Ike postpones two Cubs-Astros games  —  HOUSTON — Games on Friday and Saturday between the Astros and Cubs at Minute Maid Park were postponed on Thursday due to the expected arrival of Hurricane Ike.  —  “We feel that we will [play this weekend],” club owner Drayton McLane said earlier, when only Friday's game had been called.

BOMBERS BRACE FOR THE FINAL HOMESTAND  —  ANAHEIM - When the Yankees left spring training, the furthest thing from their minds was the final 10 games at the current Yankee Stadium would be nothing more than dates on a calendar of a meaningless season.  —  Yet when the Yankees open …

Tazawa eyes place in major leagues  —  Right-hander Junichi Tazawa, who helped Nippon Oil to its first title in 13 years at the national corporate baseball tournament that ended Tuesday, will try to sign with a major league club without playing in Japan, baseball sources said Wednesday.

Offseason Outlook: Kansas City Royals  —  By Tim Dierkes [September 11 at 3:48pm CST]  —  Next up in our offseason outlook series, the Royals.  Here's how they set up for 2009:  —  C - John Buck - $2.2MM+  —  C - Brayan Pena - $400K  —  1B - Kila Ka'aihue - $400K  —  2B - Alberto Callaspo - $400K

Morning Extras: I'm Tired of the Chase  —  I'm tired of this.  I'm tired of having to come up with some silver lining for the next two and a half weeks.  I'm tired of waking up and seeing the Mets boxscore and wondering if it's even possible to catch a team that has gotten better after each pitcher goes down for the season.

The Papelbon Dirty Dancing Videos Are Here.  Oh, Man  —  If the Red Sox fail to win the East this season — and let's face it, it's looking more and more doubtful — we can probably blame this.  One is never really prepared for a video of Jonathan Papelbon at a high school talent show …

Plan in motion to overhaul Cano's swing  —  Second baseman to work with Long in offseason on hitting  —  NEW YORK — Robinson Cano hears the whispers, even if he refuses to look over his shoulder.  To do so would only compound the disappointment the Yankees second baseman fights each day.

Prospectus Hit and Run  —  The Manny Show  —  Earlier this summer, for a research project, I had occasion to review the career of former Dodger slugger Pedro Guerrero, a favorite player of my youth.  Guerrero spent the first few years of his major league career—or 1978-1980 …

Carlos Delgado proving to be most valuable Met  —  Albert Pujols and Carlos Delgado are vying for the NL MVP this season ...  As if the high associated with being in first place in the second week of September isn't enough to keep their juices flowing with every pitch and every at-bat …

Rockies can forget about contending  —  Atlanta roughs up relief pitcher Luis Vizcaino, requiring Colorado to go 15-1 just to finish with a winning record.  —  The Denver Post  —  ATLANTA — General manager Dan O'Dowd's brutal honesty about the Rockies last week appeared equal parts assessment and message.

Jed Hoyer Q&A  —  Red Sox social media site SawxHeads.com conducted a Q&A session via e-mail with Red Sox assistant GM Jed Hoyer, in which readers posed questions to the executive.  The most interesting tidbit comes at the end, when Hoyer relays a story about he and Theo discovering Curt Schilling …

Dodgers are spooked by bold prediction  —  The Dodgers' Manny Ramirez, left, is congratulated by teammate Andre Ethier after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning Wednesday night in San Diego.  Ramirez added another two-run shot in the ninth.  —  They refuse to discuss the playoffs …