Cashman should return to fix own mess after whiffing on pitching calls  —  Having seen what Johan Santana did for the Mets in September, a member of the Yankee organization Monday was privately lamenting GM Brian Cashman's decision not to trade for the brilliant lefthander when another thought seemed to strike him.

Sox want a ‘blackout’ for Tuesday  —  For one-game tiebreaker, team urging fans to wear all black  —  CHICAGO — A blackout coming in a city the size of Chicago usually leads to more than a fair share of worry and maybe a few dire circumstances.  —  That blackout takes on a completely different meaning …

JOBA'S SHOULDER BEARS WATCHING  —  For the second time inside of two months, Joba Chamberlain experienced discomfort in his valuable right shoulder Sunday at Fenway Park.  —  According to several people, Chamberlain said the shoulder was tight after exiting the first game of the doubleheader …

Tips are quite valuable to Masterson  —  Justin Masterson keeps a small notebook at his house.  He jots in it observations and advice from teammates, “just to remember,” the Red Sox rookie reliever said.  —  The most helpful thing he wrote down came from Josh Beckett …

Texas Rangers' Daniels shakes up coaches  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  A day after the Texas Rangers finished the season with the worst ERA, fielding percentage and the most catching errors in the majors, they made changes in all three areas.  —  Bench coach/infield instructor Art Howe …

Brewers go with Gallardo  —  According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Brewers are going to throw young righty Yovani Gallardo against Cole Hamels in Game One on Wednesday.  A very interesting move.  Stuff wise, this guy is probably the second-best pitcher on the staff.

Letter to a Rookie  —  San Diego, CA.  92101  —  Dear Will,  —  The other day I received an e-mail from a writer who had interviewed me a couple of years ago for Black History Month.  We'd kept in touch, and he was writing to inform me of your promotion to the major leagues.

Can't come up short on Jeter deal  —  Brian Cashman, or whoever the next Yankees general manager turns out to be, is going to be faced with an awfully difficult decision soon, perhaps as early as one year from now.  —  Remember that 10-year, $189- million contract Derek Jeter signed?

Black, four Padres coaches returning  —  SAN DIEGO — Bud Black will return for the third season as manager of the Padres.  —  The team announced Monday that Black and four coaches will return next season.  Bench coach Craig Colbert did not have his contract renewed.

METS  —Sign free agents Francisco Rodriguez and Darren Oliver.  Bullpen sanity starts with an elite closer like K-Rod, while Oliver was a good long relief guy and popular teammate with the 2006 Mets.  Bid farewell to Luis Ayala, Aaron Heilman, Duaner Sanchez and Scott Schoeneweis.

Lohse agrees to $41 million deal  —  The Cardinals and Kyle Lohse consummated a marriage of convenience Monday afternoon when the sides agreed to a four-year, $41 million contract extension.  —  The Cardinals clarified next season's starting rotation while pre-empting what is almost certain …

Martinez, Mussina Exits May Mark End of an Era  —  It's the end of an era in New York.  Forget the dual destruction of two long-standing baseball edifices in Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium; the end of the season may also have brought a conclusion to the careers of two fin de siècle pitching greats …

Read: Fixing Wright  —  According to Buster Olney at ESPN.com, David Wright is one of the tangible things that the Mets need to fix for the 2009 season.  —  In the report, Olney writes: … ...i can't imagine the pressure put on this lineup when you know that no lead, or small deficit for that matter …