Pirates, Alvarez agree to revised contract  —  Deal is pending physical, could quash MLB union's grievance  —  In a stunning reversal of a summer-long drama, the Pirates and top draft pick Pedro Alvarez last night agreed to terms on a revised four-year, major league contract worth a guaranteed $6,355,000 …

Night of Reflection for Sons of Two Yankee Greats  —  Hours before they ran onto the field to represent their fathers and pay tribute to Yankee Stadium on Sunday night, David Mantle and Billy Martin Jr. paid homage to two Yankees greats.  Mantle and Martin, along with their families …

Cesspool scheduled for demolition  —  So, you may have heard, they just finished playing the last game ever at Yankee Stadium — once the home to the greatest organization in sports, a symbol of American excellence.  Back then, there was nothing preening about calling it The House That Ruth Built …

On Baseball: Phillies' payroll set to bulge  —  MIAMI - On Tuesday or Wednesday, the Phillies will set a franchise record for attendance, passing the mark of 3.25 million set in 2004, the year Citizens Bank Park opened.  —  The Phillies are drawing big because they have put a contending team on the field …

Evaluating April MLB Predictions (2008)  —  We did this last year, in a couple parts.  It quickly became obvious that the computer projections are much more accurate than those of ESPN's analysts; not at all surprising, considering the various methods used.

How Bad Is the Mets Bullpen?  —  It has been argued (by me) that overcoming a bullpen as terrible as New York's this season is a tribute to both the tremendous offensive talent and frontline starting pitching the Mets possess.  —  But as Sunday's 7-6 loss to the Braves demonstrated, the reverse is also true.

Guillen challenges Vazquez: Go out and kick Twins' butts  —  WHITE SOX IN BRIEF  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Considering what's at stake for the White Sox this week, why not throw down the gauntlet?  —  Manager Ozzie Guillen has done it before — too many times to count — so why change now?

Ramirez named Marlins MVP; some say Cantu snubbed  —  MIAMI GARDENS — Shortstop Hanley Ramirez missed a fourth straight start Sunday but still had something to celebrate.  He received his second consecutive Marlins Most Valuable Player award, given out by the South Florida chapter of the Baseball Writers Association if America.

Playoff Pulse: Another Mets meltdown watch  —  To start anywhere else would be irresponsible, because the panic is back in New York.  There are close to a dozen great story lines to fill the final week of the season, and they'll get their due after considering the possibility of New York Mets Meltdown, Version 2.0.

Northwest League Top 20 Prospects With Scouting Reports  —  The Spokane Indians dominated the short-season Northwest League on the field and on our Top 20 Prospects list.  The Rangers affiliate's 51-20 record was eight games better than any other club in the league, and the Indians led the circuit in runs (436) and ERA (3.46).

In Defeat, Pérez Finds Solace in Revived Career  —  Nats Starter Has Made the Most of Minor League Deal: Padres 6, Nationals 2  —  It was a strange day for satisfaction, but Odalis Pérez felt it nonetheless.  He had pitched six innings, striking out 11, which tied a career high.

Rays to give Price first big-league start tonight  —  ST. PETERSBURG — LHP David Price, the Rays' minor-league pitcher of the year, will make his first major-league start tonight in Baltimore, completing the journey from Class A to the big leagues in one season.

Souvenirs Are Costly for Players and Fans  —  The Yankees are known for giving their players more perks than any other franchise in baseball.  But when it came to souvenirs from the final game at the Stadium, the players were actually being treated just about the same as the team's fans.

No Fish Story in Tampa Bay  —  In their 11th season of play, after a decade of never winning 71 games, of never finishing above .500, and never coming close to contention in any year, the Tampa Bay Rays clinched a playoff spot yesterday with a 7-2 win over the Twins.

Dodgers' loss cuts NL West lead to 2 1-2  —  LOS ANGELES (AP)—James Loney could only shake his head as he contemplated one of the Los Angeles Dodgers' most frustrating losses of the season.  —  Rich Aurilia's two-out, RBI single in the 11th inning lifted the San Francisco Giants a 1- victory …