2004 TITLE CAN'T KILL CURSE OF BAMBINO  —  BOSTON - Acollectionofframed newspaper front pages from the 2004 World Series lines the walls outside of Fenway Park's press box.  The headlines scream "Finally," "Hallelujah" and "Curse Busters," celebrating the end of an 86-year-old title drought.

Wang, A-Rod power Yankees over Mariners  —  Timely hitting, a well-pitched game, an Alex Rodriguez shot into the stratosphere of the upper deck in left and, of course, their friendly neighborhood squirrel.  —  Those were the keys to the Yankees' 12-3 win over the Mariners last night …

Notes: Detwiler and Maxwell reach bigs  —  Two prospects will likely sit and learn for most of September  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals left-hander Ross Detwiler and center fielder Justin Maxwell reported to the big league team on Tuesday afternoon.  —  Manager Manny Acta reiterated …

Roger Clemens' injury forces Mike Mussina into rotation  —  With Roger Clemens on the shelf for at least one start, it looks like Mike Mussina will get a second chance in the starting rotation.  —  Joe Torre hasn't made it official, but Mussina should take the ball on Sunday in Kansas City, following Ian Kennedy and Andy Pettitte.

Notes: How to avoid being booed  —  Patterson demoted; Fuld, Hart, Pignatiello called up  —  CHICAGO — There's one way to get fans to stop booing at Wrigley Field, Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Tuesday.  —  "The best way to quiet them is to go out and do well," said Piniella …

Lo Duca's 7 RBIs power Mets over Reds  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — Paul Lo Duca's timing was perfect.  —  Lo Duca hit a pair of three-run homers and drove in a career-high seven runs Tuesday night, powering the New York Mets to their fifth straight victory, 11-7 over the Cincinnati Reds.

Braves on long march of mediocrity  —  They were the National League's gold-standard team over a span of 15 seasons, but the Braves have seen that distinction erode these past two seasons.  —  They've had a run here and a surge there, but mostly it's been mediocrity for two seasons.

New Guillen deal may be in works  —  Struggling Sox maintain mastery over Detroit  —  DETROIT — An extension for a manager whose team has sunk from a 2005 World Series championship to last place in the American League Central seems absurd, but Ozzie Guillen's security could be fortified with a new contract.

Notes: Loe to miss his next start  —  Prospect White relief candidate; Otsuka reports elbow pain  —  ARLINGTON — Kameron Loe is going to miss one start because of a sore right elbow and is expected to be replaced by right-hander Jamey Wright when his spot comes up next week in Detroit.

Notes: League switches training sites  —  Reliever trades in surfing in Hawaii for weight room in Florida  —  BOSTON — Brandon League is leaving the waves behind.  In an effort to avoid repeating the misfortunes of this forgettable season, the Blue Jays reliever is planning a drastic change to his offseason routine.

Peavy, Pettitte named August Pitchers of the Month  —  Jake Peavy of the San Diego Padres has been named the National League Pitcher of the month for August, while Andy Pettitte has earned American League Pitcher of the Month honors, it was announced today.  —  Peavy, the National League's …

Notes: Olsen gets two extra days off  —  Prospects prep for fall league; Ramirez debates surgery  —  WASHINGTON — Scratching for answers to why Scott Olsen has struggled of late, the Marlins have decided to give the 23-year-old left-hander a couple more days to help get himself right.

LA Angels 4, Oakland 3  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The scenario was all too familiar.  Garret Anderson got the key hit for the Los Angeles Angels and bolted from the postgame clubhouse, leaving it up to his manager and teammates to extoll his many virtues.  —  Anderson hit a tiebreaking …

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.