Padres-Cardinals Preview  —  Now that their star closer has set a new all-time saves record, the San Diego Padres can focus on wrapping up the National League West for the second straight year.  —  Trevor Hoffman will try to help the Padres to their fifth straight victory when they open …

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.

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 …

Baseball's Oldest Old-Timer Opens a Window on the Past  —  Silas Simmons was handed a photograph and asked if he recognized anyone in it.  He fixed his eyes on the sepia stares and moved his curled fingers over the glass and frame, soaking in the faces for more than 20 silent seconds.

Ex-Cub raises some questions  —  MINNEAPOLIS — So, what really went wrong with the Cubs this season?  —  Former Cubs first baseman/outfielder Phil Nevin, now a member of the Minnesota Twins, says there were mitigating off-the-field issues that the media and the public don't know about.

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.

Our Teams: A Requiem In Three Acts  —  I. So now it can be written and known: The spinning, sprinting 12-yard sideaways rugby punts are not, in fact, a device that has come to revolutionize the sport of football.  Sorry, Coach Zook.  Our Illini very well might be the worst team in Division I-A …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

New Orleans Hopes to Make Superdome a Home Again  —  As the granddaughter of the man who owns the New Orleans Saints, Rita Benson LeBlanc grew up watching football games at the Superdome, wondering how concrete walls could always feel as if they were shaking.  —  "I remember a lot of excitement," Benson LeBlanc said.