Bombers sweep Sox, clinch AL East crown  —  The Yankees finally can christen their new home with Champagne after they clinched the American League East title and home field advantage in the playoffs Sunday afternoon against - of all teams - their bitter rivals, the Red Sox.

Don't the Dodgers need to sign Colletti long-term?  The answer is Blowin' in the Wind  —  I'm usually loathe to start any bit of prose with a question.  But with the Dodgers having clinched the playoffs for the third time in the last four years, is it not time for management to re-up Ned Colletti?

Keeping Uribe seems obvious  —  (09-27) 21:23 PDT San Francisco — There exists a player who sounds as though he wants to be a Giant next year.  This year, he is hitting .299 in 378 at-bats.  Project his numbers over 500 at-bats and he would have 20 homers and 70 RBIs.

Nats Lose to Braves Again, Drop 51 Games Under .500  —  It is the bleakest form of theater, watching the 2009 Washington Nationals in their final days, seeing them slump and stumble and lose almost without exception.  They lose even when they can't quite figure out why.

PIRATES RALLY LATE, PREVENT DODGERS FROM CLINCHING NL WEST  —  PITTSBURGH — Right-fielder Andre Ethier misplayed Lastings Milledge's two-run single for an error that allowed the winning run to score, and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied for four in the ninth inning to beat the Dodgers 6-5 …

Rockies tip Cards … DENVER(AP) Clint Barmes had the wind knocked out of him and a big welt on his forehead.  —  A small price to pay for a game-saving catch in the middle of a tight playoff race.  —  Colorado's second baseman made a diving grab in shallow right field to start a game-ending double play …

Bullpen issues led to 1964 Phillies collapse  —  JACK BALDSCHUN was the Brad Lidge of a generation that still bears the psychic scars of the most infamous collapse in baseball history.  I heard Ray Didinger say on WIP Saturday that the trauma of what happened to the 1964 Phillies nearly caused …

Purcey pitching into 2010 consideration  —  Southpaw could be in next year's rotation after strong finish  —  TORONTO — With what he has seen this year from his young pitchers, Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston does not feel that bolstering the rotation is a top priority for the coming winter.

Francoeur homers, Misch goes distance as Mets top Marlins  —  MIAMI - Jerry Manuel approached Jeff Francoeur in the visitors' clubhouse before Sunday's game and told the right fielder he would have to play despite being banged up.  Otherwise, the manager joked, the Mets might face a fine for the ragtag lineup opposing the Marlins.

Clause in Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell's contract might keep him from managing until 2011.  —  NEW YORK — John Farrell makes it clear he wants to some day manage.  But Boston's pitching coach said that the focus right now should be on the team and not a recent report that said a clause …