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Pirates fire two coaches after last-place finish
Pitching coach Jeff Andrews and first base coach Lou Frazier were fired Monday by the Pittsburgh Pirates after only one season in their jobs. Andrews, a former Pirates minor league pitching coach whose hiring was recommended by several of the club’s pitchers, had season-long problems with one of the worst staffs in the franchise’s history. The last-place Pirates didn’t have a 10-game winner for the first time in 108 seasons and their 5.08 ERA was the fifth-highest in club history.

Yankees‘ Rivera to have shoulder surgery
Yankees closer Mariano Rivera will have offseason surgery on his sore right shoulder but should be ready to throw by spring training.

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Primer for a postseason without New York
For the first time since 1995, neither New York team is in the playoffs. Randy Hill says, luckily, baseball has star power to spare.

LIVE: ChiSox need win to force 1-game playoff

Home runs drop to 15-year low

Home runs in the major leagues dropped this year to their lowest level since 1993, and Angels center fielder Torii Hunter thinks he might know why.

‘I think the steroid testing has something to do with it,’ he said. ‘If there were any guys who were taking it, they’re not taking it anymore. I’d say it’s a small percentage, but of course it’s going to have an impact.’

An average of 2.01 home runs per game were hit this year, down from 2.04 in 2007. The average hadn’t dropped that low since 15 years ago, when it stood at 1.78, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

With Beckett hurt, Angels have edge
With Josh Beckett pushed back (and possibly not himself), Ken Rosenthal says the Red Sox might be in trouble vs. the Angels.

The postseason picture
American League

White Sox’s Ramirez unfazed by pressure
As the Detroit Tigers made a pitching change with the bases loaded in the sixth inning of Monday’s makeup game, Chicago White …

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Primer for a postseason without New York
For the first time since 1995, neither New York team is in the playoffs. Randy Hill says, luckily, baseball has star power to spare.

Gallardo will open playoffs for Brewers
Yovani Gallardo will start Game 1 for the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL playoffs against Philadelphia, followed by ace CC Sabathia for Game 2. “I don’t know how to explain it. I’m very excited, just ready to go,” Gallardo said Monday. “I’m just going to give my team the opportunity to win.” Gallardo returned from a torn knee ligament and pitched four innings last Thursday against Pittsburgh in his first start since May 1.

Lowell, Drew take BP and could play in Game 1

Francona sees good signs about injured players as Red Sox prepare for playoff opener BOSTON - Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew took batting practice on an overcast day at Fenway Park.

Bud Black to return as Padres manager
Manager Bud Black won’t be made a scapegoat for the San Diego Padres‘ worst finish in 15 years. The Padres announced late Monday …

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M’s end miserable season with 4-3 win over A’s

Ichiro Suzuki had two hits and scored the decisive run as the Seattle Mariners rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday, ending a pair of forgettable seasons.

The perennial All-Star finished the season tied with Boston’s Dustin Pedroia for the most hits in the major leagues at 213. It is the fifth time Suzuki has led the majors in hits. Only Cobb, Rose, Musial and Gwynn have done that.

Suzuki finished the season batting .310, his 15th consecutive season above .300 in Japan and the major leagues.

Yankees are looking to future

Joe Girardi rounded the corner, bounded into the New York Yankees clubhouse and began dragging a big garbage can back to the manager’s office.

White Sox win, force playoff vs. Twins (AP)

Alexei Ramirez spread his arms wide, raced around the bases like a little kid and jumped into Paul Konerko’s embrace at home plate. No wonder they were so happy. The White Sox would play one more day. Ramirez set a rookie record with his fourth grand slam of the season, and Chicago beat Detroit 8-2 in a rainout makeup Monday, forcing a one-game tiebreaker against Minnesota for the AL Central title.

A capsule look at Red Sox-Angels playoff series

A look at the best-of-five American League division series between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels: Schedule: @ Game 1, Wednesday, at Anaheim, Calif.

Gallardo to start Game 1 for Brewers (AP)
Yovani Gallardo will start Game 1 for the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL playoffs against Philadelphia, followed by ace CC Sabathia for Game 2. “I don’t know how to explain it. I’m very excited, just ready to go,” Gallardo said Monday. “I’m just going to give my team the opportunity to win.” Gallardo returned from a torn knee ligament and pitched four innings last Thursday against Pittsburgh in his…

Howard carries Phillies into playoffs (AP)

Ryan Howard was leaving the field after taking batting practice before a game in early May when he spotted a group of young fans standing near the Phillies dugout frantically trying to get his attention. The slugger went over to the kids, chatted with them for several minutes and signed an assortment of caps, balls and cards.

Oakland Athletics (75-83) at Seattle Mariners (58-101),

The Seattle Mariners begin the final series of what’s been a miserable 2008 season with tonight’s first of three straight meetings with the Oakland Athletics from Safeco Field.

