Braves, Wickman agree to one-year deal  —  Veteran closer set to return for 2007 season  —  WASHINGTON — Braves general manager John Schuerholz rolled the dice and entered this season without a proven closer.  He won't have to realize the damaging effects of such a gamble next season.

Ortiz launches No. 50; Twins blast Red Sox  —  Just a single raised fist, rounding first base, accompanied David Ortiz on his historic run.  Just that fist, up for no more than a second, before he made his solitary way around second, around third, across home.

In Defeat, Zimmerman Keeps Winning Support  —  In Washington, it has been campaign season since sometime early in the summer, and the spinning will continue to ramp up over the final seven weeks before Election Day.  But some 20 blocks east of the Capitol, the rhetoric and posturing …

Willis a Met Next Season?  A Team Can Dream, Can't It?  —  Until the playoffs begin and games around here start to matter again, all there is left to do is wait.  A one-night-only reprieve came last night, when no one could have faulted the Mets' front office for putting aside …

Cabrera (shoulder) misses start vs. Mets  —  NEW YORK- — All-Star third baseman Miguel Cabrera was scratched from the lineup 20 minutes before Thursday's game because of a sore left shoulder.  —  Wes Helms was moved from first base to third, and Mike Jacobs was inserted at first base.

Yanks win ninth straight AL East title  —  Bombers fall to Jays, but clinch division with Red Sox loss  —  TORONTO — Time to pop the corks.  The Yankees are American League East champions once again.  —  New York wrapped up its ninth consecutive division title on Wednesday night …

Rapping to the Oldies  —  Peter J. Nash, a baseball author, historian and filmmaker, can eloquently describe players from 2006.  What makes him different from many other fans is that he can also smoothly discuss players from 1846.  Nash knows exhaustive details about the earliest days of baseball …

Howard learning other side of stardom  —  Ryan Howard has broken on through to the other side.  With 11 games to play, he is about to run out of reference points in the long history of sports in this town.  He is about to float in his own orbit.  —  Rhyno is one home run shy of the 58 …

Notes: Harper provides catching depth  —  Backstop impresses in short Major League stint  —  WASHINGTON — Ever since catcher Brian Schneider became a regular during the second half of the 2003 season, the Nationals/Expos have had a difficult time finding a quality backup catcher.

Clemens uncertain about future  —  Future Hall of Famer will use the winter to make decision  —  HOUSTON — As manager Phil Garner strode to the mound to ceremoniously remove Roger Clemens from Wednesday's game, Brad Ausmus had a brief exchange with Clemens, who was in the final moments …

Notes: Lind wins third Webster Award  —  Outfielder only third Jays player to be three-time recipient  —  TORONTO — Adam Lind figured a trip to Toronto might be in store for him this month.  The 23-year-old outfielder just didn't expect it to be as a September callup, though.

These first-year players are, foremost, stars  —  In most other seasons, the Florida Marlins' roster by itself would spark a spirited debate on who merits selection as the National League Rookie of the Year.  —  Infielders Dan Uggla, Hanley Ramirez and Mike Jacobs all have put together strong first seasons …

Royals' top scout OK with losing No. 1 pick  —  The last thing the Royals needed right now was for Tampa Bay to fall into the tank.  —  Lost amid the Royals' feel-good finish to 2006 is that Tampa's total collapse (eight straight losses entering Tuesday night) has put the Royals' claim to next year's No. 1 pick in serious jeopardy.

Angels' Moreno: Expect Changes  —  Before team's 5-2 win over Kansas City, owner vows to do `something major' to improve the chances of making a serious run at a championship next season.  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It won't rival Babe Ruth's Called Shot during the 1932 World Series …