Mets may be second-guessing Zito decision  —  Sorry, the Mets shouldn't be shocked that right-hander Pedro Martinez is out for the postseason.  If anything, they should be grateful that the fragile Martinez is their only rotation casualty.  —  Left-hander Tom Glavine is 40.  Right-hander Steve Trachsel is 35.

Marlins won't promote rookies  —  MIAMI GARDENS — Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla might be leading candidates for the National League Rookie of the Year award, but the Marlins don't plan to campaign on their behalf like the San Francisco Giants are doing with right-hander Matt Cain.

Playoff goal eludes Teixeira yet again  —  SEATTLE — The first-half numbers Mark Teixeira put up this season ranked as one of the biggest letdowns for Rangers fans, probably right behind the injury to Adam Eaton and the underwhelming year by Brad Wilkerson.

Bring on Bad News Barry!  O's don't fear divas, controversy  —  What a relief!  The agent for Barry Bonds has reassured us that Bad News Barry will return to play at least one more season, barring - I suppose - jail time, which means that he probably will break Hank Aaron's all-time home run record.

Davies wild as Braves fall to Mets  —  Atlanta will finish with first losing season in 16 years  —  ATLANTA — When their hopes for a 15th consecutive division title were all but erased with a miserable June, the Braves set their sights on potential Wild Card berth.

Padilla has come a long way  —  Nicaraguan native survived through tough times as a child  —  ARLINGTON — Chinandega.  —  Cheeh - nahn - deh - gah  —  Those 10 letters, when said at the perfect tone and just the right tempo, are powerful enough to upend the grimace on the face of mysterious Rangers pitcher Vicente Padilla.

Floyd has shot to play opener  —  ATLANTA - Cliff Floyd traveled to Manhattan yesterday to get a cortisone shot in his troublesome left ankle.  Willie Randolph indicated Floyd would be available for Game 1 of the division series.  Players generally need to wait 48 hours after receiving cortisone …

Facing free agency, Nixon reflects on his stay  —  Like Bill Haselman , then the catcher behind the plate, now the Red Sox first base coach, Trot Nixon was wearing a Red Sox uniform Sept. 18, 1996.  You might have missed him, on the end of the bench during that night's game in Detroit, as Roger Clemens pitched.

Waiting game begins for Showalter  —  Showalter's job may be on line with Rangers officials slated to meet  —  SEATTLE - Rangers owner Tom Hicks said in late August his feelings about the club's future could depend on its 2006 finish.  A sub-.500 final month may determine his mood heading …

Twins' Owner Sounding More Like Steinbrenner  —  Carl Pohlad, the 91-year-old billionaire owner of the Minnesota Twins, is not an obvious candidate to engage in trash talking.  But Pohlad was apparently feeling feisty about Minnesota's chances in the postseason when he challenged the Yankees.

Gagne Wishes He Could Help  —  DENVER — He cheers for his team.  He diligently performs his rehabilitation exercises.  But with the Dodgers short of reliable arms in the bullpen, the highest-paid pitcher on the team is not available for the playoff push.  —  And that is what frustrates …

Surprised?  Rays find a way to lose on road  —  CLEVELAND - The Devil Rays made their typical road-game mistakes of omission and commission in Thursday's 5-4, come-from-ahead loss to the Indians.  And now they are a step farther down the road to 100 losses.

El Duque emerges as Mets' new ace  —  With Martinez out, Hernandez tunes up for Game 1 start  —  ATLANTA — On a night that any hope of having Pedro Martinez for the playoffs was officially extinguished, the Mets showed their hope of making a long postseason run is still burning brightly.