3 UP: Matsui, Pavano and Santana  —  1. When Hideki Matsui went on the DL in late June because of a left knee problem, Yankee officials conceded the season.  They knew Matsui needed surgery and there were just too many starts and stops with the injury, too...

Shea Stadium home plate headed for orbit  —  Astronauts Mike Massimino (r.) and Mike Good.  Massimino holds up the home plate used at Shea Stadium for the 2007 season.  —  WASHINGTON - The Yankees-Mets rivalry has really hit new heights.  —  Months after a Bomber-loving astronaut carried …

Stifling Conditions  —  In a gamer the other night, SF asked the following question: … Your wish is my command.  There's two ways I can think to figure something like this out.  Take a look at the 10 best pitching performances against the Red Sox this season and compare them to the 10 best …

No. 10: Sun, sand, fun and baseball in San Diego  —  If you could sit anywhere at any ballpark in the major leagues, where would it be?  USA TODAY combined nominations from readers and votes from our writers and editors to come up with the 10 best seats in baseball.

Cooper predicts sweep in Milwaukee  —  Houston (63-61) at Milwaukee (71-54), Monday, 7:05 p.m. CT  —  HOUSTON — Despite two ugly losses in the Astros' series against the D-backs, manager Cecil Cooper continues to challenge his team.  —  First, he said Houston would win 88 games to end the season …

Free Agent Compensation … Over the last few weeks, we've heard a lot of talk about free agent compensation draft picks, especially as they pertain to Raul Ibanez.  The Mariners (correctly) decided that they wouldn't take less than two good prospects for him at the deadline …

No hurry for Castillo to return as deadline looms  —  PITTSBURGH - Luis Castillo's 20-day minor-league rehab clock is set to run out midweek, meaning the Mets may be forced to activate the second baseman on Thursday unless a legitimate injury issue remains.  Castillo is staying with Double …

Yanks stadium ban: today sunscreen, tomorrow PB&J?  —  It says something about how the Yankees' season is going that the biggest excitement at the stadium came when the team tried to ban fans from bringing sunscreen through the gates.  Anyone who complained was pointed to the concession stands …

Wainwright in pitching limbo  —  CINCINNATI — The Cardinals have not yet decided when Adam Wainwright will be activated or even how he will be used.  But it is increasingly apparent to pitching coach Dave Duncan that the staff's current needs call for Wainwright and Chris Carpenter to perform different chores.

Marlins Notebook: Chris Volstad settling down after rough starts  —  MIAMI GARDENS — For the second consecutive start, Chris Volstad settled down and pitched well enough to win.  —  The difference was this time the bullpen let him down.  —  Volstad had not allowed a run when he left …

Run for your very lives  —  I hate to bring this up.  —  I really do.  —  I probably shouldn't.  —  But Carl Pavano threw six solid innings for Double-A Trenton today at Reading.  He allowed one run on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts.  —  Are we prepared for the possible return …

This is one fight Jeff Kent isn't going to win  —  “Manny was only hitting .300 in Boston with 20 home runs,” Kent said, as a prelude to the sarcastic kicker.  “And he's doing way better than that here — so I'm helping Manny.”  —  This one is so hard to figure.