BRAVES BLEW CHANCE TO BRING GLAVINE BACK  —  FORGET about if Tom Glavine is going to pitch next year.  It was his decision for this current season that altered the NL East balance of power.  —  He all but begged the Braves to return him to Atlanta to win his 300th game in his most familiar uniform and to be near his family.

Best record sets your own schedule … It's not just bragging rights over the Yankees or home-field advantage in the playoffs that is riding on the Red Sox [team stats] maintaining the best record in baseball.  —  It's all about picking their own playoff schedule in the Division Series.

Marlins Knock Off Nationals in a Slugfest  —  Bacsik Gets Shelled, Florida Totals 21 Hits: Marlins 13, Nationals 8  —  What occurred Tuesday night at Dolphin Stadium defied easy classification.  Was it a thrilling slugfest?  A migraine-inducing display of pitiable pitching?

Peavy is logical choice for Cy Young and MVP  —  LOS ANGELES - Since no hitter stands head and shoulders above this National League season, maybe the Most Valuable Player can be found at an elevation of 10 inches.  —  Perhaps there's an argument worth advancing on behalf of a pitcher.

BoSox have baseball's best organization  —  Special to FOXSports.com, Updated 1 hour ago  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  In some senses, it's fitting that the Boston Red Sox have the best record in baseball.  They are, after all, the model organization in the game today.

Rise and fall of the pennant race (cont.)  —  And now, three down ...  1. Mariners.  GM Bill Bavasi planned to recommend a return for solid baseball man John McLaren, assuming the team performed at all for him.  However, McLaren, who's never been saddled with the "interim'' manager tag …

Pettitte plans to stay put  —  TORONTO — Andy Pettitte would be by far the best pitcher on the free-agent market, should he decline his player option for 2008.  —  But Pettitte said yesterday that he has no intention of testing the market; he will play for the Yankees or not at all.

Tigers keep pace in wild card race  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  DETROIT (AP) - Magglio Ordonez hit a three-run home run, Gary Sheffield had a two-run homer and Justin Verlander allowed only a run, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 5-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night.

Blue Jays mail bag  —  Baseball columnist Richard Griffin answers your Blue Jays questions in his mail bag.  This week: Road woes, the Matt Stairs fan club, and Vernon Wells' shoulder.  —  Q: Hi Richard,  —  I enjoy reading your mailbag every week.  One thing I've wondered about this season is the Jays' road record.

Full palette of skippers up for award  —  Several worthy candidates in running for NL Manager of Year  —  Choosing a Manager of the Year is, in some ways, like judging art.  What looks like a masterful work to some doesn't impress others because so much of the evaluation is in the eye of the beholder.

The Madness of Crowds  —  I debated a number of ways to start today's column and finally figured it out.  You're smart and you don't need to be spoon-fed anything.  When I offer my opinions here, they're here as nothing more than that; sometimes I'll make a compelling argument and sometimes I won't …

Angelos: Presume innocence  —  BALTIMORE (Map, News) - The Orioles will stand behind Jay Gibbons-at least that's the stance taken by the team's owner: Peter Angelos.  —  In an interview with The Examiner Tuesday, Angelos used the premise of his legal background - suggesting that everyone …

Gnarly Hustle  —  Two years after his career appeared to be over, Eric Byrnes has made himself into much more than a high-energy novelty act for the National League's most surprising contender  —  The shaggin' wagon is on the move.  It's 1 p.m. on a baking hot Thursday in Phoenix …

Mets have "it," and Braves do not  —  This is what a championship-caliber team does: After being knocked on its butt with everyone watching, it collects itself, gets up and comes out fighting harder than before.  —  This is what the Mets have done: After being swept in a four-game series …

Astros acquire Sarfate from Brewers  —  Right-hander will join Astros tomorrow; Asencio designated for assignment  —  HOUSTON — The Houston Astros announced today that the club has acquired right-handed pitcher Dennis Sarfate from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for cash considerations.