Steinbrenner says he'll call the shots from now on  —  If Johan Santana was a free agent this year, you can bet Hank Steinbrenner would not have taken ‘no’ for an answer.  —  The Yankees only have a bittersweet 16 games remaining in their lost 2008 season, but their course for '09 is about to begin.

NUMBER OF REASONS AMAZIN' COLLAPSE WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN  —  SEVENTEEN.  —  There's the number.  Ruminate over it.  Stew over it.  Agonize over it one more time.  Seventeen: It used to be such a happy number in Mets' lore.  That was Keith Hernandez's number, the first old number that should be retired in the new ballpark.

Tickets for Final Games At Yankee Stadium Running As High As $18,300  —  It seems that more than a few people wish to send off Yankee Stadium, or if not, profit on the secondary ticket market.  —  After 26 World Championships and more than 7,000 baseball games, the final countdown …

Dominant Angels may already have eye on adding Sabathia … As if the Angels' pitching rotation isn't stellar enough, several baseball people say they believe that they may try to pull off the coup of the winter by signing CC Sabathia, the perfect Brewer and best free-agent pitcher in at least a decade.

D'backs send Owings to Reds to cap Dunn deal … PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks sent pitcher Micah Owings to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday to complete the August trade for slugger Adam Dunn.  —  The Diamondbacks said Owings would be in his new Reds uniform Friday night when Cincinnati visits Arizona.

WAGNER: I'VE PLAYED MY LAST DAY AS MET  —  The competitor in Billy Wagner would love to say he'll return late next season and help the Mets win a championship.  But Wagner isn't about to make a hollow guarantee.  He knows he's done with the Mets.  —  A day after Tommy John surgery …

Mets' Delgado could get $4M payoff for big season … As Carlos Delgado elevates his MVP profile, he might also be elevating his 2009 paycheck.  —  Buried in the fine print of the four-year contract Delgado signed with Florida before the 2005 season is an escalator clause that could turn …

BERNIE TO ATTEND STADIUM CLOSING CEREMONY  —  Before construction crews literally bring down the house, the return of a Yankees icon figures to serve the same purpose.  —  Bernie Williams told The Post last night he plans to be at Yankee Stadium as part of the pregame festivities on Sept. 21 …

Beltre appears set for surgery  —  M's third baseman likely to have left thumb and shoulder fixed  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — All signs point to Adrian Beltre needing to take himself off the field for thumb and shoulder surgery in the next few days.  —  Beltre doesn't have to be told this.

Howard hits home run No. 43 to propel Phillies past Brewers  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jamie Moyer can rest his arm when he retires.  For now, the old man is doing whatever it takes to extend the Philadelphia Phillies' season.  —  Moyer pitched 5 2/3 effective innings on three days' rest …

Finger injury knocks Gorzelanny out for season … PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pirates starter Tom Gorzelanny will miss the rest of the season because of an injury to his left middle finger.  —  Gorzelanny left his start against the Houston Astros in the third inning Wednesday night with an irritation in his finger.

Fading Rockies could be bold in offseason  —  A year ago Sunday, the Rockies began their great run, which concluded with sweeps of Philadelphia in the National League Division Series and Arizona in the NL Championship Series, giving the Rockies 20 wins in 21 games and the first pennant in franchise history.

Do new parks bring wins?  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Say what you want about Tropicana Field, but it's mid-September and the upstart Tampa Bay Rays lead the American League East.  —  Not the hallowed Yankees, with their $209-million payroll.  —  Not the $133-million Red Sox, with their annoying “nation.”

Cubs-Astros series could relocate to Turner Field  —  Turner Field has been discussed as a possible neutral site for at least two games of the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros series this weekend, games postponed in Houston because of Hurricane Ike.  —  A person familiar with discussions …

Alex Rodriguez, Clutch Hitter  —  Does clutch hitting exist, and if so, does Alex Rodriguez excel at it?  —  The answers for most New York Yankees beat writers are apparently yes and no, respectively.  Since Mr. Rodriguez's arrival in the Bronx in 2004, his struggles in crucial game situations …