Yankees‘ Rivera to have shoulder surgery (AP)
Yankees closer Mariano Rivera will have offseason surgery on his sore right shoulder but should be ready to throw by spring training. Manager Joe Girardi said Monday that the procedure will shave down calcification of the A.C. joint on the top of Rivera’s shoulder. The surgery hasn’t been scheduled, but Girardi said it doesn’t appear to be a serious injury and there is no structural damage.

Twins ready for showdown vs. White Sox (AP)

While the Chicago White Sox played and won, the Minnesota Twins could only wait and watch. It’s not what the Twins hoped would happen on their strange day off, a rain-delayed 8-2 victory by the White Sox in their makeup game with the Detroit Tigers on Monday. Instead of traveling to Tampa Bay to start the first round of the playoffs as AL Central champions, the Twins instead were forced to point…

Lowell, Drew could play in opener (AP)
Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew took batting practice on an overcast day at Fenway Park. When they were done, the outlook for Boston’s two injured hitters was brighter. Both could be ready for Wednesday night’s opener of the AL division series against the Los Angeles Angels. The Red Sox can use the power that Lowell and Drew bring to the plate and that Josh Beckett, recovering from an injured side muscle,…

Rox lose season finale

Arizona Diamondbacks‘ Chris Young, left, tosses his bat away after earning a bases-loaded walk, as Colorado Rockies‘ Chris Iannetta, right, kneels as the winning run comes in to score in the ninth inning …

Dodgers-Cubs, Angels-Red Sox playoff schedules announced

The playoff schedule has been announced. First the local teams, followed by the rest of the schedule : Dodgers vs.

Nationals Fire 5 Coaches

The last-place Washington Nationals fired five coaches on Sunday, a complete overhaul of manager Manny Acta’s staff after finishing with the worst record in the majors.

Giants come back to take down Dodgers in 10th inning

The Chicago Cubs, World Series champions? Heck, why not? Nothing in baseball is impossible anymore.

Lincecum dazzles against Dodgers in last start

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, of Japan, throws to the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept.

Red Sox-Yankees game postponed by rain

Mac and Danny go 700 feet below ground to investigate when a construction worker is killed in a tunnel explosion.

LaRoche, Pearce homer as Pirates finish with win

Published September 28, 2008 at 5:13 p.m. SAN DIEGO _ The Pittsburgh Pirates ended yet another losing season with a win.

LaRoche, Pearce homer as Pirates finish with win

Published September 28, 2008 at 5:13 p.m. SAN DIEGO _ The Pittsburgh Pirates ended yet another losing season with a win.

Padres close set with visiting Pirates

A pair of last-place teams in their respective divisions wrap up a three-game series this afternoon, when the San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates close out the 2008 season at Petco Park.

Twins win to keep Central lead

Giants come back to take down Dodgers in 10th inning

The Chicago Cubs, World Series champions? Heck, why not? Nothing in baseball is impossible anymore.

Weeks homers to help Brewers take wild-card lead

The Milwaukee Brewers control their own destiny again. Rickie Weeks hit a three-run homer in the seventh, Seth McClung pitched four scoreless innings in relief and the Brewers rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs …

PHOTOS: Final day of regular season
CC Sabathia and the Brewers were among the big winners on the final day of the regular season. Check out the best shots here.

Mets choke away wild card berth
New season. Same result. The Mets were eliminated on the season’s final day, as CC Sabathia pitched Milwaukee into the playoffs.

Angels post club-record 100th win (AP)

Clinching the AL West title 2 1/2 weeks ago gave the Los Angeles Angels plenty of time to add some eye-popping numbers to their season statistics. As in 21 (their margin over second-place Texas) and 100 (club-record victories). Joe Saunders struck out a career-high nine in six sharp innings and Mike Napoli homered Sunday in a 7-0 win against the Rangers to end the regular season.

Twins win, await White Sox result Monday (AP)

The playoff party plans in Minnesota are still on hold. In a fitting conclusion to this slow-moving AL Central race, the Twins won their final scheduled game of the regular season and stayed in first place — but were forced to cheer against the Chicago White Sox for another day. “It’s kind of an ongoing joke that it seems like nobody wanted to win the Central, so this is kind of probably the way…

Giants come back to take down Dodgers in 10th inning

The Chicago Cubs, World Series champions? Heck, why not? Nothing in baseball is impossible anymore.

Big Unit throws 2-hitter for 295th win (AP)

Randy Johnson knew this might be his final appearance with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Big Unit gave fans in the desert something to remember, throwing a two-hitter to lead Arizona to a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday for his 295th career win. “The fans here have always been very supportive of me, and I appreciate that,” said the 45-year-old Johnson, a five-time Cy Young Award…

Hamels to start NLDS Game 1 for Phillies (AP)
Phillies ace Cole Hamels will pitch Game 1 of the division series when the NL East champions open Wednesday at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers or Milwaukee Brewers. Hamels went 14-10 with a 3.09 ERA this season and struck out 196 batters in 221 1-3 innings. Manager Charlie Manuel said he was undecided about his Game 2 starter and might wait until Monday to name one.

