Mets should have slammed NL East door long ago  —  Fingers crossed, prayers muttered fast and furious, the Mets begin a critical series Thursday night against the Marlins, hoping to address two pressing questions:  —  Is the worst of their near-historic collapse over?  And, were they really as awful as they looked?

Astros name Wade as new general manager … Former Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ed Wade is the new general manager in Houston.  —  The Astros made the announcement offiial at a news conference Thuersday afternoon.  Wade emerged from an exhaustive search that lasted nearly a month and included 11 official interviews.

Running on empty  —  Lifeless Sox swept away by Blue Jays  —  TORONTO - Maybe if the Yankees weren't involved, it would be different.  Maybe, despite another mind-numbing Red Sox defeat, this one featuring a grand slam surrendered by Jonathan Papelbon in a 6-1 loss to the Blue Jays last night …

Hairston is Mr. Clutch once again  —  Padres remain one game back of D-backs in NL West  —  SAN DIEGO — Of course, he looks.  It's September, a pennant race.  He can't help himself.  —  No matter where he stood on Wednesday at PETCO Park — the dugout, left field or at the plate …

Gulf Coast League Top 20 Prospects List  —  Subscribers can read scouting reports on all 20 players (Click here to subscribe)  —  The Rookie-level Gulf Coast League is always packed with tons of potential, but this season was difficult to gauge, especially from a numbers standpoint.

New patch to say 'Farewell' to Shea  —  The Mets are to wear this neat patch next season.  I love how it combines the original look of Shea with the orange and blue panels and the modern neon players.  —  Truth be told, the Mets have mixed success with special patches.

Twins' Hunter considers Rangers  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Rangers manager Ron Washington has a wish list of what he wants in the off-season.  —  There's no doubt about what's at the top of the list.  —  "I want a center fielder first," Washington said.  —  It just so happens the Rangers …

Eight managers on the hot seat … September is more than just a time for spine-tingling pennant race drama.  It's also a time for spine-tingling job preservation drama.  —  Our Rumblings and Grumblings Managerial Employment Status Division has counted eight managers whose jobs could be on the line this month.

DELGADO GETS SET FOR RETURN  —  Carlos Delgado, out since Sept. 4 with a strained hip flexor, took to the batting cage at Dolphin Stadium today for a simulated game.  It's the final hurdle before he makes his return to the lineup, which he'll do at some point during this current series.

Pirates Notebook: Chacon, Armas, Izturis unlikely to stay  —  SAN DIEGO — Many changes could come to the Pirates in the coming months, but only three seem certain: Shawn Chacon will try free agency, and Tony Armas and Cesar Izturis will not have club options exercised.

McGwire has hand in Holliday's hitting  —  As part of Matt Holliday's transformation from all-star to leading National League MVP candidate, he received a little assist from Big Mac.  —  In August 2006, former Oakland and St. Louis great Mark McGwire visited Coors Field as a guest of former teammates Mike Gallego and Jamie Quirk.

RFK Is Full Of Concrete Memories  —  Sometime in the next four days, I'll go to 2400 East Capitol St. SE to say goodbye to RFK Stadium.  Don't know when it will be.  Don't know how I'll feel.  It's hard to believe that a big old beautiful dump of a park can be so much a part of your life.

Griffey leaves Reds game in 8th inning with injury  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Cincinnati Reds right fielder Ken Griffey Jr. had to leave Wednesday night's game against the Chicago Cubs in the eighth inning after straining his lower abdomen as he tried to make a throw to the infield.