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 …

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.

White Sox drop series in New York  —  Vazquez struggles as AL Central lead is trimmed to 1 1/2 games  —  NEW YORK — It took Ozzie Guillen one disparaging word to describe his team's 9-2 loss before 53,152 at Yankee Stadium on Thursday night.  —  That same word could have described …

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.

Marcum undergoes MRI on right arm  —  Jays awaiting second opinion from Dr. James Andrews  —  TORONTO — The Blue Jays have performed their own tests on the ailing right arm of Shaun Marcum and have drawn their own conclusions about the extent of the starter's injury.

Bedard's injury seldom leaves players the same  —  Of 36 pitchers with torn labrum, only one returned to earlier form  —  A double play is known as “a pitcher's best friend.”  A torn labrum should probably be known as his worst enemy.  —  A broken arm, a torn rotator cuff, even the dreaded …

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.

On Loney's hit, Dodgers prevail in 12  —  Bases-loaded RBI single trims LA's magic number to seven  —  PITTSBURGH — If things break just right, the Dodgers can mark their 50th anniversary in Los Angeles by clinching the division title at home after edging the Pirates on Thursday in 12 innings …

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.

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 …

Marlins beat Astros for eighth straight win  —  MIAMI GARDENS — Now comes the tough part.  —  The red-hot Marlins won their eighth straight game Thursday night, completing a sweep of the Astros with an 8-1 victory without injured All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez.

Cubs score 4 in 9th, beat Brewers in 12  —  CHICAGO (AP)—Geovany Soto and the Chicago Cubs can almost taste the champagne after one of their sweetest and most improbable victories of the season.  —  Soto hit a tying three-run homer with two out in the ninth inning, Derrek Lee singled …