Notes: Short memory a must for LA  —  Dodgers undaunted by 3-11 season mark against Padres  —  LOS ANGELES — Baseball is a game in which you have to have many things, one of the most important of those being a short memory.  —  Coming into a four-game set with the Padres, the Dodgers will need to put that short memory to good use.

Boston ready for Bronx showdown  —  Boston (78-68) at New York (89-56), 7:05 p.m. ET  —  Was it really just 28 days ago that the Red Sox opened a series with the Yankees trailing by just 1 1/2 games in the American League East?  It's nearly impossible to fathom when you consider that the long …

Webb dominant in win over Rockies  —  Fans pay tribute to Gonzalez with standing ovations  —  PHOENIX — Brandon Webb was all smiles on Friday night.  —  And why shouldn't he be?  —  The Arizona ace was masterful once again as he turned in his second straight complete game …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

We'll Take It Over Bayless On TV, Anyday  —  Well, Bill Simmons made his appearance on "The Colbert Report," and, as you'd probably expect, those who can stay up that late are talking about it today.  Some are pointing out that he finally confirmed that Red Sox fans are happier when they're miserable …

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 …

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 …

MLB power rankings  —  It's time for another dose of your weekly Power Rankings.  —  Questions for this week ... Do the Astros have a realistic shot at the playoffs?  Who's the key player for the Padres down the stretch?  How bad has Nomar been in the second half?  Can Toronto make it to second place in the East?

Crash Yank's hottie  —  Pavano's pretty passenger in Fla. wreck made fast tracks outta there, sez trucker  —  Yankee pitcher Carl Pavano had a secret passenger during his secret car crash in Florida: a sexy model from Queens, the Daily News has learned.  —  A friend of Pavano's whisked …