Under The Knife  —  Focusing on Focusing  —  I was reading Steven Poole's blog entry on writing process and abandoning Microsoft Word, when I realized that while everything he said was true—I too all but abandoned Word earlier this year—that the process he describes for his writing is about as opposite of mine as it could be.

Mariners beat Yankees as Roger Clemens leaves early for elbow MRI  —  Losing a game to the Mariners yesterday might turn out to be the least of the Yankees' problems, as Roger Clemens left the ballpark during the game to undergo an MRI on his $28 million right elbow.

Lou gets wardrobe warning  —  Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona isn't the only one being monitored by Major League Baseball's clothing cops.  —  Cubs manager Lou Piniella said he received a letter last week warning he faces a $1,000 fine should he fail to wear the Cubs' game jersey during games.

Returns are in: Average performance from Pedro  —  CINCINNATI — Pedro Martinez admitted the quality of his pitches was not anywhere near his best.  Nor were the Reds overly impressed from what they saw from the right-hander.  —  Martinez allowed five hits and three runs (two earned) …

Nationals trade King to Brewers  —  Washington to receive player to be named in trade  —  WASHINGTON — The Nationals traded left-handed reliever Ray King to the Brewers on Tuesday for a player to be named.  —  King, who was a valuable situational lefty out of the bullpen, went 1-1 with a 4.54 ERA in 55 games this season.

Pedro records 3,000th strikeout  —  Mets right-hander sets down Harang to join exclusive club  —  CINCINNATI — The baseball moved untouched past the bat of Aaron Harang and popped into the catcher's mitt of Paul Lo Duca for the third strike of the third out of the second inning.

A-Rod, Ordonez, Utley and Wright pushing to be MVPs … September isn't just a month when pennants are won.  It's also a month when MVP trophies are won.  —  So let's take a look at the most prominent MVP candidates in each league — and where they stand with four weeks left in a sensational season.

Padres add Tomko ahead of stretch drive  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  The Padres, attempting to fortify their pitching staff for the September stretch drive, have signed right-hander Brett Tomko to serve as a long reliever and possible spot starter.  —  Tomko, 34, was designated for assignment …

Peavy wants it now  —  PHOENIX - Thirty minutes after Greg Maddux won for the first time in 11 career starts here, after the San Diego Padres moved into the National League West lead by themselves for the first time in two months, after they'd put a 10-2 beating on the Arizona Diamondbacks …

Ramirez's shoulder may need surgery  —  WASHINGTON — Shortstop Hanley Ramirez gave the Marlins a scare Monday when he grabbed his shoulder and fell down in pain after swinging at and missing a high fast ball..  —  Ramirez stayed in the game and doubled twice, but he said he is considering having surgery …

Big Apple sweep  —  A-Rod, Wright emerge as leading MVP candidates  —  Also in this column:  —  For the first time in 52 years and only the third time in baseball history, both league MVPs may play the same position in the same city.  —  Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has a hammerlock on his third American League MVP award.

Pirates Notebook: Bullington caps long road back  —  ST. LOUIS — Bryan Bullington already had lost enough time.  —  He and his family were in Louisville, Ky., yesterday afternoon when he received the word he has been awaiting for two years: He was being called up by the Pirates …

Nats' Bullpen Comes To Rescue Once Again  —  Yesterday afternoon, long after Jason Bergmann worked seven impressive innings and Wily Mo Pe?a homered, Brian Schneider watched the final out fall into the glove of right fielder Austin Kearns and walked directly toward the mound.  Chad Cordero strode toward Schneider.

Detwiler, others on fast track to DC  —  Lefty will be third Nats pick to make MLB debut in draft year  —  WASHINGTON — The Nationals are expected to purchase the contracts of pitchers Ross Detwiler, Jonathan Albaladejo and Arnie Munoz, and outfielders Justin Maxwell and Ryan Langerhans on Tuesday.

Dodgers rip Zambrano, he rips Cubs fans  —  Carlos Zambrano bit the hand that feeds him Monday afternoon at Wrigley Field, ripping Cubs fans for booing him off the mound after another in a series of erratic outings.  —  As he walked to the dugout after being removed in the fifth inning …