Buehrle backs off full no-trade clause  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  The White Sox have rejected a suggested compromise from pitcher Mark Buehrle, making it possible the 28-year-old left-hander could break off negotiations entirely, according to a major league source.

Hurdle bullish on bullpen  —  Nestled into a big leather couch, Clint Hurdle oozed optimism about the Rockies' relievers, predicting good things for the second half of the season.  —  "I'm very optimistic about the bullpen," the manager said before Saturday night's game against the Phillies.

Striking performance … ARLINGTON, TEXAS // When he recorded his last strikeout on a night full of them, Erik Bedard pounded his glove with his fist and then hugged his catcher, Ramon Hernandez.  It was a display of emotion the Orioles have rarely seen from the stoic Bedard, but it certainly was fitting for the occasion.

WAGNER: I'D BENCH LOAFER REYES  —  Jose Reyes is lucky he doesn't have Billy Wagner meting out his punishment.  —  "I think speaking only as if I was the manager - not Willie - he wouldn't play," Wagner said before last night's 5-3, 17-inning victory over Houston.

ESPN Series on '77 Yanks Has Jackson Burned Up  —  Reggie Jackson said yesterday that he was unhappy about the ESPN miniseries "The Bronx is Burning."  He said he was a significant part of the 1977 season for the Yankees but was not consulted about the script of the eight-episode series, which begins tomorrow night.

Government Expected to Try to Protect Names in Radomski Case  —  The federal government is expected to file papers in federal court Monday in an effort to protect the redacted names of baseball players who were supplied performance-enhancing drugs by Kirk Radomski, a former Mets clubhouse attendant.

Mets outlast Astros 5-3 in 17 innings  —  HOUSTON (AP) — Carlos Beltran spent a lot of time catching fly balls on the hill in center field when he played for the Houston Astros.  —  On Saturday night, all that work three years ago paid off as Beltran made a saving, circus catch before hitting …

July 7 — WHY NOT MADSON?  —  DENVER — That, ladies and gentlemen, is not a happy Charlie Manuel.  —  This picture was taken a few moments after Yorvit Torrealba's two-out single gave the Rockies an improbable 7-6 win last night.  Improbable, I say, because the Phillies were leading 6-1 in the sixth inning.

The juice behind the numbers  —  Touching Base  —  When the 1938 Yankees became the first team to boast five hitters with at least 20 home runs, they were legends.  —  The fearsome fivesome included Hall of Famers Bill Dickey, Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig, as well as nine-time All-Star Joe Gordon and five-time All-Star Tommy Henrich.

The Infield That May Make Milwaukee Famous  —  The National League infield for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night will be Prince Fielder, Chase Utley, José Reyes and David Wright.  What are the chances that in a few years Fielder could be joined by Rickie Weeks, J. J. Hardy and Ryan Braun?

New stadium is a must for Drillers  —  THE TEXAS LEAGUE, once the home to similar cities such as Tulsa, Wichita, Little Rock and Shreveport, has undergone a facelift in recent years.  —  Next season, it will be the home of such diverse communities as Springdale, Ark., Springfield, Mo., Corpus Christi, Texas, and Frisco, Texas.

Hernandez reads internet letter; hear clips  —  No, Jarrod Washburn won't start tomorrow.  Quash that rumor.  The Mariners were just being secretive about the rotation pre-game, well, for the sake of being secretive.  It will be Felix Hernandez, Jarrod Washburn, Miguel Batista and Jeff Weaver pitching against the Tigers next week.

Rodriguez, Angels make the plays to beat Yankees  —  Closer gets out of a two-on, one-out jam in the 13th inning in front of 54,497 at Yankee Stadium, after two errors in the top of the inning allow Angels to take the lead.  Match-up between Lackey and C  —  NEW YORK — Maybe there is something to this 7-7-7 stuff, after all.