SoCal showdown  —  Plenty at stake in four-game Padres-Dodgers series  —  With an offseason that seemed to do more damage than triage, with an 8-15 record, a five-game losing streak and a 5- deficit heading into the bottom of the ninth inning on April 30, the San Diego Padres seemed …

Uneven session in bullpen leaves Izzy's return in doubt  —  Cardinals righthander Jason Isringhausen's ailing hip continued to cause him difficulty during a bullpen test Friday, and the club's closer said he left the session still unsure if he would pitch again this season.

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.

The Tears Shed by Martínez Are Anything but Joyful  —  Pedro Martínez pitched for the first time in more than a month.  Unfortunately for the Mets, he was inconsistent and ineffective, allowing four runs on six hits.  —  The Mets were anticipating an emotional night …

Rain washes out Kaat's final telecast  —  YES announcer was scheduled to call Friday's series opener  —  NEW YORK — Friday's rain merely postponed the Yankees and Red Sox game, but it likely cancelled YES broadcaster Jim Kaat's farewell broadcast.  —  Kaat was supposed to throw …

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 …

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 …

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.

Guerrero blasts Angels past Rangers  —  11th-inning shot overshadows Rodriguez's rare slip  —  ARLINGTON — Vladimir Guerrero led off the top of the 11th with a home run and the Angels held on for a 2-1 victory over the Rangers in front of 30,788 on Friday night.

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 …

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.

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.

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.