Second choice not tops  —  Mixed reviews on Igawa after so-so effort against major leaguers  —  OSAKA, Japan - As the hype surrounding Daisuke Matsuzaka has escalated, many teams were beginning to believe that the Hanshin Tigers' Kei Igawa might be a more attractive pitching option.

MLB completes sweep with walk-off  —  FUKUOKA, Japan — In the United States, it has become universally known as the walk-off homer.  Here in Japan, the adjective they use for a game-ending blast is "sayonara".  —  On behalf of all the Major League All-Stars who wreaked havoc here for the past week …

Managerial Search Continues  —  There is, perhaps, but one thing that is clear about the Washington Nationals' search for a new manager: It knows no bounds.  When Stan Kasten, the team's president, first addressed the search for Frank Robinson's replacement five weeks ago, he pledged that it would be "thorough."

Suspended Mota still might be in plans for pen  —  The Mets still have significant interest in re-signing Guillermo Mota, despite last week's revelation that the reliever will miss the first 50 games of 2007 after failing a test for performance-enhancing drugs.

Garciaparra 'open' to third, outfield  —  Whether he returns to the Dodgers or joins another team, first base is not necessarily the first option for Nomar Garciaparra.  —  The Dodgers on Tuesday signed utility infielder Ramon Martinez to a one-year contract worth $800,000 …

Pitcher of the year?  In KC?  —  A few years ago a reporter told me a story I've since forgotten.  Along the way, though, he mentioned that he had covered the Great Alaska Shootout and he had to vote for a first and second all-star team.  This haunted me for weeks — this idea that there was a second-team All-Great Alaska Shootout.

Cockrell a hit with Rockies  —  When Alan Cockrell lost the Rockies' hitting instructor position after a five-month stint during the 2002 season, he headed 63 miles down Interstate 25 to take over as boss of the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox offense.  Four years later …

Former star pitcher Johnny Sain dead at 89  —  DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. (AP) — Johnny Sain, a three-time All-Star who teamed with Warren Spahn to make up one of baseball's most fabled pitching tandems, died Tuesday.  He was 89.  —  Sain's best year was 1948, when he and Hall of Famer Spahn led …

Mailbag: In defense of Crede  —  Beat reporter Scott Merkin answers fans' questions … Could you explain to me why the Gold Glove is a popularity contest?  Defensively, Joe Crede was the best third baseman in the American League, not Oakland's Eric Chavez.  — Lawrence, Indianapolis

Shalala apologizes for UM fans' behavior  —  In the wake of last month's UM-FIU brawl, another embarrassing situation at the Orange Bowl has prompted another apology from University of Miami president Donna Shalala.  —  Quarterback Kyle Wright's father, Ken, said Shalala called him Monday …

Rangers study satanic verses  —  In the Broadway musical Damn Yankees, Joe Boyd sells his soul to the devil in exchange for the slugging home run hitter that his favorite team, the Washington Senators, so direly needs.  —  In the Arlington soap opera known as the Texas Rangers, brace yourself - the devil is on the shopping list.