DOWN THE LINE

A Week in ...

the Game

Take your choice:

Another round of interleague play, with curiosities such as Cardinals at White Sox, Phillies at Red Sox and A’s at Giants.

On Thursday, Roger Clemens starts over again at 341 wins, seven Cy Young Awards and another deficit in the National League Central. He’ll face the Twins and, potentially, overpowering left-hander Francisco Liriano.

Adrian Beltre returns to Chavez Ravine on Tuesday, followed by Jim Tracy on Friday -- which is pretty much how it happened last time, though in the other direction.

Reunions of the 2002 World Series teams (Angels at Giants) and the 2005 World Series teams (Astros at White Sox) begin Monday and Friday, respectively.

Joe Girardi, the former loyal pinstriper now managing the Florida Marlins, is back in the Bronx on Friday, though it won’t look much like the 2003 World Series.

A developing rivalry in the mid-Atlantic (Nationals at Orioles) begins Friday, presumably televised by someone.

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Where Hugo Is ...

Boss

Baseball scouts risk sleep deprivation, fast-food overload and the whims of front-office philosophies to identify talent, but some are drawing the line at political and economic unrest.

Venezuela scares them. Some are cutting trips to the baseball-rich country short, or simply refusing to go.

“It’s just the Wild West down there,” one scout said. “You’re taking your life in your hands every time you leave the hotel.”

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Six Weeks to the ...

Trading Deadline

Of all their available parts, including shortstop Julio Lugo, center fielder Rocco Baldelli and DH-outfielder Jonny Gomes, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are least motivated to trade left fielder Carl Crawford.

Of course, he’s the man everyone wants.

Because of Matt Kemp’s emergence, the Dodgers have shifted their trading-deadline emphasis to pitching, but could kick the tires on Crawford, among others. The Devil Rays will ask for Chad Billingsley to start with and could have some interest in Cesar Izturis, since Lugo will be a free agent at the end of the year.

The Angels, on the other hand, are desperate -- or should be -- for a Crawford type. The deal will begin with either Ervin Santana, whom Devil Rays Manager Joe Maddon adores, or Jered Weaver.

The Cardinals also have their eye on a corner outfielder -- Alfonso Soriano, Crawford or, if he becomes available, Miguel Cabrera -- but are reluctant to part with Anthony Reyes, the former USC right-hander.

The Padres are unhappy with the offensive production of Vinny Castilla and will troll for a third baseman, in a thin market.

The Diamondbacks, whose farm system is the best in baseball, have the quality and quantity to overwhelm the Marlins for Dontrelle Willis.

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Now, Only His Contract

Looks ... Big

Randy Johnson, whose 5.32 ERA in 15 starts ranked 37th in the American League, right between Josh Beckett and Joel Pineiro, has New Yorkers wondering if he isn’t done at 42.

And not all of those New Yorkers are your typical fans.

According to the Bergen County Record in Hackensack, N.J., a senior Yankees official observed, “If he were a rookie, he wouldn’t even be on the team right now.”

The Yankees are on the hook for another season, and another $16 million, with Johnson, not that the money matters to them.

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One More Thing From ...

Maddon

On the night the lights went out in Detroit, leading to a come-from-ahead extra-inning loss, in the St. Petersburg Times: “I saw that big switch in their dugout ... says ‘Outfield Lights’ right behind the bat rack over there: ‘Acme Light Switch: Pull in case of two-run deficit.’ ”

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-- Tim Brown