Howard's just what MLB needs right now  —  PHILADELPHIA - Only the most feared hitters would be walked intentionally to lead off the ninth inning of a tie game between two teams scrambling for a wild card.  —  This is where Ryan Howard stands as he bears down on Major League Baseball's …

Cubs can't overcome Big Z's early exit  —  Theriot hits three-run double in rally effort, but error looms large  —  CHICAGO — Carlos Zambrano tried to be a hero on Monday.  It wasn't a good move.  —  Zambrano, who has been the one constant in the Cubs rotation this year …

Wallace Matthews  —  Don't mean a thing if he ain't got that Oct. swing  —  The lead in the division is nine games, the magic number is down to 18 and the fans have become downright leisurely, wandering in and out of the action like a U.S. Open crowd prowling the outer courts.

Rangers' Volquez will go again  —  Showalter wants to see plenty of young pitchers in season's final month  —  OAKLAND - The Rangers won't skip Edinson Volquez in the rotation after all.  —  Rangers manager Buck Showalter said Monday that the struggling rookie will pitch Saturday at Seattle.

Sox fail to extend wild-card lead  —  After losing 2 of 3 to K.C., White Sox bracing for Boston  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After losing two of three games to the team with the worst record in the majors, the White Sox know better than to take a depleted Boston team lightly when they visit Fenway Park …

Speedy Matsui jets his way into Rockies' future plans  —  Los Angeles - Kaz Matsui continues to play a starring role in "The Fast and The Curious."  He remains in the lineup because of his speed, quick bat and, just as important, contract talks that aren't running in circles.

Giles has healthy heart  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Tests determined that Marcus Giles has a healthy heart and he can keep playing baseball, a huge relief to the Atlanta Braves and their second baseman after he was told he might have a heart defect.  —  Giles was en route to Shea Stadium …

Notes: Mock undergoes knee surgery  —  Righty hopes to compete for job in starting rotation in 2007  —  WASHINGTON — Garrett Mock, one of the players acquired from Arizona in the Livan Hernandez trade on Aug. 7, had left knee surgery on Saturday and is expected to make a complete recovery and be ready for Spring Training.

Notes: Broxton a strong asset for LA  —  Rookie reliever has allowed just two runs in his last 18 outings  —  LOS ANGELES — While Andre Ethier garners most of the national attention as the Dodgers' top Rookie of the Year candidate, overshadowed is the solid play of reliever Jonathan Broxton.

Bert red-faced over blue words  —  Twins analyst Blyleven was suspended after obscenity he used Sunday got on the air.  —  Twins television analyst Bert Blyleven has been suspended for two telecasts for accidentally using obscenity on the air before the start of the Twins-Yankees game Sunday afternoon in New York.

A White Sox Fan Discusses Hawk Harrelson  —  If you haven't noticed, the Toaster's Catfish Stew has added a new writer, Phillip Michaels.  I've really enjoyed his new voice here.  Considering how many A's blogs there are it can't be easy to come up with a unique spin on the team …

Moneyball, Part 2: The Cliché Comes To Life  —  Moneyball is a raincloud, and A's bloggers are Eeyore.  The book follows you where ever you go.  It's difficult to come up with an interesting angle on the A's that hasn't been covered by Moneyball, or by the seven hundred billion gazillion essays …

Nagging injury delays Street's return  —  A's notebook  —  OAKLAND — A's closer Huston Street was eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday.  —  As Street said, "That's not going to happen."  —  Street's strained right groin wasn't supposed to sideline him longer than his allotted time on the DL …

Williams looks for fast start against Rox  —  Colorado (63-73) at San Diego (70-66), 6:05 p.m. PT  —  After pulling out a series win against Cincinnati by winning the last two games, the Padres welcome the Rockies to San Diego for a three-game set.  —  "Anytime you win a series, it's big.