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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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

Lo Duca is conscious of potential move  —  Washington (38-63) at San Francisco (42-58), 3:45 p.m. ET  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Nationals catcher Paul Lo Duca said on Wednesday that he would be lying if he didn't take notice that the Yankees need a starting catcher because Jorge Posada suffered a right shoulder injury.

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 …

Bartman turns down $25,000 offer for autograph  —  ROSEMONT, Ill. — Steve Bartman has refused yet another offer to cash in on the moment he became the most famous — or infamous — Chicago Cubs fan in history.  —  Bartman friend Frank Murtha says that Bartman won't accept an offer of $25,000.

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.

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.

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.