Phillies Notebook - September 27

Winning saturday saves Hamels for later The Phillies had plenty of reasons to celebrate Saturday, some more practical than others.

Nationals Fire 5 Coaches

The last-place Washington Nationals fired five coaches on Sunday, a complete overhaul of manager Manny Acta’s staff after finishing with the worst record in the majors.

Pettyjohn Toes The Rubber For Reds In St. Louis

Journeyman southpaw Adam Pettyjohn makes his first major- league start in seven years today when the Cincinnati Reds close out a three- game weekend series and their 2008 schedule against the St.

Mussina finally achieves 20-win season (AP)

Mike Mussina wrapped up a postgame television interview on the field then returned to the New York Yankees clubhouse. In a season with little to celebrate, his teammates gave him a rousing welcome — one he had waited his entire 18-year career to receive. Mussina had just become the oldest pitcher to win 20 games in a season for the first time as the Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 6-2 Sunday in…

Lowe will start Game 1 of playoffs for Dodgers
Joe Torre’s announcement hardly came as a surprise: right-hander Derek Lowe will start Game 1 of the NL division series for the …

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Blue Jays send Orioles to 10th straight loss

Scott Richmond pitched six innings of four-hit ball to earn his first major league victory and the Toronto Blue Jays handed the Baltimore Orioles their 10th straight loss Friday night, winning 3-0 in a game …

Brewers fall into wild-card tie with loss to Cubs
Ben Sheets was roughed up in his return from an injury, and the Milwaukee Brewers fell back into a tie for the NL wild card with …

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Mariners hint at hiring first female GM

Mariners hint at hiring first female GM Mariners‘ right fielder Ichiro Suzuki. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SEATTLE — Mariners president Chuck Armstrong said his team is vetting a wide range of general manager …

Red Sox-Yankees game postponed by rain

Mac and Danny go 700 feet below ground to investigate when a construction worker is killed in a tunnel explosion.

Marlins come out swinging, damage Mets‘ playoff hopes
It’s all slipping away for the New York Mets again. Mike Pelfrey lost to the Florida Marlins for the fourth time this year and …

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Santana becomes the ‘Shea-viour’ as Mets stay alive

Mets starter Johan Santana celebrates after getting Cody Ross to fly out and end the game Sept.

Lowe will start Game 1 of playoffs for Dodgers

SAN FRANCISCO : Joe Torre’s announcement hardly came as a surprise: right-hander Derek Lowe will start Game 1 of the NL division series for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Tampa Bay Rays (96-64) at Detroit Tigers (73-86),

With their first AL East title in team history secured, the Tampa Bay Rays continue to tune up for the postseason with the third of four games against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

DeRosa needs more time to heal
DeRosa needs more time to heal A vital cog to the Cubs‘ success this season, Mark DeRosa is battling a strained left calf, but he’s hoping to be ready in time for Game 1 of the NLDS.

Bullpen leading Brewers’ playoff push
Bullpen leading playoff push If the Brewers ride their late Wild Card push to a postseason berth, their relief corps would be a big reason why.

Foot surgery next for Reds closer Cordero
Reds closer Francisco Cordero returned to Cincinnati on Friday and was expected to have arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone …

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Twins suffer letdown as Royals cruise to win
A night after the Twins erased a five-run deficit against the White Sox to reclaim first place, Francisco Liriano gave up six …

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Tampa Bay Rays (96-62) at Detroit Tigers (71-86),

The Tampa Bay Rays can clinch their first division title in team history this afternoon when they start a four-game series with the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

Ilitch assesses Tigers‘ season

Tigers owner Mike Ilitch had an uneasy feeling about the Tigers‘ season when it started.

Fox’s Saturday MLB matinee missing two key games
Fox hopes its Saturday afternoon baseball will whip viewers around between various games that have playoff implications. Starting …

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Tony Paul

I am going to start making it personal policy never to rule the Twins out of anything.

Tiebreakers loom after walk-off wins

The regular season is supposed to end on Sunday, but with the way things are going, it might take until Tuesday to determine the three remaining playoff spots.

Bailey, Red Sox nip Indians for victory

Pinch-hitter Jeff Bailey tripled and scored on Mark Kotsay ’s double to break an eighth-inning tie, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 5-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians .

Clutch hitting is no accident

The Twins‘ .311 batting average with runners in scoring position is so much higher than any other major league team’s - runner-up Baltimore is 24 points behind, at .287 - that it seems like a statistical fluke.

Diamondbacks’ loss wraps up NL West title for Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the National League West on Thursday afternoon while hanging around their Dodger Stadium clubhouse.

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Replay upholds Casto’s home run
Replay upholds Casto’s home run Instant replay made its debut on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park, when a home run call on a ball hit by the Nationals’ Kory Casto was upheld.

