3 UP: Joba, Giambi/Abreu and Epstein  —  1. The Yankees are strongly weighing sending Joba Chamberlain to some form of extra pitching — likely either the Arizona Fall League or the Instructional League — as a way to further build his inning load this season to better prepare him to start in 2009, Hardball has learned.

MLB reveals 2009 schedule  —  Next season features old rivalries, new parks and more  —  The 2009 Major League Baseball season: A late start and the probability of November baseball; two grand openings in New York, one grand re-opening in Kansas City and one farewell season in Minnesota …

Firing line: Sources say Attanasio made call to can Yost … Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, not general manager Doug Melvin, is the one who made the call to can manager Ned Yost, multiple sources told SI.com  —  While the official word out of the Brewers camp was that the firing was a group effort …

Giambi's legacy with Yankees?  Generosity  —  It could be that Jason Giambi's finest hour as a Yankee didn't occur on the field, or in the dugout, or in front of a grand jury in San Francisco.  —  No, Giambi, whose colorful Yankees tenure is very likely coming to an end after seven memorable seasons …

Offseason Outlook: Atlanta Braves  —  By Tim Dierkes [September 17 at 10:43pm CST]  —  Next up in our Offseason Outlook series, the Braves.  Here's how they set up for '09 using internal options only:  —  C - Brian McCann - $3.5MM  —  C - Clint Sammons - $400K  —  1B - Casey Kotchman - $1.45MM+

Sox to consult specialists on Lowell  —  Unsurprisingly, Mike Lowell was sore today.  The question now is whether Lowell's hip has suffered more damage that would prevent him from helping the Red Sox the balance of the way.  —  Prior to tonight's series finale between the Sox and Tampa Bay Rays …

Not Every Seat in the New Yankee Stadium Is a Winner  —  By this time next week, “Yankee Stadium” will no longer refer to the historic (if poorly remodeled) park on the south side of 161st Street in the Bronx, but the shiny, new palace currently being built across the street.

Pirates Notebook: LaRoche, team face questions  —  Center fielder Nate McLouth attempts to corral a ball hit by Los Angeles' Casey Blake as it caroms off the wall last night at PNC Park.  Blake wound up with a triple — one of his three hits.  —  The Pirates face what some might …

postGame: Mets 9 Nationals 7  —  OK Mets Nation ... E-X-H-A-L-E ...  It was just another wild night of September baseball as the Mets (84-67) snapped their losing streak with a 9-7 win over the Nationals (57-95) in Washington, D.C.  —  For a recap, boxscore, stats, etc., click here.

Schilling blasts Manny  —  Injured Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling threw some high heat at former teammate Manny Ramirez this afternoon on sports radio WEEI's “The Big Show,” saying the slugger's “level of disrespect to teammates and people was unfathomable.”

104-year-old Cubs fan won't get to toss first pitch  —  Leo Hildebrand has been throwing a baseball almost every day for the last six weeks in preparation for his big day.  —  The 104-year-old Bensenville man winds up and pitches, and his 61-year-old caretaker shags the balls for him.

Fans stealing Yankee Stadium mementos face arrest  —  Thinking about taking a piece of Yankee Stadium with you during the next few days of the final homestand at the House that Ruth Built?  Devising an elaborate, secretive plan to make off with something from the Stadium that you hope to one day tell your friends and family about?

Girardi hasn't made a difference for Yankees  —  It's too early to say Joe Girardi will not be the manager the Yankees thought they hired, but this hasn't been said enough: Girardi has not had a good year.  A thought that was impossible to ignore last night as the homestanding Yankees lopped …

Cause For Concern  —  Ted Lerner sat in Nationals Park last night, as fascinated with his team and as optimistic about it, despite its 57-93 record, as he has ever been.  “Our objective has been the same since the first day,” he said.  “We are creating a fine organization from top to bottom …