PAPI DISSES DEREK  —  ORTIZ RAPS JETER'S MVP CREDENTIALS  —  BALTIMORE - Derek Jeter's answer to David Ortiz' suggestion that Jeter wouldn't be as good a hitter or an MVP winner in the Red Sox lineup sounded like a Jeter single through the middle - crisp.  —  "I don't have to do it in his lineup …

Coins flipped in case of ties  —  Home-field advantage decided for one-game playoffs  —  Twenty-two coin flips later, the only ones flipping for joy were the Los Angeles Dodgers.  —  According to results of a series of coin flips conducted by conference call Tuesday to determine sites …

Mets Crisis of the Week: They Can't Hit Lefties  —  One of the more entertaining things about a highly entertaining Mets season has been the constant manufacture of crises.  Be it the rotation, the bullpen, the outfield, David Wright's power stroke, or the gravitational pull of Mr. Met's enormous head …

MVP voters prefer run producers  —  Deductive reasoning will get you only so far with baseball writers.  I know.  I am one.  —  I have voted for baseball's top awards since 1984.  I can't say I've always seen the winners coming.  —  Juan Gonzalez over Alex Rodriguez for the American League MVP in 1996?

Padres begin key series with Reds  —  San Diego (74-68) at Cincinnati (71-72), 4:10 p.m. PT  —  In the middle of two races, for the National League West title and NL Wild Card berth, the Padres venture into Great American Ball Park for a three-game shootout with the Reds starting Tuesday night.

A new home for Figgins?  —  ANAHEIM - Chone Figgins says he feels at home in center field, a residency that could be short-lived depending on offseason maneuverings that could wind up with the utility man getting traded.  —  "I'm starting to love center field a little bit because it's just fun to get out there and run," Figgins said.

Gordon Wins Minor League Player Of The Year  —  WICHITA, Kan.—Kansas City Royals fans have salivated over the thought of watching Alex Gordon, the No. 2 overall pick in 2005, play at Kauffman Stadium.  They've dreamed of how he'll turn around the organization, become a mainstay at third base, lead the team to the playoffs.

Waiting for Rivera & Martinez to pitch in  —  For the first time in history, the Mets and Yankees have double-digit leads at the same time.  In the middle of September, the Mets are about to clinch the NL East and the Yankees have pulled so far away from the Red Sox that this weekend's Yankee-Red Sox series …

Harold Reynolds Interview - First Since ESPN Firing  —  Today on Baseball Beat with Charley Steiner, Harold Reynolds made his first radio or TV appearance since being fired by ESPN.  He discussed the situation, his wife and family, getting his name back, and the upcoming mediation with ESPN.

Mark Teahen Steps Up  —  Mark Teahen was a marvelous young prospect who was already at Triple-A.  — Billy Beane  —  Athletics Nation (9/20/2004)  —  Tuesday night, when the Royals announced Mark Teahen would undergo shoulder surgery, ending his season, it marked the end of one of the more amazing seasons I can remember.

Cabrera blossomed as Matsui's replacement  —  NEW YORK — Yankees general manager Brian Cashman repeated the question, slightly shocked, just to make sure his ears weren't lying to him.  —  "Do we need [Hideki] Matsui back?"  —  It was only a curiosity, not an indictment.

KDKA out as Pirates flagship station  —  PITTSBURGH (AP) — The first radio station to broadcast a major league baseball game is losing the rights to Pittsburgh Pirates games after 51 years.  —  KDKA will cease to be the Pirates' flagship station in 2007 as the team's radio rights shift …

Q&A: Philip Hughes  —  The top-rated prospect in the Yankees organization, Philip Hughes came into the season with high expectations and exceeded them.  The Yankees' first-round pick in the 2004 draft (23rd overall), the 20-year-old righthander began the year in high Class A Tampa but was promoted to Trenton after five starts.