Angels clinch home-field advantage
Angels clinch home-field advantage The Angels are all in. With the Rays’ loss to the Tigers on Friday night in Detroit, the Angels learned they’d clinched best record in the American League and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

Tiebreakers on NL side up in the air
Tiebreakers on NL side up in the air A little more clarity came to the playoff picture on Friday night, as the Tampa Bay Rays clinched the American League East title and the Angels clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Mariners malcontent centering on Ichiro

With Ichiro Suzuki matching his career-high with a 5-for-5 day, the lowly Seattle Mariners appear to be showing signs of hope.

Bedard gets good news on injured shoulder

Erik Bedard went 6-4 with a 3.67 ERA in his first season with the Mariners. Mariners starter Erik Bedard received some encouragement for 2009 on Friday when surgery on his pitching shoulder revealed no tears in …

Monday’s lineup: NL Central champs in town

Here’s the Monday lineup as the Mets open a regular-season-ending homestand against the Cubs: Reyes, ss Murphy, lf Wright, 3b Delgado, 1b Beltran, cf Church, rf Castillo, 2b Schneider, c Niese, c Pitching coach …

Ilitch assesses Tigers‘ season

Tigers owner Mike Ilitch had an uneasy feeling about the Tigers‘ season when it started.

A’s At Mariners

The Oakland A’s begin to wrap up the 2008 season this evening with a three-game series in Seattle against the Mariners.

Ryan expects Texas Rangers‘ bosses back

Sep. 25–ARLINGTON — Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan said Wednesday that he anticipates both general manager Jon Daniels and manager Ron Washington will return for the 2009 season, but he stopped just short …

Good, bad and ugly from 2008 season
Cliff Lee’s triumph and Tom Glavine’s demise put the hurlers on opposite sides of Tracy Ringolsby’s Good, Bad and Ugly for 2008.

Dodgers get help from D-backs, clinch NL West

Braun’s slam keeps wild card tied

Zito (10-17) takes loss in final start of season

Barry Zito’s final action of the season was subdued. He dropped in a third-strike curveball, got a routine grounder to shortstop and induced one more easy play to first base.

Ice the champagne: Rays fall, fail to clinch East

Rockies‘ offense erupts against Giants

The Rockies could have used a performance like Wednesday night’s a month ago. Several of them would have been nice.

Mariners malcontent centering on Ichiro

With Ichiro Suzuki matching his career-high with a 5-for-5 day, the lowly Seattle Mariners appear to be showing signs of hope.

Yankees out, but Torre not spiteful

There is no sense of satisfaction, and certainly no vindictiveness, says Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre, but the facts do the talking for him.

Twins sweep ChiSox to take over Central lead

Hank Blalock homered in his fourth straight game.

Hank Blalock homered in his fourth straight game, Matt Harrison became the first Texas rookie left-hander to win nine games and the Rangers won their home finale, 14-4 over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday.

Johan, Mets to face Marlins on TBS
Johan, Mets to face Marlins on TBS Mets could be on the cusp of qualifying for October baseball when they face the Marlins at 1 p.m. Sunday in the TBS Game of the Week at Shea Stadium, trying to fend off the Brewers in the National League Wild Card race.

Ryan expects Texas Rangers‘ bosses back

Sep. 25–ARLINGTON — Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan said Wednesday that he anticipates both general manager Jon Daniels and manager Ron Washington will return for the 2009 season, but he stopped just short …

Former AL batting champ Mickey Vernon dies

Mickey Vernon, centre, is flanked by Dom DiMaggio, left, and Ted Williams, after a Washington Senators and Boston Red Sox doubleheader in Washington, D.C on July 7, 1946.

Commentary: For success in playoffs, Dodgers need to be up in arms

They’ll be dropping confetti soon, doing champagne dances, screaming and hugging.

Burnett gets ovation in last start of season

For A.J. Burnett, it was a fairy tale ending of sorts. For the Toronto Blue Jays and their fans, perhaps the beginning of another off-season looking for reliable pitching.

Baseball’s also- rans looking ahead to 2009

Turn out the lights and flip off the jumbo scoreboard, the baseball regular season is nearly over.

Having clinched, Dodgers skip Maddux

Having clinched the National League West title on Thursday before they arrived at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers bumped Greg Maddux from his start, replacing him with Eric Stults.

Twins Top White Sox 3-2, Close on Central Lead

Nick Blackburn fought through five innings and the maligned Minnesota bullpen didn’t flinch, pitching the Twins past Mark Buehrle and the White Sox 3-2 on Wednesday night to pull within a half-game of Chicago …

McCourt: Focus on winning

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, who made a rare appearance during batting practice before Tuesday night’s game with San Diego, sidestepped a question as to whether he plans to make any major personnel changes …

MLB: San Fran. 1, LA Dodgers 0

Rich Aurilia’s 11th inning single Sunday produced the lone run in San Francisco’s 1-0 victory against LA Dodgers.

Ryan expects Texas Rangers‘ bosses back

Sep. 25–ARLINGTON — Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan said Wednesday that he anticipates both general manager Jon Daniels and manager Ron Washington will return for the 2009 season, but he stopped just short …

Commentary: For success in playoffs, Dodgers need to be up in arms

They’ll be dropping confetti soon, doing champagne dances, screaming and hugging.

