Graduation day nearing for Wells … LOS ANGELES — David Wells is planning a trip to Africa in November.  He will pack his bow and arrow and go on a safari to hunt lions, leopards and water buffalo.  —  He wants to shoot golf consistently in the 70s, and climb on a surf board and cut …

Twins quiet KC to clinch playoff berth  —  Bonser two-hits Royals through 6 2/3 innings  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Clinching a spot in the playoffs seemed an impossible task for the Twins nearly four months ago, but on Monday night, that's exactly what the club did by defeating the Royals, 8-1, at the Metrodome.

After Loss, Trachsel Faces Postseason Questions  —  Endy Chávez of the Mets could not reach Brandon Harper's double in the seventh inning.  Harper later scored on a double by Henry Mateo.  —  Asked to sum up his performance in yesterday's 5-1 loss to the Nationals, Steve Trachsel unwittingly assessed his season.

Jones, Holliday meet again  —  After Mile High slugfest, they are NL Co-Players of the Week  —  The level of play around baseball always seems to jump up a notch in September, and 2006 is no different.  —  In the second-to-last week of the regular season, play was so strong in the National League …

Gardenhire stuck in classic quandry  —  From the managers-can-never-win dept:  —  If the Twins are still in contention for the AL Central title on the final day of the season, Ron Gardenhire will be damned if he starts left-hander Johan Santana and damned if he doesn't.

Minor League All-Star Team  —  C Chris Iannetta  • Rockies  —  Though he didn't play enough at either Double-A or Triple-A to make either of those all-star teams, Iannetta's breakout season was the most impressive by a catcher this season.  He split his time evenly between Double …

Arias will get his chance this week  —  ARLINGTON — Rangers manager Buck Showalter planned to start Joaquin Arias, the organization's top minor league prospect among non-pitchers, on Sunday, but delayed it for two reasons.  —  First, Showalter likes the matchup of the right-handed hitting Arias …

Salmon Is Getting Ready for His Last 'Stand  —  OAKLAND — The Angels, barring an unprecedented collapse by the Oakland A's, aren't headed to the playoffs, but for veteran outfielder Tim Salmon, who will begin the final homestand of his 14-year career tonight, this week will have a postseason feel to it.

Notes: Miller gets scouting lesson  —  Top pitching prospect spending final week with Indians  —  CLEVELAND — Top Indians prospect Adam Miller has been brought up to the big leagues.  —  All right, calm down.  It's not an official roster move or anything.

Mariners select RHP Jorge Campillo from Triple-A Tacoma  —  RHP Cha Seung Baek placed on 60-day disabled list  —  Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Bill Bavasi announced today that the club has selected right-handed pitcher Jorge Campillo …

Gonzalez could be Girardi's successor  —  CINCINNATI — Joe Girardi's shaky status as manager of the Florida Marlins continues to play a key role in the Cubs' search for a new manager.  —  If Girardi is fired, sources say Atlanta Braves third-base coach Fredi Gonzalez …

Only integrity is revealed  —  Judge plays hardball but reporter won't give  —  He has already sat down with his 6-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son and explained that their daddy might be going to jail.  This is the part that cuts hardest at San Francisco Chronicle reporter Mark Fainaru-Wada …

The Ballad of Big Mike  —  I. Looking for the Next Anti-Lawrence Taylor  —  As he drove into Memphis in March 2004, Tom Lemming thought that everything about Michael Oher, including his surname, was odd.  He played for a small private school, the Briarcrest Christian School …

D-Backs stifled in finale vs. Dodgers  —  Quentin's RBI double the only score as LA wins on walk-off  —  LOS ANGELES — Say this for the Diamondbacks on the day they were officially eliminated from any postseason contention: They went down fighting.  —  The D-Backs held the Dodgers' hitters …

Appalachian League Top 20 Prospects List  —  Subscribers can read scouting reports on all 20 players (Click here to subscribe)  —  While Danville and Elizabethton again dominated the Rookie-level Appalachian League and met in a rematch of last year's championship series …