A-Rod's case for megabucks gets stronger  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  NEW YORK - Attention, opt-out shoppers:  —  The latest Alex Rodriguez infomercial is a doozy.  —  Two home runs in one inning.  Two curtain calls in one inning.  The passing of Mel Ott and tying of Ernie Banks …

Strained hip to sideline Delgado  —  Mets first baseman likely to miss seven to 10 days of action  —  CINCINNATI — Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado will miss a week to 10 days with a strained right hip flexor, New York vice president of player development Tony Bernazard said Wednesday after the Mets' 7-0 loss to the Reds.

Lo Duca touches lives young and old  —  Clemente Award nominee helps sick kids, women with cancer  —  NEW YORK — Far removed from the sterile world of hospital beds and heart monitors — the world where Paul Lo Duca usually gives back — the Mets catcher was caught off guard last month …

With 2 late HRs off BoSox pen, Jays win  —  BOSTON (AP) — The Red Sox can afford off nights like this.  The Blue Jays can't have many more.  —  Vernon Wells hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning after Troy Glaus' solo shot tied it in the eighth, and Toronto tagged Boston's usually strong bullpen for a 6-4 victory Wednesday.

Bonderman: Elbow OK; team is not  —  DETROIT — It's getting bad for the Detroit Tigers, so bad that maybe the best piece of news they could offer Tuesday was that Jeremy Bonderman says his right elbow doesn't hurt.  —  "I'm fine," Bonderman said with some conviction, after he was told that some teammates suspected he is not.

Save the date?:  Wedding for Yanks' rookie in peril  —  NEW YORK — If Ian Kennedy has to postpone his own wedding, it will be for a really good reason.  —  Scheduled to be at Westborough Country Club in Kirkwood, Mo., for his wedding on Oct. 6, the rookie pitcher might have to be on the mound …

Peavy set to go on three days' rest  —  PHOENIX - Aligning his ace against the Padres' closest rival, manager Bud Black will start Jake Peavy on short rest tonight against the Diamondbacks, a move that Peavy not only welcomed but suggested.  —  Black said that Peavy, coming off a 99-pitch scoreless performance, told him: "I feel good.

Indians Sweep Twins Again  —  MINNEAPOLIS — The surging Cleveland Indians completed another sweep of Minnesota and left the Twins barely clinging to their playoff hopes.  Victor Martinez had two hits and two RBIs to back a quality start from Fausto Carmona, and Cleveland beat Minnesota 6-2 …

Hurdle suspended for tonight's game  —  Clint Hurdle's rush to question an umpire's judgment cost the Rockies manager a one-game suspension.  Hurdle will serve it tonight, meaning he'll miss the finale of the Rockies' three-game series with the Giants.  —  Friday night at Phoenix's Chase Field …

Minors.Baseball-Reference.com has launched  —  I'm very pleased to announce that Sports Reference has launched a minor league subsite for Baseball-Reference.com.  This site includes 16 years of data back to 1992 and contains all of the 2007 regular season data (we'll get the NYP …

Granderson having a remarkable statistical season … We knew that Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson had the potential for statistical greatness when, in 2005, his second big league season, he went 5-for-5, didn't score a run and didn't drive in a run in a 5-3 loss to the Angels.

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 …