Eveland ends on sour note

No sooner had Nelson Cruz finished rounding the bases that A’s manager Bob Geren was walking to the mound to take the ball from Dana Eveland on Wednesday afternoon.

Tigers reliever Todd Jones retires after 16-year career
Tigers reliever Todd Jones is retiring, he announced in his own column in the Sporting News. Jones has 319 career saves with …

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Red Sox nip Indians, keep AL East title hopes alive
Pinch-hitter Jeff Bailey tripled and scored on Mark Kotsay’s double to break an eighth-inning tie on Wednesday night, leading …

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Red Sox beat Lee, Indians to clinch playoff berth
The World Series champion Boston Red Sox are back in the playoffs, thanks to a 5-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday …

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Mets blow chance to gain ground

Phils fall, but lose no ground in East (AP)

The Philadelphia Phillies can regroup after two losses and enjoy their day off knowing they’ll be in first place when they return to the field. That’s no thanks to their own performance Wednesday night. Chipper Jones hit his second career pinch-homer and the Atlanta Braves beat the NL East-leading Phillies 10-4, temporarily stalling Philadelphia’s playoff push.

Dodgers clinch tie for NL West title (AP)

The Los Angeles Dodgers are a happy bunch, but they’re not celebrating just yet. They hope to be doing so Thursday. Manny Ramirez and Nomar Garciaparra homered, and the surging Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 12-4 Wednesday night to clinch a tie for their first NL West championship in four years. The Dodgers‘ victory combined with Arizona’s 4-2 loss at St.

Arizona’s playoff hopes fade with loss (AP)

The recipe to reach the posteason, Arizona manager Bob Melvin said, is simple: “We just have to win. We need to win out and hopefully get a lot of help.” Adam Wainwright pitched out of two bases-loaded jams and the St. Louis Cardinals beat Arizona 4-2 on Wednesday night to dampen the Diamondbacks‘ playoff hopes.

Greinke shuts down listless Tigers in Royals‘ win

The Detroit Tigers have completed a freefall to the bottom of the AL Central. Zach Greinke and Leo Nunez combined for a four-hitter to lift the Kansas City Royals to a 5-0 win over Detroit on Tuesday night.

Angels set club mark for road wins

Seattle has lost 12 straight games and is two away from tying the franchise record set in 1992.

Indians keep Sox from clinching playoffs

The Boston Red Sox will have to wait at least one more day to clinch their fifth post-season trip in six years.

Vazquez flops as White Sox drop opener with Twins

Maybe Ozzie Guillen was right about Javier Vazquez. Two days after the manager said Vazquez hasn’t been a big-game pitcher during his career, the White Sox right-hander lasted just four innings in Chicago’s …

A’s stumble against Rangers

Hank Blalock hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh, and the Texas Rangers beat the A’s 6-4 Tuesday night to move back into second place in the American League West.

Fans busted stealing pieces of Yankee Stadium
New York City police say they arrested more than a dozen people for stealing pieces of Yankee Stadium during the 85-year-old ballpark’s final game. Police say 18 fans were charged with possessing stolen property. Officers were out in force for the stadium’s final game on Sunday to keep souvenir hunters from tearing away pieces of the place.

Giants on deck

Giants‘ Tim Lincecum , 7:15 p.m. TV: CSNBA. Radio: 680-AM Wednesday: Livan Hernandez vs.

Cards damage Arizona’s playoff chances (AP)

Randy Johnson looked his age against the St. Louis Cardinals, who put a big dent in the Arizona Diamondbacks‘ postseason aspirations. Kyle Lohse won his 15th game and the Cardinals clobbered the 45-year-old left-hander for the second time this month in a 7-4 victory Tuesday night. Johnson and the Diamondbacks trailed by four runs after the first inning.

Rays sweep DH, magic number down to 2 (AP)

The first doubleheader sweep in the history of the Tampa Bay franchise moved the Rays two steps closer to a far more important milestone: their first AL East crown. Tampa Ray reduced its magic number to win the division title to two Tuesday night, scoring six runs in the eighth inning to rally past the Baltimore Orioles 7-5 for an unprecedented sweep.

BoSox earn fifth playoff spot in 6 years (AP)

Tim Wakefield has been in Boston long enough to compare celebrations, a two-time World Series champion who is returning to the playoffs for the fifth time in six years. For Jason Bay, it’s all new. “I feel like a kid, jumping around spraying champagne with all these guys,” said Bay, a midseason acquisition whose go-ahead single helped the Red Sox beat Cleveland 5-4 on Tuesday night and clinch at…

Lincecum Lining Up Cy Young

Finally, there’s something Tim Lincecum cannot do. “Lemme try,” he said, clearing some space near his locker.

Report: Minaya gets extension

Omar Minaya would be all smiles with a four-year contract extension. A second straight September collapse remains a distinct possibility for the Mets , but GM Omar Minaya reportedly is slated to be rewarded …

Brewers Notebook: Clinging to playoff hopes

The Brewers will take today off before starting the final homestand of the season.

