Free Agent Compensation Could Be in Jeopardy  —  Once Washington Nationals left fielder Alfonso Soriano becomes the fourth player to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same season — he needs just one more stolen base — the attention will likely turn to Soriano's future.

Ramírez could be done for the season  —  Francona says slugger wants to play, but can't  —  BALTIMORE — Red Sox manager Terry Francona said after a closed-door meeting with Manny Ramírez yesterday that ``there's a chance" Ramírez, who has been diagnosed with patellar tendinitis …

Two Years, 180 Degrees  —  Photographs By The New York Times: Barton Silverman; John Dunn; Suzy Allman; Kathy Willens/Associated Press; Doug Benc/Getty Images  —  On this day two years ago, the Mets' lineup card included Jason Phillips, Eric Valent, Wilson Delgado and Jeff Keppinger.

Schmidt injury leaves pitching plans uncertain  —  As the Giants headed to the airport Thursday, bound for St. Louis, they did not know if Jason Schmidt, nursing soreness in his upper back, would make his scheduled start tonight.  —  Manager Felipe Alou said the team would wait until today to determine Schmidt's availability.

Reality check: Buck looks a lot like Bill  —  The Rangers' final homestand of the season opened in Arlington on Thursday night.  Only the hardcore will care.  The vast majority will keep going east or west on I-30.  —  Although minimal local baseball intrigue will be involved over the next two weeks …

Plunking puts Posada in pain  —  One of the main goals for any first-place team simply cruising to the finish line is to get through each day without suffering new injuries.  —  Jorge Posada left last night's 7-4 win over Tampa in the seventh inning with a bruised left elbow after he was clipped …

Bill Simmons vs. Stephen Colbert  —  Last night, my former ESPN.com colleague - and the Web's most popular sportswriter — Bill Simmons was on "The Colbert Report" to support the paperback release of his book "Now I Can Die In Peace."  —  In the most appropriate homage to Bill …

A Bittersweet Taste of Reality for a Fantasy Baseball Expert  —  The St. Louis Cardinals are stumbling toward the postseason with a patchwork pitching staff.  Their closer, Jason Isringhausen, is out indefinitely with a hip injury, and Mark Mulder, who started the season as their No. 2 starter …

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 …

Harrelson did job perfectly  —  Mentioning Garcia's great effort essential  —  WGN-Ch. 9 and Ken Harrelson weren't about to accept the blame for Freddy Garcia losing his perfect-game bid on Wednesday.  —  There were complaints from some traditionalists that it was the broadcaster's fault …

MEET THE SPOILERS  —  Ramirez's HR rallies Cubs past Dodgers.  —  NOTEWORTHY PERFORMANCES  —  GOOD  —  Matt Cain continued his dominance in the Giants' 5-0 win over the Rockies.  Cain allowed two hits in eight superb innings to win his fourth straight start.

Dye says Raiders games pillage Oakland outfield  —  OAKLAND — Right fielder Jermaine Dye is accustomed to playing pennant-drive baseball in Oakland.  —  Unfortunately for Dye, he has had to cope with the rough conditions at McAfee Coliseum when the baseball season has overlapped with football.

In TV booth, Cohen gets the picture  —  While the fate of Western civilization did not rest on whether Gary Cohen could make the transition from the Mets' radio booth to being the team's TV voice on SportsNet New York, inquiring minds were asking whether he could.  —  Cohen was talking about this the other day.

Barry Zito breaks down his famous curveball  —  It's coming.  No scouting reports needed.  Opposing managers are aware.  Opposing coaches are aware.  Opposing scouts are aware.  —  You even need to ask about opposing hitters?  —  It's Barry Zito's Killer Curve, a pitch that's …

USC should forfeit the 2004 national crown after reports that Reggie Bush and his family appear to have accepted financial benefits from prospective agents.  —  LOS ANGELES - The would-be agents who provided the house, the money for the tricked-out car, the luxury hotel rooms and the tens …

Schilling believes team will spare no expense in '07  —  BALTIMORE — Red Sox ace Curt Schilling, who has never been shy about suggesting he has a direct pipeline to management, said he expects the Sox will not be bound by luxury-tax constraints when they address needs this winter.