Wagner gets no relief

Mets closer ruled out indefinitely

Billy Wagner has more pain and swelling in his pitching elbow, and the New York Mets' All-Star closer is out indefinitely.

Wagner had an MRI yesterday that revealed additional inflammation in his left elbow - an alarming sign after he spent most of the past two weeks resting his ailing arm. Now the National League East leaders don't know when he might be able to return to the mound, if at all, this season.

"I'm very frustrated, but there's not much for me to do," Wagner said.

The team had hoped to activate Wagner from the disabled list Monday in Pittsburgh. But he felt discomfort in his elbow after throwing a simulated game Saturday and was sent back to New York for further evaluation.

Upton contrite

B.J. Upton apologized for a "mental lapse" on the bases, saying he didn't want to become a distraction for the American League East-leading Tampa Bay Rays.

"There's no excuse for it. It can't happen, especially in the middle of a pennant race," the 23-year-old center fielder said a day after his gaffe.

Benched three times in the past two weeks for not hustling, Upton looked shocked Monday night when he was thrown out at second base on what should have been a routine double.

Further review

Umpires want baseball to take another look at instant replay.

Umps said their governing board voted to boycott a conference call today with management intended to discuss implementing replay because they're angry their concerns aren't being addressed. Major League Baseball responded by saying it canceled the call because it doesn't have a replay agreement with the union.

Umpires say they're unhappy that replay equipment is being installed away from the field in nearly all major league ballparks and also aren't pleased that MLB wants them to discuss the replays with umpire supervisors in New York before making a decision on whether to reverse a call.

Baseball has started installing equipment in ballparks, hoping to get a replay system for boundary calls up and running this month.

Maddux back to LA

Greg Maddux is back in Los Angeles for another stretch drive. The Dodgers confirmed they have reacquired Maddux and received cash from San Diego. The Padres will get two minor league players to be named or cash. The 42-year-old Maddux came to the Dodgers late in the 2006 season, when he went 6-3 with a 3.30 ERA in 12 starts to help them win a wild-card berth. He is 6-9 with a 3.99 ERA this season . . . St. Louis reliever Jason Isringhausen could miss the rest of the season with right elbow tendinitis and a partially torn tendon . . . The Yankees are still deciding if Carl Pavano will pitch this weekend. The righthander is in the mix to start Saturday at Baltimore. Pavano has been in just two games for New York since 2005. With Joba Chamberlain and Dan Giese on the disabled list, Pavano and Phil Hughes are the leading candidates for Saturday . . . Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler might be able to avoid season-ending surgery for a groin injury after receiving an encouraging diagnosis from Dr. John Preskitt at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas . . . Former Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu, 39, was arrested today for allegedly assaulting a bartender after drinking 20 mugs of beer, a police official said. Irabu became angered after his credit card was rejected. He then allegedly pushed the bartender against the wall, pulled his hair and smashed at least nine liquor bottles at a bar in Osaka, a police official said on condition of anonymity, citing department policy. The bartender sustained no injuries. Irabu eventually paid the bill with another credit card.