Yanks eliminated as playoff streak ends (AP)

Derek Jeter won’t be playing in October for the first time in his career. The New York Yankees‘ impressive streak of postseason appearances came to an end. Mike Mussina pitched five shutout innings to earn his 19th win, Jason Giambi homered and the Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Tuesday night.

Cubs down Cardinals 5-1

A day after the Chicago Cubs clinched the NL Central, Ryan Dempster was surrounded by reserves when he took the mound for the regular-season home finale at Wrigley Field.

Royals into fourth after Greinke’s gem
Royals into fourth after Greinke’s gem Zack Greinke pitched the Royals to a 5-0 victory over Detroit on Tuesday night, shoving the Tigers into fifth place. After 42 days in the cellar, the Royals have climbed into fourth place in the American League Central.

Cards eliminated from contention
Cards eliminated from contention There were closer woes and injury news galore. But for five months, the Cardinals shook off adversity and kept themselves in legitimate playoff contention. The quest didn’t completely die until game No. 157 on Tuesday.

Yankees‘ postseason absence ‘weird’
Yankees‘ postseason absence ‘weird’ The fact that the Yankees will miss the postseason in 2008 has many New Yorkers scratching their heads. It has MLB.com’s Mark Newman thinking the whole scenario bizarre as well.

Yanks donate $1 million for relief efforts
Yanks donate $1 million for relief efforts Moved by television images of devastation on the Gulf Coast, the Yankees have announced that they will donate $1 million in support of relief efforts for those affected by Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike.

Dreams of October dashed in D.C. loss
Loss in D.C. ends playoff push The Marlins set a club home run mark in D.C. on Tuesday, but that was little consolation, as the 9-4 loss, coupled with the Mets‘ win, eliminated the club from National League Wild Card contention.

Reds involved in replay for first time
Reds involved in replay for first time Major League Baseball’s new instant replay rule affected the Reds for the first time on Tuesday night. Joey Votto hit a two-out drive to right field off pitcher Chris Sampson that hit the yellow line at the top of the wall and bounced back into play.

Red Sox beat Lee to punch playoff ticket
Sox beat Lee to punch playoff ticket The Sox’s bid to repeat as World Series champs can begin in earnest, as Tim Wakefield beat the Tribe, 5-4, on Tuesday to clinch a playoff berth for Boston.

Marlins-Nationals Preview

The Florida Marlins knew that after dropping the final two games of their three-game weekend series, it would be difficult for them to have any chance to capture the wild card.

Report: Minaya gets extension

Omar Minaya would be all smiles with a four-year contract extension. A second straight September collapse remains a distinct possibility for the Mets , but GM Omar Minaya reportedly is slated to be rewarded …

Spring training 6 days longer next year (AP)
Spring training is expanding by nearly a week next year because of the World Baseball Classic. Players will start reporting to training camps on Feb. 14, under an agreement between the players’ association and the commissioner’s office. Exhibition games will start about Feb. 25. “If spring training were shorter it would be great.

Pirates, 3B Alvarez nearing deal (AP)
Testimony was called off Tuesday as lawyers tried to complete a $6,355,000, four-year contract between third baseman Pedro Alvarez and the Pittsburgh Pirates and a settlement of a grievance filed by the players’ union. Arbitrator Shyam Das began hearing the case Sept. 10 and had scheduled additional testimony for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Buck’s single in 11th lifts A’s past Rangers 4-3

Travis Buck hit an RBI single in the 11th inning and the Oakland Athletics beat the Texas Rangers 4-3 Monday night to move into second in the AL West.

Webb, Drew lead Diamondbacks to win

Brandon Webb won his 22nd game and Stephen Drew homered to help the Arizona Diamondbacks creep closer in the NL West with a 4-2 victory on Monday night.

NL West race: September 19, 2008

Bengie Molina homered and drove in four runs Friday night and Barry Zito outpitched Greg Maddux in the Giants‘ 7-1 win over the Dodgers, whose magic number was reduced to six anyway with Arizona’s loss to the …

Time running out on Diamondbacks‘ postseason hopes

The Arizona Diamondbacks are running out of time to make it back to the postseason.

Angels 2, Mariners 1

Seattle has lost 12 straight games and is two away from tying the franchise record set in 1992.

Rangers Preview

The Oakland Athletics have been winning with consistency lately, and they’ll be trying to extend that success into their final road trip of the season.

Lackey dominates in Angels‘ win

The score was the same, but the lasting impression was not. The Angels seemed to coast to a 7-3 win over the Rangers on Saturday.

Giants on deck

Giants‘ Tim Lincecum , 7:15 p.m. TV: CSNBA. Radio: 680-AM Wednesday: Livan Hernandez vs.

Former Cardinal Eckstein Returns to St. Louis

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa planned to stand and cheer when 2006 World Series MVP David Eckstein was introduced as the Arizona Diamondbacks‘ second baseman on Monday night.

