Mets skipper Manuel agrees to return  —  Jerry Manuel has agreed to return as New York Mets manager, SI.com has confirmed.  Manuel will get a two year contract, plus a club option for a third season.  —  When Manuel took over as interim manager for the fired Willie Randolph in mid-June …

Best-of-seven series a better test  —  Five-gamer not always an accurate test of team's true strength  —  A five-game series in baseball is like getting all dressed up for the big dance and the music stops before you walk through the ballroom door.  —  For most managers and players …

Rays about to go 2-up in Series  —  (9:05, top of the ninth, Rays 6, White Sox 2  —  Outstanding relief pitching by Grant Balfour and particularly lefty J.P, Howell allowed the Rays to hold on to a 3-2 lead until the Rays broke it wide open in the eighth with three runs to take a 6-2 lead.

Beckett definite; Lowell and Lowrie scratches explained  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mike Lowell's hip injury did not worsen, but Terry Francona made what he said was a very difficult decision to sit him.  Lowell wanted to play badly, Francona said.  One factor in the decision was the fact that Joe Saunders …

Why they'll win...  The Sox can, and I think will, win the World Series this year for a number of reasons:  —  1) I would assume that Jon Lester felt and knew he could do it in October prior to game 1, but having another stellar October line on his resume did nothing but solidify that to him, and now to the rest of the world.

Bill Murray offers advice to the Cubs  —  Bill Murray has not lost hope.  —  In fact, the life-long Cubs fan has some advice for the ailing boys in blue.  —  “They're not out of it yet, it's baseball,” said Murray, during a Friday interview with the Tribune to promote his new movie “City of Ember.”

Rivera's surgery slated for Tuesday  —  Veteran closer looks to begin Spring Training on time  —  NEW YORK — Yankees closer Mariano Rivera will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his sore right shoulder on Tuesday, the team has announced.  The procedure will be performed by Dr. David Altchek …

Howie Kendrick  —  I love Howie Kendrick.  I think he's a future batting champion.  But he needs to be on the bench on Sunday.  He needs to be far away from the batters box unless they're desperate for a pinch hitter.  He's 0-9 in the series with five strike outs, and he's left 11 men on base.

Padres' Greene grievance won't be heard before spring training  —  A grievance the Padres are pursuing against shortstop Khalil Greene likely will not be heard before spring training, said Mike Weiner of the major league players association.  —  The union is representing Greene in response …

Brewers Owner Attanasio Wants More Revenue Sharing From Yankees  —  Oct. 3 (Bloomberg) — Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, seeking a “fair fight,” said high-revenue clubs like the New York Yankees should share more with the other teams.  —  “It's always amusing to me to hear the Yankees …

Cat lover wants Shea kitties moved  —  Will it be known as Kitty Field?  —  At least one cat lover wants the Mets to bring Shea Stadium's feral felines to their new home, Citi Field.  —  “They're part of Mets lore,” said Bryan Kortis of Neighborhood Cats, a Manhattan rescue group.

Old man Jamie Moyer looks to finish Philly sweep  —  MILWAUKEE - After Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel reminisced Friday about Gil Hodges' World Series exploits in the 1950s, Jamie Moyer couldn't help himself.  —  “I think I faced Gil Hodges in that series,” Moyer joked.

The Bronx Is Turning  —  With seven possible free agents freeing up $75 million, what should the Yankees' game plan be for 2009?  —  Whether the New York Yankees resign Mike Mussina depends almost entirely on his wife, Jana.  —  The rejuvenated free agent—who, at 39 …

Piniella fed up with Fukudome's play  —  Cubs manager Lou Piniella has all but written off right fielder Kosuke Fukudome for the rest of the playoffs and maybe longer.  —  “From now on, I don't want to hear about Fukudome anymore as far as whether he's going to play or not,” …