FELDMAN AND FRIENDS RALLY RANGERS  —  If necessity is the mother of invention, it has done a pretty good job in developing a pretty good pitcher for the Texas Rangers.  The pitcher's name is Scott Feldman, and he entered the weekend with the best record in the American League …

Kennedy makes surprise FSL start  —  Helps Yankees defeat Stone Crabs in Finals opener  —  The opening game of the Florida State League Championship Series featured a surprise guest.  —  Ian Kennedy tossed two scoreless innings for Tampa, making his first appearance since surgery …

For Angels' Figgins, the attraction is mutual  —  The free agent-to-be acknowledges that he could flourish playing for Guillen and the White Sox.  —  Recommend  —  ANAHEIM - Chone Figgins' future boss might have been staring at him from the visiting dugout this weekend.

Ex-Met Hernandez finally safe at home  —  It was near midnight on Tumbleweed Tuesday, the name East  —  Enders give the day after Labor Day, when they reclaim their towns from seasonal visitors.  —  But one celebrity resident was just returning home from work, a commuter completing another long ride …

Joe Torre congratulates Derek Jeter on setting hits record  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Joe Torre offered his congratulations to Derek Jeter in the New York Yankees star's preferred form of communication: via text message.  —  Torre said Saturday he'd reached out to Jeter, who on Friday night broke …

Josh Beckett, Red Sox make short work of Rays  —  Eight-run 3rd gives pitcher boost in win  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio  —  It took the Rays and Red Sox [team stats] more than two hours just to start last night's rain-delayed game.  And then the Red Sox acted like they didn't want it to end.

Oz being Oz  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. - The best of Ozzie from Saturday:  —  Guillen on his hitters failing to beat pitchers they have seen for the first time - “I mean you're not going to take anything away from the pitching staffs that we've faced, but we've been facing some pitchers this year it's like, 'Who the [expletive] is this guy?

Pepsi Refresh Pre-Game: Mets vs. Phillies (Game 1)  —  The Mets and Phillies will open Game 1 of their day/night doubleheader today at 1:05 pm at Citizens Bank Park.  —  Carlos Beltran will not play in Game 1, nor will Luis Castillo.  —  Angel Pagan will lead off, followed in order …

Dodgers leave Giants reeling in NL West  —  Division leaders push third-place SF to 8 1/2 games back  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Vicente Padilla, who came to the Dodgers with a reputation as a head hunter, officially became a Giants killer on Saturday night.  —  Padilla remained unbeaten …

Red Sox Offered 6 Pitchers For Halladay?  —  Last month, Theo Epstein said Boston aggressively pursued Roy Halladay at the deadline and that their final offer was “probably the best offer [J.P. Ricciardi] received.”  According to Bob Elliot of the Toronto Sun, that may have been a 6-for-1 offer …