Kerry Wood still suffering discomfort  —  Blister might force closer to DL; Irish product in pipeline  —  PHOENIX - Kerry Wood's blister remains bothersome, if not yet disabling.  He had to ease his way through a scheduled bullpen session Wednesday, throwing only changeups …

Enough already  —  The Yankees are in town for a weekend series, and this would be a nice time to retire the stupidest chant in the world: Yankees suck.  —  Now, before you go all Hank Steinbrenner on me, hear me out.  —  I don't like the Yankees.  I never did, though as a kid I liked …

Mariners Notebook: Faces may change  —  Roster may look different on return home  —  The question as the Mariners packed up after Wednesday's game against the Red Sox in preparation for a flight to Toronto: What would the club look like the next time it assembled at Safeco Field?

Red Sox looking to acquire Uribe in deal with Chicago  —  The Red Sox are deep in conversations with the White Sox on a trade that would send infielder Juan Uribe to Boston, according to sources.  —  Uribe is batting just .225 in limited playing time this season, but his three home runs …

Nats GM says Cordero will hit market  —  Bowden reveals intention to non-tender injured closer  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The offseason is a little more than two months away, but the Nationals have already decided that reliever Chad Cordero will be non-tendered.  The news comes two weeks after Cordero had shoulder surgery.

Do veteran players ‘know how to win’?  —  It was my first sabermetric argument.  At least, the first one I remember.  The year was 1984, and my beloved Mets were battling the Cubs for the NL East division lead.  I had a buddy who felt that the Cubs were going to take it …

Mets looking closer at 'pen help through trade  —  With plenty of deals already made throughout the league, and exactly a week left before next Thursday's 4 p.m. trade deadline, the Mets are still deciding when — or if — to pull the trigger themselves.  The most obvious need is for a corner outfielder …

Yankees brass convenes today as deadline nears  —  The Yankees' top decision makers will convene today at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa to determine what, if any, moves they should make as the July 31 non-waivers trade deadline approaches.  —  General manager Brian Cashman …

Wilpon: I screwed up firing  —  Fred Wilpon said he learned something from firing Willie Randolph.  And it is this: The next time he fires a manager he'll do it in the light of day, when reporters are not sleeping.  —  Wilpon talked about his “lesson” in the studio of his SportsNet New York …

Jays notebook: Litsch sent down, Purcey promoted  —  • The Toronto Blue Jays have run out of patience with Jesse Litsch.  —  The struggling right-hander was exiled to Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday night.  Lefty David Purcey was called up and will take Litsch's spot in the starting rotation.

Breaking down the draft: Picks 36-44  —  Continuing our “Breaking Down the Draft” series, today we break down draft picks 36-44.  In case you missed the previous three parts of this series, I have listed them below:  —  Breaking Down the Draft: Part One  —  Breaking Down the Draft: Picks 18 - 26

Finally, coast is clear  —  SEATTLE - Yankees tomorrow.  At Fenway.  The return of David Ortiz.  Maybe the return of Manny Ramírez.  Joba Chamberlain and Josh Beckett throwing darts.  —  Get there early.  This could be the beginning of the pennant race in the American League East.

Arroyo: Please keep me  —  Remember when Bronson Arroyo's favorite song had the words, “Please Come to Boston” in them.  No more.  He wants to stay right in Cincinnati and if he has to eat five-way chili over New England clam chowder, so be it.  —  Arroyo, hearing the rumors of possible trades …

POSADA DECIDES TO DELAY SURGERY  —  Jorge Posada and the Yankees confirmed what was reported in Wednesday's Post: The All-Star catcher needs right shoulder surgery that will require six months to recover from.  But Posada wants to see if two weeks of rest will allow him to help as a designated hitter/first baseman.

PADRES: Wolf sent to Astros for minor league pitcher  —  Towers insists that club won't initiate a fire sale  —  The Padres traded their second veteran player since the All-Star break on Tuesday, sending pitcher Randy Wolf to Houston for a minor-league pitcher.