Twins GM Ryan leaving post after 13 years on job  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Twins general manager Terry Ryan has resigned yet will stay with the team as a senior adviser.  —  The GM the past 13 years, Ryan said his resignation was effective Sept. 30.  He will be replaced by Bill Smith.

Ankiel confirms meeting with baseball officials  —  CINCINNATI — Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel acknowledged Thursday that he met with officials from Major League Baseball earlier this week about a report linking him to human grown hormone.  —  "I think it was a good thing to do and I was happy to help," Ankiel said.

Game 146: Yankees at Blue Jays  —  Here is the lineup:  —  YANKEES  —  Damon LF  —  Jeter SS  —  Abreu RF  —  Rodriguez 3B  —  Matsui DH  —  Cano 2B  —  Cabrera CF  —  Betemit 1B  —  Molina C  —  Kennedy RHP (1-0, 2.25)  —  Pregame chatter: Yanks are facing RHP A.J. Burnett (8-7, 3.56). ...

Peavy, Sabathia are Cy Young front-runners … Before we launch into our annual dissection of the Cy Young derby, let's play America's favorite game of the Rumblings and Grumblings set, Trophy Case Jeopardy.  —  Your Final Trophy Case Jeopardy category: Cy Youngs For Two Teams.  —  The answer: Gaylord Perry.

Matsuzaka Running Out of Gas in the Fast Lane  —  Daisuke Matsuzaka slowed everything down Wednesday at Fenway Park, working on his pitching motion in slow motion.  Matsuzaka slowly, very, very slowly, brought the ball in his right hand from behind his back, past his shoulder and down below his knees.

Hundreds see Marlins pull out win  —  MIAMI GARDENS — It would have been a great crowd for a spring training game.  Played on a back field.  In the rain.  —  But not for a major-league baseball game on a sunny Wednesday.  —  Forget the announced attendance of 10,121 for the Marlins-Nationals game at Dolphin Stadium.

Quick fix turning into valuable asset  —  Since coming in a trade, Castillo has done wonders for Mets  —  NEW YORK — Luis Castillo stared down the line on a typical Monday and watched third-base coach Sandy Alomar Sr. relay a typical call.  A few moments later, Castillo had his orders.

Trachsel, 4 HRs give Cubs Central lead  —  HOUSTON (AP) — The Chicago Cubs used a simple formula to regain the NL Central lead Thursday night.  If only they can follow it in St. Louis this weekend.  —  Steve Trachsel earned his first win with the Cubs in eight years and Chicago hit four home runs …

Is a Third N.Y. Baseball Team Feasible?  —  The Business of Sport  —  Imagine a baseball playoff race involving the Yankees, the Mets, and another team anchored in northern New Jersey.  The Mets or Yanks would battle with the third team, sort of like the Dodgers and Giants of the Golden Era of New York baseball a half-century ago.

Smoltz admits 'We're not as good as them'  —  New York — If an epitaph were written for this Braves season, it should include something like this: "In close games they played hard, but not very well."  —  The Braves were on the wrong side of another close one Wednesday …

Let's Kill The Phills!  —  first off i really like to draw mr met.  i feel that this definitely much more expressive than my earlier take on him.  i am hoping to do much more during the playoffs and moving onto next year!  (he might even get his own blog who knows.)  —  anyways :)

Open letter from President Coonelly  —  New club president addresses Pirates fans  —  Dear Pirates fans:  —  Today I was officially announced as the new president of the Pittsburgh Pirates by chairman of the board Bob Nutting.  —  It is a humbling experience and a true honor to be selected …

Cards swept by Reds, end 0-7 road trip  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — The season has brought one setback after another for the St. Louis Cardinals — manager Tony La Russa's drunken-driving arrest, reliever Josh Hancock's death, a series of injuries to everyday players.