Gonzalez unlikely to return to D-Backs  —  Veteran outfielder informed that team will not pick up option  —  PHOENIX — Luis Gonzalez's tenure 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.

Painful Matinee for Liriano and Twins  —  Francisco Liriano stumbled off the mound and shook his left arm in pain as his 28th pitch, a fastball, bounced past Oakland's Bobby Kielty.  Mike Redmond, the Minnesota Twins' catcher, walked to the mound with the concerned look of someone coming upon …

A BERNING IDENTITY CRISIS  —  BERNIE Williams sought out Joe Torre yesterday to ask his manager if here - less than three weeks until Game 1 of the playoffs - the Yankee manager could explain his role.  —  Torre could not.  He told Williams that, in essence, this is spring training …

Timlin not ready to retire  —  Reliever aims for 1,000 appearances  —  Mike Timlin will turn 41 during spring training next season (March 10).  After being an indispensable piece of the Red Sox' bullpen the previous three seasons, including a league-leading 81 appearances in 2005, Timlin has struggled mightily this season.

Notes: No news is good on labor front  —  Gibbons says issues being discussed on regular basis  —  BALTIMORE — Four years ago at this point in the season, baseball's collective bargaining agreement was the hot-button topic that trumped everything between the lines.  An election cycle later, it's almost a non-issue.

Notes: Barrett braces for return  —  Cubs backstop taking necessary precautions against injury  —  CHICAGO — Cubs catcher Michael Barrett saw a doctor on Thursday in hopes of getting the go-ahead to resume activities so he can play again this season.  —  Barrett has been sidelined since Sept. 2 …

Hicks wants to keep Young around  —  But shortstop, signed till '08, in no hurry to negotiate extension  —  ARLINGTON — Rangers owner Tom Hicks said Thursday that signing shortstop Michael Young to a contract extension is a priority for the club in the offseason.

Slender Soriano keeps slugging away  —  Left fielder one steal away from fourth 40-40 season in history  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals left fielder Alfonso Soriano has been one of the best home run hitters in the last five years, yet he is often asked how he is able to hit the ball out of the park so often.

Minor-league year in review: Another wave sought to refresh top tiers  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  Something surely is amiss with a Major League Baseball team's system when the parent club is younger than its top two affiliates in the minors, as was the case …

An eight-month probe uncovers evidence that Reggie Bush and his family appear to have accepted improper benefits from prospective agents while at USC.  —  An eight-month Yahoo! Sports investigation has revealed that Heisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush and his family appear …

Braves say Chipper Jones will play again this season  —  ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves put third baseman Chipper Jones on the 15-day disabled list Thursday night so their insurance company will pay a portion of his $13.6 million salary.  —  Jones hasn't played since sustaining another strain …

Mets to activate and start RHP Martinez on Friday  —  PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - The New York Mets are on the verge of clinching their first division title in 18 years.  They also can celebrate the return of ace righthander Pedro Martinez.  —  The Mets will activate Martinez from the 15 …

Building the halls of justice  —  Editor's note: This article appears in the September 25 issue of ESPN The Magazine.  —  There are six elements in sports that simply don't work: sideline reporters, All-Star voting, MVP voting, Halls of Fame, WNBA players participating in NBA All-Star Weekend …