Angels sweep Rangers

He sure looks ready now. John Lackey allayed any concerns about his three-start slump by throwing six shutout innings and cramming a career-high 12 strikeouts into them as the Angels beat the Texas Rangers 7-3 …

Holliday scratched; Tuesday return likely

Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday was scratched Saturday with a minor back injury.

MLB: LA Dodgers 10, San Francisco 7

Manny Ramirez pounded a pair of homers and drove in five runs Saturday, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 10-7 home win over the San Francisco Giants.

AL roundup: Sept. 19

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Alexi Casilla homered in Minnesota’s five-run ninth inning and the Twins rallied for a victory over Tampa Bay on Thursday night that ended a four-game losing streak and pulled them …

Indians double up Tigers 10-5

Ryan Garko went 4-for-4 with five RBIs, rookie Scott Lewis won his third straight start and the Cleveland Indians moved over .500 for the first time in more than four months with their sixth straight victory, …

Arizona Diamondbacks (77-77) at Colorado Rockies (71-84),

The Arizona Diamondbacks wouldn’t mind an outing out of Dan Haren today similar to the one he had last time out.

Phillies return home, vie to maintain dominance of …

The Atlanta Braves used to dominate the National League East. This season, though, it is the Philadelphia Phillies who have been getting the best of the former division powerhouse.

MLB: LA Dodgers 10, San Francisco 7

Manny Ramirez pounded a pair of homers and drove in five runs Saturday, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 10-7 home win over the San Francisco Giants.

Yankees bid farewell to Stadium with win (AP)

Mariano Rivera got the final out and the New York Yankees poured onto the field for a feel-good celebration. It nearly looked as though they’d won another championship, even though this season is almost sure to end without one. Rivera finished what Babe Ruth started 85 years ago, and New York bid farewell to fabled Yankee Stadium with a 7-3 victory over Baltimore on Sunday night that prevented…

Red Sox clinch tie for AL wild card (AP)

The Boston Red Sox moved one step closer to the playoffs for the fifth time in six years. David Ortiz hit a two-run homer, Daisuke Matsuzaka remained unbeaten on the road and the Red Sox beat Toronto 3-0 on Sunday, eliminating the Blue Jays from postseason contention and clinching at least a tie for the AL wild card.

White Sox maintain lead, shut out Royals (AP)

Now that the Chicago White Sox have dispatched of the last-place Kansas City Royals, the AL Central leaders can turn their attention to a showdown with the second place Minnesota Twins. John Danks and two relievers combined on a four-hitter and Paul Konerko hit a two-run homer as the AL Central-leading White Sox beat the Royals 3-0 on Sunday.

Twins take finale against Rays
Twins take finale against Rays The Twins viewed Sunday’s series finale against the Rays as a must-win. Their postseason aspirations were still intact following a 4-1 win over Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field.

Lackey dominates in Angels‘ win
Lackey dominates in Angels‘ win The Angels rode John Lackey to their seventh sweep of the season on Sunday in a 7-3 victory over the Rangers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The victory was by far the Angels‘ most complete of the weekend.

From Cathedral, new stadium in sight
Fans await New Yankee Stadium With the new Yankee Stadium in plain sight from the Cathedral, fans are debating the upcoming move. The new Yankee Stadium does not have the memories or the history, but there will be plenty of baseball to experience.

Young leads D-backs’ 19-hit attack

The past three weeks, the games have been excruciating for the D-backs. First they watched as their lead over the Dodgers turned into a deficit, and over the past week they’ve taken the field each day knowing …

Yankees, Hall talk Cathedral artifacts
Yankees, Hall talk Cathedral artifacts The National Baseball Hall of Fame is negotiating with Yankees management about preserving artifacts from Yankee Stadium in Cooperstown to add to their display of Cathedral items.

Yankees old guard says goodbye
Yankees old guard says goodbye It was the one photo they all wanted — the four remaining cornerstones of the Yankees‘ dynasty, celebrating one final time on the field they had enjoyed with so much victory.

Jeter delivers final address at Stadium
Jeter delivers final address at Stadium Derek Jeter stood atop the mound of baseball’s Cathedral holding a microphone, and the fans who had filled the ballpark with cheers all day stood quietly to listen as the captain spoke.

Stars soak in Stadium’s festivities
Stars soak in Stadium’s festivities Joining the hordes of everyday fans who were on hand, several famous personalities, such as Richard Gere, Spike Lee and Rudy Giuliani, could be seen soaking in the festivities surrounding Yankee Stadium’s final game on Sunday.

Yankee Stadium lasts
Yankee Stadium lasts

Lead gets away in Mets’ loss to Braves
Lead gets away in loss to Braves After Mike Pelfrey put up a solid start, Scott Schoeneweis, one of the Mets‘ most reliable relievers in recent weeks, allowed two runs in the eighth inning to turn a potential win into a critical 7-6 loss to the Braves.

