Writers Bloc: Torre taking heat off Howe

Law: <a name="&amp;lpos=story_in" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9277478/houston-astros-do-not-take-mark-appel-first-mock-draft-2013-mlb-draft?addata=2009_insdr_mod_mlb_xxx_xxx">First 2013 mock draft
Bowden: <a name="&amp;lpos=story_in" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9275431/mlb-better-shelby-miller-matt-harvey?addata=2009_insdr_mod_mlb_xxx_xxx">Who's better -- Miller or Harvey?
Nitkowski: <a name="&amp;lpos=story_in" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9278772/how-major-league-teams-became-better-scouting-asian-pitchers-mlb?addata=2009_insdr_mod_mlb_xxx_xxx">MLB clubs now smarter in Asia
Karabell: <a name="&amp;lpos=story_in" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/eric-karabell/post?id=1464&addata=2009_insdr_mod_mlb_xxx_xxx">Machado deserves more love
Szymborski: <a name="&amp;lpos=story_in" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9273573/the-houston-astros-quest-catch-1962-new-york-mets-mlb?addata=2009_insdr_mod_mlb_xxx_xxx">Astros' quest to catch '62 Mets

Updated: June 24, 2003, 2:46 PM ET

Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News is puzzled as to why all the headlines are about Joe Torre's future with the Yankees when the New York manager who is really struggling with what fate has handed him -- Art Howe of the Mets -- barely gets mentioned.

What's the toughest thing in sports? Going out gracefully, writes Dan Daly of the Washington Times. Even the very best athletes have a hard time pulling off that trick.

The Dodgers are brimming with confidence in spite of the fact that they hit like their calendar reads 1968. John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle compares them to those great pitching/light hitting Dodger teams of the 1960s.

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