A shot heard 'round Bronx  —  Randy takes epidural for back  —  The Yankees are taking a last shot - literally - at getting Randy Johnson ready to pitch in the postseason.  Johnson, the 43-year-old lefthander whose back has been bothering him for weeks, had an epidural yesterday …

Mets' Martinez needs surgery on torn rotator cuff  —  WASHINGTON — New York Mets will be missing ace Pedro Martinez for more than just the postseason.  —  The Mets right-hander will have rotator cuff surgery next week and be out eight months.  The injury is expected to sideline him until at least June.

Nationals manager Frank Robinson will not return in 2007  —  The Washington Nationals today announced that manager Frank Robinson will not return for the 2007 season.  Robinson's final game as Nationals manager will come in Sunday's season finale vs. New York (NL).

Bring back Buck?  Rangers not sure  —  SEATTLE - Rangers owner Tom Hicks said in a phone interview Friday afternoon that there is a decision to be made on Buck Showalter's future as the team's manager.  Hicks reiterated that point later Friday on the [Randy] Galloway & Company radio show on ESPN/103.3 FM.

Rest Means More Than West Title  —  SAN FRANCISCO — If the Dodgers clinch a postseason berth today, they will scratch scheduled starter Derek Lowe on Sunday and rest most of their regulars, even if the National League West title remains at stake.  —  "The important thing is to get into the playoffs," Manager Grady Little said.

Heavens to Murgatroyd: Mets Are Hurting  —  Correction Appended  —  "What a revoltin' development," Jimmy Durante used to say.  —  "Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into, Stanley," Oliver Hardy used to say to his partner, Stan Laurel.  —  Apply either remark to the Mets.

Sure sign that Mets are tired of Milledge's antics  —  WASHINGTON - KNOW YOUR PLACE, ROOK!  —  The hand-scrawled message hung above Lastings Milledge's locker after Friday's 4-3 victory over the Nationals.  At the bottom of the two sheets of paper was written, "Your Teammates."

Crowd pleaser  —  MLB sets attendance record; 8 teams over 3 million  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball broke its season attendance record Saturday and was on track to finish with the second-highest per-game average in the sport's history.  —  Through Friday night …

Mariners Notebook: Matthews a fine fit for Safeco  —  Rangers outfielder entering free agency off All-Star season  —  Years as a once top prospect-turned-journeyman has Gary Matthews Jr. rather mellow about his impending free agency.  —  The Texas Rangers center fielder …

New York Blues  —  There are other injuries in baseball, but in this final weekend of the regular season, there are just two that matter.  It's not East Coast bias; it's two playoff teams that have lost their aces in the final weekend.  Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez brought their teams this far …

Zito gets call in A's playoff opener  —  Loaiza is tabbed as the Game 2 starter, with Harden or Haren to follow in Game 3  —  ANAHEIM - From Vida Blue and Catfish Hunter in the 1970s, to Dave Stewart every time in the late '80s and early '90s, to Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson this decade …

Sabean says Bonds has to take a pay cut to stay  —  Giants notes  —  SAN FRANCISCO - While Giants general manager Brian Sabean didn't pound his fist on the table, he essentially declared that Barry Bonds must take a sizable pay cut to remain with the team in 2007.