Don't listen to the Mets: They're in trouble  —  FOXSports.com, Updated 44 minutes ago  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  WASHINGTON - Just for argument's sake, let's adopt the party line — that the Mets actually were better Tuesday night, as if a 9-8 defeat to the Nationals in the midst …

Dodgers drop doubleheader to Rox  —  LA homers three times, but Saito allows walk-off shot in ninth  —  DENVER — Not even Takashi Saito can save the Dodgers anymore.  —  Saito, the most reliable closer since Eric Gagne was Eric Gagne, served up a stunning two-run, walk-off blast …

Agent: Cuban slugger Ramirez coming to MLB … Baseball agent Jaime Torres told ESPN that Alexei Ramirez, who led the Cuban league in home runs this season as an infielder/outfielder for Pinar del Rio, has left Cuba and intends to file for residency in the Dominican Republic.

Sheets leaves with hamstring problem  —  HOUSTON (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers ace Ben Sheets left Tuesday night's game against the Houston Astros before the second inning with tightness in his left hamstring.  —  Sheets threw 12 pitches in the first, giving up a double to Josh Anderson and an RBI single to Lance Berkman.

Postseason Odds  —  Last update: Tue Sep 18 13:16:01 2007 PT  —  Playing the rest of the season a million times  —  See the PECOTA-adjusted version of this report.  —  As well as the ELO-adjusted version of this report.  —  Would you believe this is the second time in a week my fiber-optic internet cable has been cut?

Burnett pitches Blue Jays past Red Sox 4-3  —  Toronto Blue Jays' Frank Thomas connects for a two-run home run during first inning baseball against the Boston Red Sox in Toronto on Monday, Sept. 17, 2007 (AP PHOTO/Frank Gunn, The Canadian Press)  —  TORONTO —Once the best closer in baseball …

Yanks move within 2 1-2 games of BoSox  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Back on the field in time for the stretch drive, Mike Mussina and Doug Mientkiewicz are helping the New York Yankees try to chase down Boston.  —  Mussina limited Baltimore to three singles over seven innings …

Owings' 2-hitter keeps Arizona in 1st  —  PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks needed a lift after a devastating loss.  —  It came from an unlikely source.  —  After struggling in his last two outings, rookie Micah Owings threw a two-hit shutout, just his second complete game …

Dr. James Andrews still works on the cutting edge … BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Dr. James Andrews placed the arthroscope in anesthetized Drew Brees, then looked up to view his shredded shoulder on the monitor.  —  "Oh, my goodness," Andrews said in his Louisiana twang to his assisting surgeons.

Mets re-assess before game  —  Players meet to discuss club's recent slide on Tuesday  —  WASHINGTON — Willie Randolph didn't deny the Mets' plight on Tuesday afternoon.  He discussed it, explained it and did his best to minimize it.  And when he characterized it, Randolph said: "This is not Armageddon to us."

Versatile Walker works his way into record book  —  Left-hander's 77th appearance tops Ryan, T. Martinez for O's mark  —  NEW YORK - When the Orioles signed Jamie Walker to a three-year, $12 million deal this offseason, several baseball pundits were astounded that a team would spend that much money on a left-handed relief specialist.

Read the tea leaves with me … Something's been bothering me for a while, so I'm going to throw this out — the broadcast crew operates as a promotional wing of the team.  They're there to sell the product.  But like any propaganda wing, there's a lot of subtext you can read if, like me …

Harang, Reds knock Cubs out of 1st place  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Pushing for the playoffs, Cubs manager Lou Piniella went with some risky strategy by calling on ace Carlos Zambrano to pitch on three days' rest, hoping to shape his rotation for the rest of the season.