson referred to Dan Wheeler as a "big brother" several times during his postgame meeting with the media, downplaying any issues that may have stemmed from a brief altercation between …

6/13/07 vs. Colorado  —  Not sure how to start or finish this one.  Pitch by pitch would most likely be as painful to read as it was to experience.  —  At the end of the second inning I'd faced 13 batters, thrown close to 50 pitches, and I didn't feel physically bad at all.

With Kubel out, Ford gets chance  —  The Twins are trying to figure out when left fielder Jason Kubel will be available.  —  Kubel was first expecting to be back in the lineup Tuesday, but he still felt some lingering soreness in the right knee he tweaked Saturday while chasing a fly ball.

D-Fence!  —  While no one doubts the importance of defense, it still is an area that we often forget when evaluating players.  Plenty has been made of Alex Rodriguez's hot start with the bat and David Wright's struggles at the plate, but no one has talked about A-Rod's difficulties in the field …

Notes: Mets eager to stop scuffling  —  Players call on bats to take charge with Yanks looming  —  LOS ANGELES — When they arrived in Los Angeles for their three-game series with the Dodgers, the Mets were optimistic that their slump through the start of June was an anomaly …

Angels' Lackey first to 10 wins  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero knew the end would come soon.  —  The star right fielder was relegated to cheering for teammates while the Los Angeles Angels extended their impressive surge the past week, waiting to break out of his deep slump.

Notes: Cortez has psychic powers  —  Recently recalled infielder has made some crazy predictions  —  KANSAS CITY — Joey Gathright figures that Fernando Cortez, the Royals' just-arrived infielder, must be aligned with the moon and the stars.  Or something.  —  "He predicts the future," Gathright said.

The Science and Art of Building a Better Pitcher Profile  —  "Hell, yeah, I want to throw that pitch.  They don't let me, though.  They tell me I'm too young, that it's bad for my elbow.  I told them I want to throw it."  —Felix Hernandez talking about his slider before the 2006 season