A side of intrigue  —  Oblique injury pushes Beckett back to Game 3  —  There was little Josh Beckett couldn't do in last year's postseason.  He won game after game after game, dominating in every start, on the way to a World Series title.  He was supposed to do it again.

Wilpon extracts positives from season  —  Citing injuries, CEO says club performed beyond expectations  —  NEW YORK — Despite all the expectations, the what-ifs and the could-have-beens, Mets CEO Jeff Wilpon managed to muster a few positives Sunday on the final day of his team's 2008 season.

Pitching mess could doom White Sox even if they make playoffs … Getting to baseball's postseason is hard enough sometimes.  Bullpens blowing up, starters going down, late losing streaks, make-up games, play-in games, just plain bad luck.  —  And for those fortunate enough to somehow limp …

A Strained Season Off the Field, Too  —  Kasten Frustrated by Ownership's Continued Lack of Spending  —  After the final home game of the Washington Nationals' season, team president Stan Kasten and principal owner Mark Lerner crossed paths in their new stadium's lowest level.

Home runs drop to 15-year low … NEW YORK (AP) — Home runs in the major leagues dropped this year to their lowest level since 1993, and Angels center fielder Torii Hunter thinks he might know why.  —  “I think the steroid testing has something to do with it,” he said.

Godfrey quits as Jays president  —  Paul Godfrey has announced he will step down as president and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays at the end of 2008.  —  The Jays, who ended the regular season on Sunday with an 86-76 record, have never advanced to the post-season under Godfrey's reign at the top of the major league organization.

Lohse will get four-year deal  —  The Cardinals scratched Kyle Lohse from his last start of 2008 because a contract was in the works for him to be a part of the club in 2009 and beyond.  —  The Cardinals expected to finalize a four-year extension with Lohse this morning.

Marlins play spoiler again, knocking Mets from playoffs  —  NEW YORK — Shea good-bye to the playoffs.  —  Talk about a spoiler sequel, the Florida Marlins pulled off a double play Sunday.  They knocked the Mets out of the post-season for the second straight year and ruined the celebration for the last game at Shea Stadium.

Bell's status among the many question marks this offseason  —  Reliever Heath Bell said Sunday he expects to go to salary arbitration this winter because talks on a multiyear contract never heated up.  —  General Manager Kevin Towers has said the club and Bell had preliminary discussions on a multiyear contract.

Unsettled offseason for Rockies  —  Hurdle's sit-down with GM today just first phase of reshaping ballclub  —  PHOENIX — A six-month disappointment ends with a frank discussion today at Coors Field.  Manager Clint Hurdle will meet with general manager Dan O'Dowd for a season review …

Dodger Thoughts: The Dodger Thoughts 2008 Postseason Guide  —  So, here they are, the Los Angeles Dodgers.  C students of the postseason, baseball's nothingdictorians.  Barely a .500 team ... but they can dream.  —  No one should be favoring the Dodgers against the Cubs …

For Dodgers, getting to the playoffs is only half the battle  —  I mentioned it to Lowe, but he was too sick to care.  —  “Been sick for three days,” he said, giving new meaning to pitching on three days' rest, and hoping for the best.  —  A FEW more tidbits from the sit-down with Ramirez:

FRESH JERSEY  —  Mike Kelly's journal about events and people in the Garden State.  —  Read “Fresh Jersey”  —  Yankees  —  Kelly: A brush with Yankee greatness  —  Yankee Stadium was not just a baseball field.  For a group of Teaneck sign painters, it was a canvas for dozens of signs …