Braves stun Mets after bullpen destructs in 8th

Moyer helps Phils extend lead in NL East race

Saunders will miss a start because of kidney stone
Los Angeles Angels lefty Joe Saunders ongoing problems with a kidney stone will cause him to miss Tuesday night’s scheduled start against Seattle. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Jered Weaver and Jon Garland would move ahead one day and pitch on their usual four days’ rest. “We’ll look for a Thursday starter,” Scioscia said before Sunday’s game against Texas. Of Saunders, Scioscia said, “We’ll hold him off because he’s not able to do the work in between. He’s a little weak right now.

Rays benefit from replay, inch closer to playoff berth
Carlos Pena homered and drove in four runs with help from a replay reversal and the Tampa Bay Rays routed the Minnesota Twins …

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Pennant race roundup
The Mets‘ bullpen lived down to its reputation Sunday by blowing another lead against the Braves. Stay up to date on the races.

Yankee Stadium ends 85-year run with farewell
Even Yogi Berra knew this was the end. As baseball said farewell to Yankee Stadium, one of the game’s most beloved players stood beneath the stands in a full vintage uniform. Now 83, the man who coined the phrase “it ain’t over till it’s over” put his own stamp on the day. “I’m sorry to see it over, I’ll tell you that,” Berra said. The goodbye completed an 85-year-old run for the home of baseball’s most famous team.

Cubs drop Cards to win second straight NL Central crown
The Cubbies are in. Now, how far can they go? The Chicago Cubs clinched their second straight NL Central title Saturday, beating …

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Work not done for playoff-bound Cubs
Work not done for Cubs The sting of last year’s quick exit in the postseason never healed for the Cubs. Ever since the final out was made last Oct. 6 at Wrigley Field, the Chicago players were motivated to get back. They had some unfinished business to attend to.

For Yankees, nostalgia comes to life
For Yanks, nostalgia comes to life As the Yankees walked off the field on Saturday following the celebration of their walk-off win over the Orioles, there remained only one more game at Yankee Stadium to look ahead to. After weeks of talk and buzz about the closing of the historic ballpark, the club will take the diamond on Sunday for the final game at baseball’s Cathedral.

Delgado records 2,000th career hit
Delgado records 2,000th career hit Carlos Delgado recorded the 2,000th hit of his career on Sunday, an RBI double that scored David Wright in the first inning.

Sox stopped by Davies, remain 2 1/2 up
Sox stopped by Davies, remain 2 1/2 up Kyle Davies memorized the White Sox, as the South Siders were unable to produce much of anything against the Royals right-hander, falling, 5-2. Despite the loss, the White Sox magic number was shaved to six games after the Twins loss to the Rays earlier on Saturday.

Rays await first playoff opponent
Rays await first playoff opponent After the Rays secured a franchise-first playoff berth on Saturday night, the question that remains is what opponent they will face come October.

Yankees, Hall talk Cathedral artifacts
Yankees, Hall talk Cathedral artifacts The National Baseball Hall of Fame is negotiating with Yankees management about preserving artifacts from Yankee Stadium in Cooperstown to add to their display of Cathedral items.

Ned Yost has no regrets after being fired as Milwaukee Brewers manager

A day after being abruptly fired as Milwaukee’s manager and replaced by third-base coach Dale Sveum, Ned Yost insisted Tuesday he had no regrets or hard feelings toward the team that let him go with 12 games …

Bird Land: THe NL Central–probably the toughest division in baseball.

The National League Central woke up this morning with four teams that had winning records and one club, the Chicago Cubs, poised to runaway with the division title, possibly winning it by at least 10 games.

Milwaukee Brewers (84-69) at Cincinnati Reds (70-82),

If the Milwaukee Brewers are to make the postseason for the first time since 1982, they will have to quickly rebound from arguably their worst loss of the season.

Cubs clinch 2nd straight NL Central title

The Cubbies are in. Now, how far can they go? The Chicago Cubs clinched their second straight NL Central title Saturday, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 behind Ted Lilly’s seven innings at rocking Wrigley Field.

The 41,597 fans jammed into the old neighborhood ballpark were ready to party as they watched the Cubs earn back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time since they participated in three straight World Series from 1906-08.

And no one can forget 1908. That’s the last time the Cubs won the World Series, a 100-year championship drought they’ve been hearing about since they were swept out of the playoffs in the first round a year ago by Arizona.

Cubs clinch 2nd straight NL Central title

Democrat Barack Obama criticized Republican presidential rival John McCain on Saturday for his past advocacy of deregulation, ties to lobbyists and support for partial privatization of the Social Security …

La Russa: Cubs should ‘absolutely’ celebrate division title

Should the Cubs uncork champagne and celebrate if and when they win the National League Central, even though the understood goal is winning the World Series? “Absolutely,” says an expert on this subject, St.

Milwaukee Brewers (84-69) at Cincinnati Reds (70-82),

If the Milwaukee Brewers are to make the postseason for the first time since 1982, they will have to quickly rebound from arguably their worst loss of the season.