Rickey Henderson hired as Mets hitting coach  —  Newsday has learned that Rick Down has been relieved of his duties and that the future Hall of Famer will take over immediately.  —  The Mets will begin the season's second half with a dramatic change in their coaching staff, Newsday has learned.

Hafner gets 4-year, $57M extension  —  FOXSports.com, Updated 8 minutes ago  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  The Indians have signed designated hitter Travis Hafner to a four-year, $57 million contract extension, FOXSports.com has learned.  —  Hafner, 30, was eligible for free agency after the 2008 season.

Glass-full in Red Sox Nation  —  Even with sluggers off pace, club is cruising along in '07  —  BOSTON — The Red Sox enter the second half with a 10-game lead in the American League East despite the fact that their fearsome duo of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez are both well below their normal production pace.

Yanks want to talk deal with A-Rod during season  —  The New York Yankees are willing to bend their own rules to keep Alex Rodriguez in pinstripes beyond this season.  —  The Yankees have changed their traditional stance and are now willing to negotiate during the season with their star third baseman …

Selig: System working  —  Commissioner against changing playoff format; no decision on following Bonds  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Commissioner Bud Selig continues to weigh a decision on whether to attend games when Barry Bonds has put himself on the threshold of breaking Hank Aaron's career home-run record.

Angels quietly dominating AL West  —  Despite potential weaknesses, Halos manage to click  —  Major League Baseball, like life, is defined by checks and balances and decisions to live with.  Teams are forever juggling strengths and deficiencies, especially in this big-ticket era.

2007 ALL-STAR GAME  —  GIANTS: Magowan wants Sabean to stay  —  Contrary to rumors that the Giants are preparing to fire Brian Sabean, ownership has decided it wants Sabean back next year for a 12th season as general manager, and the two sides have begun discussions about a contract extension, The Chronicle has learned.

Ichiro's worth not measured by long ball  —  Just one more reason baseball deserves all the angst it's getting right now: All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Ichiro Suzuki.  —  Nobody in Tuesday's game in San Francisco was more fun to watch play than Ichiro.

Mariners at midseason: Starting pitching only glaring need  —  It's been four years since the Mariners could look forward to the second half of the season with anything but trepidation.  —  How things have changed.  —  Seattle, the last-place team in the AL West three years running …

Fog forces cancellation of tied Eastern League All-Star Game  —  NORWICH, Conn. (AP) -Dense fog that rolled into eastern Connecticut late Wednesday forced the cancellation of the Eastern League All-Star Game in the top of the third inning.  —  The Southern and Northern divisions were tied …

Will Twins go after Johnson?  —  The Twins' four-game series against Oakland beginning Thursday evening in the Metrodome could be an audition for A's first baseman Dan Johnson, a Blaine High School graduate.  —  Insiders say the A's are intent on trading Johnson to make room for top …