Reyes needs hammy repair, return up in air  —  WASHINGTON - Jose Reyes has a new, more severe injury.  The shortstop tore his right hamstring running Tuesday, an examination by team doctors revealed.  —  Reyes may have been headed for surgery anyway to repair a torn tendon in the area.

Duncan says pine tar gave Reds the upper hand  —  Bronson Arroyo pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.  Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncahn said Arroyo was able to deal with the slick balls because “I'm sure he had pine tar on his cap.  He didn't have any problem getting a grip.”

Joba: “If they want me to fold towels, I'll fold towels” (with audio)  —  The best quote of the postgame locker room came from Joba Chamberlain, when he was asked what he thought about his role on the Yankees postseason roster.  —  “If they want me to fold towels, I'll fold towels,” Chamberlain said.

Phillies pitcher Moyer done for season, to have surgery  —  Turns out, one of Jamie Moyer's most important pitching performances of the season was also his last.  —  The 46-year-old lefthander, who helped protect a three-run lead Tuesday night by recording four outs in the sixth and seventh innings …

Manager decision expected quickly  —  Riggleman is a candidate  —  One way or another, Jim Riggleman will serve his final game as interim manager of the Washington Nationals on Sunday.  Will the Rockville native and childhood Senators fan be back next season as permanent manager?

Phillies Clinch Title, but Worries Abound  —  PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies had already clinched their third consecutive National League East title Wednesday night before Brad Lidge threw his first pitch in the ninth inning, but there was no one else Manager Charlie Manuel wanted on the mound.

A D.C. Game of Moneyball  —  The Nats' final home game of the year Wednesday combined all the paradoxical and troubling threads of a season in which the team had the game's worst record and saw attendance drop 22 percent.  Yet these same Nats, who will certainly receive revenue-sharing funds …

Maybe Mets should start by firing Manuel  —  The meetings already have begun, Newsday's David Lennon reported yesterday.  —  For six weeks, Mets officials have discussed how to best bury the nightmare of 2009.  —  So as long as the lights are on and the seats are warm …

Lincecum on Cain: ‘I just love watching him pitch’  —  Sporting News Conversation: Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain  —  Tim Lincecum was running late.  Like a blur, the 25-year-old right-hander exited the team shuttle bus and entered the clubhouse; was out of his black jeans …

Red Sox defense: Good or bad?  —  Take a look at these statistics and you'd think the Boston Red Sox have a pretty good defense.  Only five teams have committed fewer errors, and only five teams have a better fielding percentage.  —  In fact, the Red Sox have the best fielding percentage …

Hat-tip to fischean who found this posted on Deadspin.  Here's the video itself: Joe Mauer is tipping pitches quite blatantly.  Of course there's nothing unusual about this and it happens all the time, but it will be interesting to see if the mainstream media picks this up and runs with it.

Rockies on cusp of NL wild card … DENVER(AP) The Colorado Rockies are on the cusp of clinching a playoff spot.  —  So close, in fact, that the postseason aroma hangs in the air.  —  “Anytime you're this close, you can smell it,” Troy Tulowitzki said.  “You want to get it done.”

Hermida A Non-Tender Candidate  —  The Marlins are unlikely to tender a contract to outfielder Jeremy Hermida, according to Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post.  Hermida followed up on a lackluster '08 with a .259/.348/.392 line in 491 plate appearances this year.