‘Big Game Gavin’?  Floyd eager to face Garcia  —  Gavin Floyd was planning to eat dinner Sunday evening.  —  A full meal.  —  He also had plans to sleep Sunday night.  —  A good night's sleep at that.  —  If this afternoon truly was going to be the biggest moment the White Sox right-hander …

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.

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.

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.

Melvin offers thanks to ex-manager  —  Brewers GM sends e-mail to Yost expressing appreciation for his work  —  One of the first things Doug Melvin did was send a message to Ned Yost.  —  After the New York Mets fell, 4-2, to Florida on Sunday afternoon, securing the National League wild-card berth …

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 …

Pirates fire pitching, first base coaches  —  The Pirates this morning fired pitching coach Jeff Andrews after one season on the job.  —  Andrews, 39, oversaw a pitching staff that had a 5.08 ERA, third-highest in Major League Baseball and fifth-highest in franchise history.

Yanks leaning toward leaving Joba as starter  —  BOSTON - Joba Chamberlain finished the season having thrown only 100 1/3 innings because of a shoulder injury that caused him to miss a month.  If the Yankees stick to their organizational beliefs, the 23-year-old right-hander will be limited to 140 innings next season.

Art Howe out, Jim Colborn returns to Pacific Rim, Andy Hawkins a “candidate” for 2009 staff  —  The hedline pretty much sums it up, but that's the deal.  Art Howe will be replaced as bench coach and Andy Hawkins will be considered for the 2009 staff, likely as the bullpen coach rather than pitching coach.

To solve Mets' bullpen problem, bid for K-Rod  —  In a Mets clubhouse that emitted a mix of shock and deja vu, Scott Schoeneweis redefined “morose.”  —  Yesterday's losing pitcher wore the most pained of expressions as he staggered from his locker to Jerry Manuel's office, planted himself on a couch and stared into space.

Lohse will get four-year deal  —  Kyle Lohse, who signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal late in spring training to bolster the Cardinals' starting pitching staff, was rewarded Monday with a four-year, $41 million contract extension.  —  The contract also calls for full, no-trade protection for Lohse.

Hamels, Myers, Moyer ...  Just heard that the Phillies have set up their rotation for the first three games of the National League division series against the Milwaukee Brewers: Cole Hamels will pitch Game 1 on Wednesday, Brett Myers will pitch Game 2 on Thursday and Jamie Moyer will pitch Game 3 on Saturday.

Musician loses Milwaukee gig for playing a little ‘Go Cubs Go’  —  Ted Wulfers never thought that singing Steve Goodman's “Go Cubs Go” could get you fired, but that's just what happened to the Chicago musician over the weekend.  Wulfers was scheduled to perform Sunday at a TGI Friday's inside Milwaukee's Miller Park.

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.

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 …

Giants Rumors: Aurilia, Vizquel, Cain  —  By Tim Dierkes [September 29 at 3:09pm CST]  —  Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News did some quick blogging from Brian Sabean's press conference today.  Hot stove notes:  — Rich Aurilia could be re-signed, but Omar Vizquel won't be back.

Higgins, Azinger get first-pitch duties  —  The ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of the ALDS at Tropicana Field will be delivered by team senior vice president John Higgins, the first employee hired by the Rays in 1995.  —  The first pitch before Game 2 will go to Paul Azinger …