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:

Mussina quiets Rays for win No. 17  —  A-Rod ties Schmidt with No. 548 to help righty approach No. 20  —  ST. PETERSBURG — It was the second inning, and Mike Mussina was already pointing frantically, making sure that Alex Rodriguez realized there were two runners simultaneously parked at third base.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

Full house, again  —  With five innings complete at Fenway Park, today's game is official, which means the Red Sox have tied the major league record with their 455th consecutive home sellout.  The streak began May 3, 2003.  —  The mark equals the standard set by the Cleveland Indians from June 12, 1995 to April 2, 2001.

Chat with Scouts Inc.'s Keith Law  —  Welcome to The Show!  On Wednesday, Scouts, Inc. senior baseball analyst, Keith Law, will stop by to talk some baseball.  —  Keith was formerly the special assistant to the general manager with the Toronto Blue Jays and has a wealth of knowledge for you to tap into.

Church's slam helps Mets sweep Brewers  —  MILWAUKEE (AP)—Ryan Church hit a grand slam and Brian Schneider added a homer in a six-run first inning that provided all the offense the Mets needed to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-2 and complete a three-game sweep Wednesday.

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 …

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 …

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?

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 …

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.

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.

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.