Cashman aims to win with dysfunctional Yankees  —  Hank Steinbrenner is a part of the Yankees' muddled organizational structure.  (Newsday / Audrey C. Tiernan)  —  Amid the disappointment of 2008, Brian Cashman insisted yesterday, a kinder, gentler Steinbrenner family emerged.

Quentin has his eye on ALCS  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - With his right wrist heavily taped, slugger Carlos Quentin wasn't added to the White Sox's roster for the American League Division Series.  —  But the subsiding pain has raised Quentin's confidence to the point where he thinks …

White Sox versus Rays  —  Each year, the White Sox graciously host a University of Chicago alumni event, where Christina Kahrl and I speak to 150 or more nerds in the U.S. Cellular Conference & Learning Center.  The group gets tickets to the game too—which usually means a contest …

Cubs fan arrested for throwing ball at Dodgers player  —  FROM STNG WIRE REPORTS  —  A Lincoln Park man was arrested for attempting to strike Los Angeles Dodgers' left fielder Manny Ramirez with a baseball during the Cubs Wednesday night playoff loss at Wrigley Field.

Live: Omar Minaya Conference Call  —  SNY will televise this morning's conference call with Omar Minaya, which is set to begin around 11 am EDT.  —  I will also live blog the call, since I know many of you are unable to be in front of a television or computer speakers.  —  ...Update...11:03 am...

Mets' Manuel's contract negotiations hit a snag  —  PHILADELPHIA - The Mets' plan to bring back Jerry Manuel as manager is not going as smoothly as anticipated.  A person familiar with the situation told Newsday Wednesday night that the team has offered Manuel a two-year contract to return, but he has yet to accept the deal.

Byrnes believes foundation is solid  —  D-backs GM will look to add to offense this offseason  —  PHOENIX — No one was more disappointed the D-backs finished out of the playoffs in 2008 than Josh Byrnes.  —  As the Arizona general manager, though, he gets paid to make decisions based on more than just emotion.

Rays' Pena has eye issue  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay slugger Carlos Pena was removed from Thursday's AL playoff opener against the Chicago White Sox after the second inning because of slightly blurred vision in his left eye.  —  The Rays said Pena accidentally scratched his eye at home on Wednesday night.

YANKS MIGHT MAKE COACHING CHANGES  —  Sunday in Boston manager Joe Girardi said there had been no discussions about changes in his coaching staff.  Nevertheless, that was before general manager Brian Cashman officially returned.  Now, every department in the organization is under review.

The invisible villain  —  I thought of that story when Manny began acting up again this summer.  Boston's brain trust had decided to dump him.  Again.  We were doing this dance for the fourth time in six years.  There were two crucial differences this time, the first being Manny had canned …

All Things Joe: Springsteen, ‘Godfather,’ Convertibles  —  The day he was hired, this was written about Joe Maddon:  —  “The fourth manager in Devil Rays history is a book you can't put down.  A concert you rock to, a story that begins in a mining town and ends in a baseball dugout …

How The West Will Be Won  —  Los Angeles has taken four of the last five division titles and made a mockery of the West this year.  It never trailed by more than two games (and that was for one day), took first place for good on May 13 and wrapped up the West on Sept. 10.