Johan Secures 19th Win  —  Joe Nathan and the offense gave it an interesting spin, but in the end everyone got it done.  —  Esteban German looks like he's high.  All the time.  He did manage to collect one hit on the night, and it happened to be the only hit that scored damage to Johan and the Twins …

With Matsui Back in Left, One Less Issue for Yankees  —  For the Yankees, there is a certain comfort in having little to play for in the waning days of the regular season.  Because his team has already clinched a playoff berth, Manager Joe Torre has the luxury to experiment, and to sort through his options.

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.

A swoon for the ages?  —  If the unthinkable happens and the Cardinals somehow blow their nearly season-long National League Central Division lead, let the debate begin about whether it would be the worst collapse in baseball history.  But it almost certainly would be the biggest collapse by the worst team.

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 …

Lackey Wants Kennedy, Erstad to Stay  —  If the opinion of the pitcher who will be a rotation cornerstone for years to come carries any weight, the Angels should think long and hard before allowing two respected veterans, second baseman Adam Kennedy and first baseman Darin Erstad, to leave as free agents this winter.

Woodward looking at surgery  —  ATLANTA - Chris Woodward plans to have surgery after the playoffs to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.  The infielder expects he'll need three months to fully recover.  The injury has bothered him for much of the season, with team officials aware of the trouble …

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?

A pass/fail course  —  Attanasio gives himself a 'B' this year  —  dwalker@journalsentinel.com  —  As he nears the completion of his second year as principal owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, Mark Attanasio was direct in assessing his own performance in Milwaukee.

Uggla battles his ugliest slump of season  —  · Second baseman Dan Uggla, trying to break out of his worst slump of the season, had two singles in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Reds.  —  "I hope being at home and relaxing around my family will make a difference," Uggla said.

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 …

Butcher says umpire at fault in ejection  —  BOSTON - Devil Rays pitching coach Mike Butcher said he does not deserve to be suspended for his actions after he was ejected from Monday's game and suggested veteran umpire Larry Young was the one who did something wrong.

Nationals Force Phillies to Wait A Little Bit Longer  —  Several hundred Philadelphia Phillies followers rolled into RFK Stadium last night, tantalized by the thought of their ballclub's first playoff appearance in 13 years.  They chanted "MVP!" each time home run leader Ryan Howard approached …