METS GET GOOD REPORT ON ALOU  —  Moises Alou received positive news yesterday, as he was examined and is slated to head to St. Lucie next week for rehab.  —  Alou has been out since May 13 with a strained left quad, and assistant GM John Ricco said yesterday that the left fielder is "improving."

Controversy over wife's attire suits Alex to a 'T'  —  You know it's fast becoming a lost season when, on a night Roger Clemens was making his fourth (and ultimately successful) try for win No. 350, against one of the many teams ahead of the Yankees in the wild card chase …

PEREZ IS PUT ON DL  —  The Mets' rotation is 40 percent weaker.  Oliver Perez has joining Jorge Sosa on the disabled list.  —  The left-hander, who is having a terrific season, has been bothered by a stiff back.  Not only did Perez miss his scheduled start on Sunday but he was scratched from tonight's tentative rescheduling as well.

Torres files grievance, asks for trade  —  Reliever says Pirates 'tricked' him into agreeing to lower salary last year  —  Reliever Salomon Torres, angry with the Pirates about what he feels was a broken promise in negotiating his most recent contract, has filed a grievance against the team …

Angels drop reliever Carrasco  —  Struggling pticher is designated for assignment as the team calls up Chris Resop.  —  Having tired of waiting for Hector Carrasco to recapture the form that made him an effective reliever last season, the Angels this morning designated the veteran right-hander for assignment.

Burnett's days with Toronto may be numbered  —  Pitcher will have to rebuild arm strength before returning to rotation and could be trade bait  —  OAKLAND — The next time A.J. Burnett pitches for the Toronto Blue Jays will be around the trade deadline, and don't be surprised if that's a start of some significance.

Future Stud or Future Dud?  —  Four exciting, young outfielders broke out into the prospect spotlight in 2006: Fernando Martinez, Jose Tabata, Carlos Gonzalez and Andrew McCutchen.  The 2007 season has been another matter entirely, though.  Each member of that foursome has disappointed …

Update on Alex Rodriguez  —  The Yankees termed it a "strained hamstring" which is significant.  Usually teams try and go with euphemisms like "pull" or "discomfort."  It's also in the upper part of the hamstring, where the muscles are thickest.  That's usually more serious than the lower part of the hamstring.

Helyar: Steinbrenner succession a family matter … Born on the Fourth of July in 1930, George Steinbrenner turns 77 on Wednesday.  His family — wife Joan, four children and 13 grandchildren — will gather at his home in Tampa, Fla., to fete the patriarch and feast on cake.

Rocky third is all she wrote for Glavine  —  Veteran unable to pick up win No. 298 as Mets fall to Rockies  —  DENVER — It had all the makings of a homecoming for Tom Glavine.  Though he's hardly Colorado's favorite son, Glavine had developed a reputation for taming the beast that is Coors Field …

O's prospect Olson to join club, start Wednesday … CHICAGO // Garrett Olson, one of the Orioles' top pitching prospects, will have his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk to make tomorrow night's start against the Chicago White Sox, a club official confirmed.

No hits, one laugh  —  Mets pull prank on slumping Delgado  —  DENVER - David Wright smuggled a chest protector into the home clubhouse at Shea last week, though he confessed to being only an accomplice in the good-natured mischief that ensued.  A day after Carlos Delgado committed an error …

Burgess Signs With Nationals  —  BRANDON - In the end, Michael Burgess' decision to turn pro or attend Arizona State on a baseball scholarship came down to one thing.  —  "Really, this may be my only chance [to play professional baseball]," Burgess said.  —  It was a chance he wasn't willing to pass on.

As luck would have it, Luis Gonzalez is the prize  —  His mind elsewhere with an impressive start in trying to win the big pick-six pot at Hollywood Park, the columnist chooses to spend time with the luckiest Dodger.  —  There's $10,870,852 up for grabs in the pick six at Hollywood Park on Monday …