Shea boo birds should give these Mets a break  —  Luis Ayala of the Mets kneels on the mound after giving up a home run in the 10th inning.  (Newsday/David L. Pokress / September 24, 2008)  —  The challenge for the Mets in the next four games is to find a way to make the playoffs despite …

Short rest a gamble  —  Guillen stakes season on top three starters  —  Give Mark Buehrle a ton of credit.  —  He made the biggest pitch he had to in a 121-pitch stress test, sawing off Justin Morneau with a 2-0 cut fastball that ran in on his hands in the second inning.

FREE-AGENT PITCHERS ON BOMBERS' RADAR  —  TORONTO - Is this a six-month blip?  Or is this the beginning of a two- to three-year slide?  —  With the Yankees going home Sunday, the question is where are they headed.  —  Co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner and manager Joe Girardi have talked aggressively …

Pettitte pitched with bad shoulder, wants to return  —  TORONTO - Andy Pettitte said it makes him feel “sick” to know the Yankees will miss the playoffs.  He also stepped up to take blame for the team's failures, but Pettitte also admitted that he has been pitching with his left shoulder bothering …

Part 2: Winter moves may hit M's hard at plate  —  There is one distraction Raul Ibanez has been unable to block out as he puts together one of his finest seasons.  —  Ibanez compares himself to “a racehorse with blinders on” because of the way he can focus on nothing more than the task ahead.

The worst general managers in sports history  —  We may have a contender for best fan reaction to a sports event, ever.  From ESPN.com's story on Matt Millen's firing:  —  “I've been a season-ticket holder for 28 years and because they fired Matt Millen, I'm going to renew,” said Detroit Lions fan Eddie Gates.

J.T. Snow will retire as a Giant  —  (09-24) 22:12 PDT San Francisco — Imagine J.T. Snow's emotions when he takes first base Saturday night as a member of the Giants' starting lineup.  Those who want to see him play against the Dodgers, however, will be disappointed.

Ten thoughts about the free-agent market  —  For eight teams and more than 200 players, the season will go on past Sunday.  For 22 teams and some 600 players, the season ends on Sunday, which is why there is already lots of underground talk about the offseason to come.

Unconventional Wisdom: Breaking down the Mets bullpen … If the Mets miss the playoffs this year, they'll remember Aug. 2 as the day their season irrevocably turned.  In the ninth inning of a game against the Astros, interim manager Jerry Manuel summoned Billy Wagner to protect a 4-2 lead.

Pouring salt on the wound  —  From BRIAN COSTELLO I had an interesting perspective for the end of the Mets-Cubs game tonight and thought Mets fans might find it interesting: I watched the end of the game in the Braves' clubhouse in Philadelphia....  I'm here covering the Phillies side …

Mets tied with Brewers in wild card after 9-6 loss to Cubs in 10 innings  —  Aramis Ramirez and Kosuke Fukudome score in the top of the 5th to tie the game at 5-5, erasing the Mets four-run lead ...  There were reminders of the 1980s all over Shea Wednesday night, from Darryl Strawberry strolling around …

Baker denies rumors about kid  —  HOUSTON - Reds manager Dusty Baker took the unusual step of bringing up a rumor Wednesday to deny it.  —  There's been a persistent rumor floating around the Reds that Baker's 28-year-old daughter, Natosha, is dating and/or engaged to outfielder Corey Patterson.

Kasten committed to see job through  —  Team president refutes reports of rift with Lerner family  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals team president Stan Kasten denied reports on Wednesday that he is unhappy and wants to leave the organization.  —  Reports from the Washington Times …