Manny Has It Made In The Fade  —  Seems To Laugh It Off As Sox Plummet  —  BALTIMORE — Even though the Red Sox have fallen out of playoff contention and he isn't playing, Manny Ramirez is having a blast.  He's laughing in the clubhouse before the game.  He's clowning around at the batting cage as the team stretches.

Report: Liriano's MRI shows no new structural damage  —  Minnesota Twins fans can relax a little bit for the moment.  Francisco Liriano's MRI shows no new structural damage to his left elbow, two sources told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.  —  Liriano's MRI results were very similar …

Gonzalez unlikely to return to D-Backs  —  Veteran outfielder informed that team will not pick up option  —  PHOENIX — It appears Luis Gonzalez's time in a Diamondbacks uniform will come to an end Oct. 1, when the club closes out the 2006 season against the Padres at Chase Field.

After punches, Rangers couldn't go distance  —  The Los Angeles Angels will be on their best behavior this weekend in Arlington.  This is no time for settling scores.  —  The Angels have more important tasks.  —  With seven of their final 10 games against Oakland, the Angels …

Garcia nearly perfect in finale win  —  Starter goes 7 2/3 before allowing a single  —  ANAHEIM — During the course of the past 10 days, both White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and pitching Don Cooper have been talking with great enthusiasm and excitement concerning the amazing run …

Choice is clear: Jeter  —  What fun would life be without a good old-fashioned baseball MVP argument?  —  I know poor Papi never imagined the consequences of just being a loyal member of Sluggers, Inc. David Ortiz was simply stating the case for his fellow boppers, as opposed to the table setters of the world.

50 Years in Game Is Enough for Kaat  —  Jim Kaat figures it is time to retire from calling Yankees games, to spend more time with his family, play more golf at home in Stuart, Fla., and tour the country in his recreational vehicle with his wife, Mary Ann, a pursuit inspired by the example of Bill White, a former Yankees announcer.

Pirates Notebook: Wilson vows to shed weight, improve defense  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  Jack Wilson spent the past winter — five days a week, three hours a day and buckets of sweat — bulking up by 20 pounds in an attempt to stay stronger over the course of the long, hot summer.

The Last Laugh: Q&A with Peter Angelos  —  Orioles owner Peter Angelos, who has always met controversy head-on, sits down with PressBox publisher Stan "the Fan" Charles to answer some of the questions his team's fans are asking after the ninth straight losing season.

Remembering the Ryan Express  —  "God gave Nolan the ability to throw a baseball faster than anybody else."  —Phil Garner, former Astros teammate  —  The recent rant from Joe Morgan regarding radar gun readings while watching Detroit Tigers rookie fireballer Joel Zumaya placed a spotlight …

First pitch, September 14  —  STARTING UP  —  Left-handed pitcher Justin Hampson will make his first major-league start Monday against the Giants at Coors Field.  —  Hampson, who worked as a starter and reliever with Triple-A Colorado Springs, has allowed one run in five innings of two relief appearances.