SOURCE: BOSSES WANT BRIAN BACK  —  ST. PETERSBURG - Hal and Hank Steinbrenner agree they want Brian Cashman back as the Yankees' GM, The Post has learned.  —  According to a MLB source, the Steinbrenner family has decided Cashman is the man to lead the organization back from a nightmarish season …

Dustin Pedroia: ‘Jerry Remy stunk’  —  I'll lead this one off this way: I love me some Dustin Destroya.  —  It is for this reason that the following video clip concerns me greatly, considering Red Sox Nation's affinity for the mustachioed one, Jerry Remy.  Cue Dustin Pedroia signing autographs for a random admiring fan:

Moose gets a big lift from bats  —  Nady's two-run homer gives Mussina cushion for 17th win  —  Xavier Nady, right, high-fives Alex Rodriguez after hitting a fourth-inning, two-run home run.  (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara / September 2, 2008)  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Mike Mussina took …

Pedroia Has 5 RBI In Red Sox Win  —  BOSTON — The national anthem was about to start when Kevin Youkilis felt spasms in his lower back Tuesday night.  So Red Sox manager Terry Francona tore up his lineup card.  And Dustin Pedroia, penciled into the second spot in the original lineup, was shifted to cleanup.

Flores injured, leaves game  —  Manny Acta believes there's a chance Flores can come back before the end of the season, but he's still not sure.  (My guess is that Flores is shelved for the year.  It makes little sense to rush him back.  *) But Acta said that potentially Flores could be ready in 10-12 days.

Harper: Niese not ready for prime time  —  MILWAUKEE - Jon Niese showed plenty of guts and a world of potential.  He just didn't show that he's quite ready to pitch in the big leagues, particularly in a September pennant race.  —  So what do the Mets do now?

In a Perfect World, Lincecum Would Win Cy Young  —  Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants is perhaps the most stylistically unique starter to debut since Orlando Hernandez.  Just as Jeff Bagwell's batting stance was something like the perfect inverse of everything you'd read in a book …

Big Z leaves game with arm soreness  —  Righty to be examined by orthopedist on Wednesday  —  CHICAGO — Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano will be examined on Wednesday after leaving his start because of soreness in his right arm.  —  Zambrano was pulled after giving up three runs on five hits …

Leyland to Verlander: Admit mistakes  —  The Tigers are not going to the playoffs.  They may not even finish with a winning record.  But manager Jim Leyland has resolved to achieve some objectives before the season is over.  —  Perhaps more than anything else, it appears that Leyland wants …

Funny.  Effen.  Signs.  —  The Major League Baseball countdown to the playoffs is here.  Which means the buzz about the Chicago Cubs and their possible date with destiny are intensifying.  So don't be surprised if plenty of brands start jumping on the Cubs bandwagon in hopes …

With Cubs ownership uncertain, Hendry has options  —  It's hard to believe, but Jim Hendry faces an uncertain future in Chicago.  Ken Rosenthal discusses the options for the Cubs' GM.

RUDI'S CRAZY DAY IN DETROIT  —  A strange thing happened to running back Rudi Johnson when he visited with the Detroit Lions on Monday.  —  Someone stole his stuff.  —  Seriously.  —  Specifically, and as we're told by a reliable source (i.e., not the person who told Mort that Joey Harrington …

Reds' Ballpark Worker Charged In Phone Theft  —  A man who works at Great American Ballpark has been charged with stealing a fan's cell phone while he was working.  —  Fifty-three-year-old Paul Pawkey is charged with theft after being arrested early Wednesday morning at the ballpark.

Heed the call-up  —  To honor the 28 days of baseball this September, here are 28 September call-ups to keep an eye on.  —  For fairness, they're in alphabetical order.  Except the first guy.  Because he's the one everybody wants to see.  —  David Price, SP, Tampa Bay: Worry not, Rays fans, however many of you there actually are.

Sabathia headlines deep free-agent market of pitchers  —  The Yankees are destined to miss the playoffs for the first time since 1993, but one veteran baseball man said this week that the Yankees' problems won't be that tough to solve this winter.  —  The reason is simple.

Mediocre Dodgers still have a chance to fix their season … LOS ANGELES — Hitting savant Manny Ramirez got a quick glimpse of Dodgers teammate Andruw Jones' failing batting technique and is said by intimates to have opined that Jones' backside (not to mention his career) was obviously collapsing and that it should be an easy fix.

Rays closer Percival healthy, ready to work  —  ST. PETERSBURG — RHP Troy Percival, activated from the disabled list Tuesday, will return to his regular closer role and said he's ready to resume pitching on back-to-back days if needed.  —  “I should be able to,” Percival said.