Buchholz won't pitch this season  —  After consulting with pitching coach John Farrell and general manager Theo Epstein, Terry Francona announced this afternoon that Clay Buchholz, the rookie sensation who pitched a no-hitter Sept. 1, will not pitch for the remainder of the season and will not be on the postseason roster.

Matsuzaka, Red Sox clinch AL East crown  —  BOSTON (AP) — The 12-year wait for the Boston Red Sox is over.  At last, they're the AL East champions.  —  Moments after the Baltimore Orioles beat the New York Yankees, completing Boston's clinch, Red Sox players popped champagne corks …

Mets Fall Into Tie With Phillies  —  No matter how many losses piled up and no matter how poorly they had played at times over the last four months, the Mets could take comfort knowing one thing: First place in the National League East still belonged to them and them only.

Cooper gets permanent post as Astros' skipper  —  The Houston Astros announced on Friday that interim manager Cecil Cooper will be given the job on a permanent basis.  —  Cooper, who joined the Astros as bench coach at the start of the 2005 season, had served as interim manager since Phil Garner was fired Aug. 27.

Brace for departure of Marlins' star duo  —  Miguel Cabrera or Dontrelle Willis?  Who goes this winter?  Who stays?  Can we start a pool on whether both will be traded?  —  Yes, it looks serious this time.  And before you raise a voice in protest, understand you don't have a voice.  Nor do I.

Nationals pick up 2009 option on Manny Acta  —  So this is fitting given our story this morning and our discussion today.  —  The Nationals announced that they have picked up the 2009 option on Manager Manny Acta's contract.  He has, as we discussed, a two-year deal with two one-year, club options.

Cubs Clinch  —  Trevor Hoffman strikes out Rickie Weeks in the ninth, and the Padres defeat the Brewers 6-3.  That ends Milwaukee's season as the Chicago Cubs win the NL Central title, the second National League team to claim a playoff spot.  Congratulations to the Cubs on a great comeback season.

Arizona in playoffs, Rockies' run ends  —  DENVER (AP) — Brandon Webb and the Arizona Diamondbacks clinched a playoff spot and stopped Colorado's 11-game winning streak with a 4-2 win Friday night that put a crimp in the Rockies' postseason plans.  —  Arizona's win combined …

Rollins Has Been Doing More Than Backing Up His Words  —  It was an innocuous remark, really, but the Mets wasted no time twisting Jimmy Rollins's words into motivational origami.  —  The Phillies would be the team to beat in the National League East this season, Rollins predicted last winter.

Trade winds blow true  —  Padres' deals pay off nicely as former no-names keep team in playoff chase  —  MILWAUKEE - You wonder if other front offices will finally figure it out.  —  Trading with the Padres is risky.  Maybe even foolish.  —  For some four years running …

Are Pirates' players pulling for Tracy?  —  If the Pirates are in some win-one-for-the-skipper mode to save manager Jim Tracy's job, it is becoming increasingly difficult to detect.  —  It was one thing for starter John Van Benschoten to get chased with four runs in two innings yesterday at PNC Park.

Hal Steinbrenner elected chairman of the board of Yankee Global Enterprises LLC  —  The Board of Directors of Yankee Global Enterprises LLC announced today that Harold Z.  (Hal) Steinbrenner has been elected as Chairman of the Board.  —  Mr. Steinbrenner is the General Partner …

M's celebrate in win over Indians  —  A smiling Jose Guillen sat by his locker after a game in which his first-inning home run had put the Mariners ahead to stay.  —  But with his team's manager and general manager having been confirmed for 2008 earlier in the day, Guillen was already looking ahead to next year.