Rangers' Tejeda shows how it's done  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Rangers have seen enough of Edinson Volquez, the prospect.  They decided to stage an intervention before he turns into another in a long line of Rangers pitching busts.  —  Manager Buck Showalter, pitching coach Mark Connor …

Rockies, fans pay in refusal to spend  —  All we heard all summer long, all the Rockies wanted, we were told, was for this franchise to play a meaningful baseball game in September and have a say in the pennant race.  —  Careful what you wish for.  —  Colorado got trampled by a team in the race, losing to Los Angeles Dodgers 11-4.

Long balls sink Birds  —  Cano, Abreu go yard as Lidle earns his 12th win  —  NEW YORK — The Yankees know full well they're embroiled in a fight with Detroit for the American League's best record and the chance for home-field advantage throughout the postseason — a race that remains tied following …

Clement's Sox future in doubt  —  Matt Clement's Red Sox career in all likelihood ended on the operating table yesterday in Birmingham, Ala., after Dr. James Andrews discovered significant damage in the 32-year-old's right throwing shoulder.  —  There were strong indications that the unexpected damage …

Notes: Johnson to switch hospitals  —  Recovered from collision, Kearns hopes to play Wednesday  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson, who broke his leg in a collision with right fielder Austin Kearns, will transfer from New York Hospital Queens, in Flushing, N.Y. …

Shot at a starting job a relief for McCarthy  —  But he won't count on being in 2007 rotation  —  CLEVELAND — Brandon McCarthy doesn't assume he'll automatically be in the White Sox's rotation next season.  —  But he has embraced getting back into a routine as he prepares for Wednesday night's start …

And the Hometown Heroes are ...  First 10 winners announced Tuesday on ESPN  —  After nearly 17 million votes were cast by fans this summer to help settle the arguments once and for all, the time has arrived this week to announce one all-time greatest player for every existing Major League Baseball franchise.

Notes: Verlander to rest until playoffs  —  Rookie righty hopes skipping start will allow him to be fresh  —  DETROIT — Justin Verlander's regular season is over so that his postseason has a better chance of a good start.  —  Though manager Jim Leyland left his rotation open for the final weekend …

Mariners 2007: What should Bavasi do?  —  Here's how one armchair general manager would remake the Mariners  —  What's my "dream lineup" for the 2007 Mariners?  How about the American League All-Star team, each signed to a lifetime contract for a dollar, allowing the team to lower ticket prices to 25 cents with unlimited free nachos?

No Longer His Heyday, Too Early for Mayday  —  Randy Johnson went 17-11 this season and exceeded 200 innings for the 14th time.  But he has not looked like the pitcher who has won four Cy Young awards.  —  When you have known Randy Johnson for a decade, and helped him rebuild his back and realize …

Cardinals' free fall could lead to disaster  —  The 1964 Phillies, the gold standard for late-season collapses, soon could get a reprieve.  —  Yes, the 2006 Cardinals are flopping that badly.  —  The team's meltdown already might have cost first baseman Albert Pujols the National League MVP award …

Hoffman, closers deserve more respect  —  Something really REALLY BIG happened in baseball on Sunday, something not quite akin to Barry Bonds breaking Hank Aaron's all-time home-run record, but not far off.  —  Padres right-hander Trevor Hoffman BROKE the all-time career saves record …