Manuel's sense of humor helps keep Mets loose  —  With the shadow of last September's collapse haunting these Mets, and his bullpen more volatile than the teetering U.S. economy, Jerry Manuel should be one freaked-out manager right now.  He could be paranoid that general manager Omar Minaya …

Yankees winning but running out of time  —  NEW YORK - The last time they played October baseball without the Yankees, Bill Clinton was a first-term president and David Letterman had just moved to CBS.  Down south, in the Single-A town of Greenville, S.C., the South Atlantic League offered …

It's Gone!  Goodbye!  —  The last home run in the House That Ruth Built will be hit this week; then the wrecking ball will take its cuts at Yankee Stadium.  The walls of this American monument do talk, and it has a few final secrets to share  —  I am dying.  —  It's O.K. You need not feel sorry for me.

No Playoffs Was No Big Deal in 1993  —  It was a time when the Yankees and their fans did not consider a playoff appearance a divine right, a time when there were actually empty seats at Yankee Stadium and a time when Mariano Rivera was starting games in the minor leagues.

Rays unable to protect late lead  —  Twins' five-run ninth off Wheeler, bullpen erases five homers  —  ST. PETERSBURG — All season long, the back end of the Rays' bullpen has been a place where opposing rallies have gone to die.  —  Entering Thursday night's game, the Rays had a record …

John Maine could be back Monday to the mound for Mets  —  WASHINGTON - John Maine appears days away from being activated from the disabled list.  —  Maine, who hadn't been on a mound since Aug. 23, threw 10 pitches Thursday afternoon.  He's expected to face batters in a simulated setting for the first time Saturday in Atlanta.

Kennedy seeks trade for '09  —  CINCINNATI — Convinced manager Tony La Russa no longer considers him an everyday player, Cardinals second baseman Adam Kennedy has asked that the club trade him rather than bring him back for the final installment of his three-year, $10 million contract.

Burrell lifts Phils to seventh straight  —  Slumping outfielder's two-run shot the difference vs. Braves  —  ATLANTA — Pat Burrell struck out five times Tuesday.  —  Five times, and looked bad doing it.  He stroked a single on Wednesday, but not much else.

New York-Penn League Top 20 Prospects  —  Castro heads list in league filled with top catchers  —  Talent was up across the short-season New York-Penn League in 2008.  Rarely has the league seen the quality of catching it featured this summer.  Tri-City's Jason Castro, a first-round pick in June …

George Brett Would Like To Tell You About That Time He Pooped His Pants  —  Not sure which spring training this video is from, but the video was just released to an unsuspecting public on Thursday, and is destined to go down as a classic; watch now as Royals Hall of Famer George Brett regales …

Early 2009 Draft Top 25 Prospects  —  September marks the end of the summer scouting circuit, as high schools and colleges begin classes.  Scouts used the three months in between the draft and the starting of school as an opportunity to get a jump on evaluating the talent in the 2009 class.

Nationals Park Revenue Falls Short of the Mark  —  Sales Taxes and Attendance Are Lower Than Expected  —  The Washington Nationals' new ballpark is on pace to generate about $13.5 million in sales taxes for the District government in its inaugural season, well below the $16.1 million city officials …

Traffic stop surprises Morgan  —  Police pull over outfielder for heavily tinted windows  —  PITTSBURGH — Nyjer Morgan found himself in the middle of a scene with Pittsburgh police outside of PNC Park in the early-morning hours that resulted from heavily tinted windows on Morgan's black SUV.

A-Rod, Cynthia reach divorce settlement  —  The ugly divorce battle that painted Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez as a serial adulterer and “brainwashed” beau of pop icon Madonna is over.  —  Rodriguez and his wife, Cynthia, announced Thursday night they have peacefully settled their multimillion-dollar divorce case.