Peavy is logical choice for Cy Young and MVP  —  LOS ANGELES - Since no hitter stands head and shoulders above this National League season, maybe the Most Valuable Player can be found at an elevation of 10 inches.  —  Perhaps there's an argument worth advancing on behalf of a pitcher.

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.

Full palette of skippers up for award  —  Several worthy candidates in running for NL Manager of Year  —  Choosing a Manager of the Year is, in some ways, like judging art.  What looks like a masterful work to some doesn't impress others because so much of the evaluation is in the eye of the beholder.

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 …

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.

Angelos: Presume innocence  —  BALTIMORE (Map, News) - The Orioles will stand behind Jay Gibbons-at least that's the stance taken by the team's owner: Peter Angelos.  —  In an interview with The Examiner Tuesday, Angelos used the premise of his legal background - suggesting that everyone …

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.

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.

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 …

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.

'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 …