It's time for Dodgers to set a lineup and stick with it  —  They need to end the daily game of musical chairs with Matt Kemp, Luis Gonzalez and Andre Ethier, because hitting is about timing, and the more they play, the better the timing could be.  —  The calendar reads September.  The lineup is fit for June.

BRAVES BLEW CHANCE TO BRING GLAVINE BACK  —  FORGET about if Tom Glavine is going to pitch next year.  It was his decision for this current season that altered the NL East balance of power.  —  He all but begged the Braves to return him to Atlanta to win his 300th game in his most familiar uniform and to be near his family.

Nationals can't keep Fish at bay  —  Pitching staff knocked around by Marlins hitters in loss  —  MIAMI — The Marlins' potent offense is like a row of falling dominos — once it gets going, it's hard to stop.  The Nationals learned that the hard way on Tuesday.

It's raining runs at Fenway bash  —  Bats full of thunder as Red Sox roar back  —  It all started with a round of boos.  With Mike Lowell on first base and David Ortiz on second, J.D. Drew stood at the plate looking at a third strike to end the first inning.

White Sox give Guillen extension  —  CHICAGO — Ozzie Guillen took the Chicago White Sox to a World Series championship two years ago.  Now he's trying to keep them from having the worst record in the major leagues.  —  Sounds like a strange time to give him a new contract …

No excuse for all these excuses  —  The Rockies' magic numbers are 7 and 9.  —  This has no correlation to the Rox postseason chances.  —  Even with the overpowering 8-2 victory in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, the Rockies will not be division champions.  That is a lead-pipe cinch.

Mets notebook  —  To honor the victims of 9/11, the Mets held a ceremony prior to the start of Tuesday's game and then took the field with each player wearing a hat paying tribute to the eight branches of service that suffered losses.  —  Willie Randolph, who wore an NYPD cap, said, "You never forget.

Mets' El Duque usually has his ups and downs  —  The Yankees traded Orlando Hernandez to Omar Minaya's Expos (through the White Sox) on Jan. 15, 2003, and I recall the palpable sense of relief the subsequent spring training.  El Duque had worn on the Yankees, his steady stream of injuries …

'Crowd' a relative term at Marlins games  —  Today's game, starting at 1:05 p.m., features the two bottom-dwellers of the National League East in a contest with no playoff ramifications.  —  Regardless who wins, one thing is all but certain: It will be the Marlins' smallest crowd of the year.

Notes: Chipper can't avoid injury bug  —  Veteran's right oblique muscle strain keeps him sidelined  —  NEW YORK — Chipper Jones didn't return to the lineup for Tuesday night's game against the Mets, and the Braves know there's at least a chance they'll be spending the remainder …

Jason Giambi's grand slam leads Yanks, Hughes past Jays  —  TORONTO - The ball soared over the wall in left-center field at Rogers Centre and Jason Giambi knew the joy of contributing again.  Finally.  —  Giambi, once one of the most dangerous bats in the Yankee lineup …

O's saying little on situation with Gibbons  —  Team 'not in a position' to answer questions; Guthrie may return  —  The Orioles didn't rush to Jay Gibbons' defense today.  They chose instead to tread lightly, their steps and words measured.  —  Players are hesitant to discuss …

Notes: Hamilton to see more lefties  —  Cincinnati to test rookie center fielder against southpaws  —  CINCINNATI — As a rookie, Josh Hamilton never made any waves, requests or demands that he wanted to face more left-handed pitching.  —  Yet it was clear it was something the Reds center fielder wanted.