Baseball

What was the worst free-agent signing of the off-season? It had to be Ranger shortstop Manny Lee, who signed a two-year, $3.4 million deal. Through Sunday he was hitting .158 and had played erratically on defense. In addition, he has been injured much of the year; he refused to go on a rehabilitation assignment in July; and he was benched after loafing in a game in early August....

On Aug. 5 Detroit's Rob Deer struck out four times for the the third time this year and the 17th time in his career. He holds the record for the most four-or-more-strike-out games in a career, topping Dick Allen who had 15....

Barry Bonds Note of the Week: On Aug. 4 he was twice walked intentionally, giving him 32 intentional passes this year, which is twice as many as any other player in the league. Former Giant Willie McCovey holds the major league record for most intentional walks in a season, with 45 in 1969. The statistic wasn't kept before 1955....

The latest Mets' incident with pitcher Bret Saberhagen sums up the season for that beleaguered team. Last Friday Saberhagen threw a tantrum in the clubhouse before the game and then said he wanted to be traded. He was supposed to pitch the next day, but he injured his knee while warming up on Saturday and had arthroscopic surgery on Monday. He is probably out for a month. This year's Mets will be remembered as one of the most fouled-up teams in history....

Red Sox closer Jeff Russell is having a tremendous year for a team in a pennant race, but here's how he describes his situation: "It's the passing of time, really. It's sort of sad to say, but I'm just waiting for this year and next year to go by, really, so I don't have to do this anymore." ...Beefy Cardinal reliever Lee Smith says he has been feeling a little sluggish lately. "I've been running too much," he says, smiling. "But it's been to the refrigerator."