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.

Simple truth: Big Papi's mortality showing  —  Say the words "David Ortiz [stats]" and "knee surgery," and it's enough to make you feel about as robust and October-optimistic as a Tampa Bay Devil Rays fan.  —  Say those words and you are suddenly filled with dread, worried that this long …

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.

For Rodriguez, Yanks Will Break Rules  —  For most players, 30 home runs and 86 runs batted in would constitute a good season.  For Alex Rodriguez this year, 30 home runs and 86 R.B.I. make up a little more than half a season, and that production has grabbed the Yankees' attention.

Some starry pieces  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Picked-up pieces from All-Star week in the postcard-perfect Bay Area:  —  If we can agree that Fenway is the best old ballpark, can we make a case for AT&T Park as the best of the newbies?  The setting is spectacular.  It's an easy walk from anywhere downtown.

PHIL IN THE BLANK  —  YANKS HAVE 'TIMELINE' FOR HUGHES' RETURN  —  Brian Cashman has an idea when Phil Hughes will be ready to provide the Yankees with a much-needed boost it the back of their rotation, but the GM isn't ready to make it public.  —  "We have a timeline, but we aren't going to announce it," Cashman said yesterday.

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.

Blogger Beat: Moises and Pedro  —  On this special midseason edition of Blogger Beat, I rounded up a veritable All-Star team of Mets bloggers to discuss how the second half may shake out, and what this team needs to get back to October.  —  D.J. Short of MetsBlog writes:

Braves losing tradition of colorful monikers  —  What in the name of Al Hrabosky is going on here?  —  Time was, the Braves franchise was a most verdant ground for baseball nicknames.  —  The Mad Hungarian.  The Hammer.  Howdy Doody.  The Road Runner.  Cha Cha.

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 …

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.