Wagner out for season with elbow injury, could miss '09  —  Mets closer Billy Wagner has a torn ligament in his left elbow and will have surgery this week, meaning he'll miss the rest of this season and likely all of 2009, too.  —  The surgery will repair a torn MCL ligament and a torn flexor pronator …

A-Rod's slip of tongue indicts fading Yankees  —  SEATTLE - Even Alex Rodriguez seems to have realized that the Yankees are not playoff-bound.  —  After a 5-2 loss to the Mariners yesterday knocked them into fourth place in the American League East, behind the Rays, Red Sox and now the Blue Jays …

Delgado continues his rebirth … NEW YORK — He was being chided in this city, practically booed out of town.  It was only a few months ago that Carlos Delgado was refusing curtain calls while careening toward a possible platoon at first base.  —  Then it was late June, Willie Randolph was fired …

Gameday Live 144: Yankees at Angels  —  Good evening Yankees enthusiasts, I'm Chris Mascaro and I'll be bring you all of tonight's live game action, as the Yanks (76-67) open a three-game set in Anaheim against the Angels (86-56).  —  The Yankees are in the midst of a marathon 10-day road trip …

Ortiz: ‘My hand is not OK’  —  DAVID ORTIZFirst homer in 20 games (Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press)  —  ARLINGTON, Texas - When David Ortiz smashed a pitch from Brandon McCarthy off the facing of the second deck at Rangers Ballpark at Arlington in yesterday's game against Texas, it marked his first home run in 20 games.

Cubs not panicking — yet  —  Reds rally for 3 in ugly 9th to hand Cubs 7th loss in last 8 games  —  CINCINNATI — Is it time to panic yet?  —  Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee says no. But the state of the team after what might have been its toughest loss of the season Sunday makes you wonder.

Manny Ramirez: Baseball's Most Innovative Player  —  Why the Dodgers' dreadlocked bad-boy is the best thing to happen to L.A. since martinis and plastic surgery  —  Manny Ramirez and his dreadlocks have a lock on L.A. Dodgers' fans' hearts and minds, and are a shoo-in for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

250,000 Watch  —  I'll be watching the MLB Extra Innings Mix Channel, and recording it on my DVR as well.  That should give me a good view of when the homers are hit and which order.  I suppose if two players hit homer at the same time, the MLB replay nerve center can make the call as to which is 250,000.

Former player, manager Gutteridge dies at age 96  —  PITTSBURG, Kan. — Don Gutteridge, who played for four major league teams and managed the Chicago White Sox in 1969 and 1970, died at his home.  He was 96.  —  He died Sunday after contracting pneumonia about a month ago, son Don Gutteridge Jr. said.

Steinbrenner: Girardi will return for Yanks in '09  —  The New York Yankees plan to retain Joe Girardi as manager next year.  “Joe will be back,” co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner said Monday at the club's spring training complex.  “He's done everything he could.  That's the bottom line.”

Rays' Maddon says Percival is still closer  —  Rays trainer Ron Porterfield checks Matt Garza after Marco Scutaro's liner hit the pitcher's forearm in the fifth.  Garza was fine.  —  TORONTO — Troy Percival's latest struggles have not shaken the confidence manager Joe Maddon has in him.