Padres-Dodgers Preview  —  To hold on to their slim NL West lead, the Los Angeles Dodgers have to do something they've failed to do this season - beat the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.  —  The Dodgers (77-69) look to avoid their sixth straight home loss to the Padres (76-69) …

Tigers claim Stairs off waivers  —  Outfielder/first baseman provides another left-handed bat  —  DETROIT — The Tigers announced on Friday that they've claimed first baseman/outfielder Matt Stairs off waivers from the Texas Rangers, adding another piece for the stretch run to what has been a struggling offense.

Mulder faces long road back  —  Cards lefty doesn't expect to start 2007 season on time  —  ST. LOUIS — Mark Mulder returned to the Cardinals' clubhouse on Friday, three days after undergoing surgery on his left rotator cuff.  Mulder, donning a sling on his repaired shoulder …

Many individual awards yet to be determined  —  The envelopes, please ...  No, not yet.  Too early.  The season ends two weeks from Sunday.  Then, and only then, will it be proper to select the individual award winners.  —  As the debates rage, several top candidates will be on display Saturday …

Mets Lobbying to Get Cy Young Votes for Wagner  —  The Mets have gone into promotion mode, lobbying for Billy Wagner for Cy Young.  This E-mail went to at least one voter today.

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.

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.

Report: Yanks to cut ties with Columbus  —  Paper indicates team will not renew deal with Triple-A Clippers  —  NEW YORK — The Yankees' 27-year affiliation with the Columbus Clippers appears to be coming to an end.  —  According to a report in The Columbus Dispatch on Thursday …

New York's runaway trains on a collision course  —  The next thing you know, they will try to make us believe that someone will pitch a perfect game in the World Series, which is what happened the last time the planets were aligned like this.  —  It has been exactly 50 years since …

From the Cubicle  —  Live play-by-play commentary of today's Cubs-Reds game from lonelyguy28932.  —  I'm coming up short on reasons why the Cubs are even still playing.  They've established themselves as the worst team in the National League.  End of story.

ESPN.com  —  It's starting to become a tired refrain each week, but yes, the New York teams occupy the top two spots in ESPN.com's Power Rankings again.  —  But this week we've decided to throw a Trevor Hoffman changeup at you (and no, Hoffman's Padres aren't challenging for No. 1).

1 For 1  —  Chuck James is so The Man.  —  With the help of 1 or 2 vital Braves (it's the least they can do) taking advantage of a roster of decomposing Phillies — Randall Simon, Jeff Conine, Jose Hernandez, Jamie Moyer...is that Johnny Callison lingering by the bat rack? — the magic number is 1.

Let The Madness Begin  —  Before the affiliation shuffle has officially gotten under way, a major alteration could be taking place in the Appalachian League.  —  The Blue Jays have notified the league that they won't be back in Pulaski next year, and they apparently intend to drop …

KAAT'S CAREER ONE OF THE BEST  —  JIM Kaat's 23-year broadcasting career ends tonight with Red Sox-Yanks on Ch. 9.  With his departure, New York loses much more than a calm, clear and wise voice.  —  We lose a noise and nonsense filter, a fellow who never tried to dazzle us, talk down to us …

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 …

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 …

Martinez lasts only three innings in return from disabled list  —  PITTSBURGH (AP) — New York Mets starter Pedro Martinez lasted only three innings in his return from the disabled list Friday night.  —  Martinez, who had been on the disabled list with a strained right calf since Aug. 14 …