Mets target Posada while Yankees move slowly on catcher  —  In the past two weeks, the Yankees have severed ties with Joe Torre and Don Mattingly, two of the team's most popular figures of the past 20 years.  Is Jorge Posada next?  —  Industry sources are becoming increasingly baffled …

Scott Boras points ridiculous finger at Mariano Rivera  —  You just have to laugh sometimes when you hear Scott Boras speak.  He must think everyone is as dumb as Tom Hicks, the Rangers owner he once convinced to pay Alex Rodriguez at least $50 million more than anyone else was willing to bid at the time.

AL Elias rankings  —  American League slugger David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox led all major league players with a 100 ranking.  Other top performers at their positions included Jorge Posada of the New York Yankees, Michael Young of the Texas Rangers and Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins.

The old hidden-ball trick  —  Club can't locate symbol of Series  —  The ball.  Where's the darned ball?  —  Here we go again.  —  We last saw the official championship souvenir in Jason Varitek's back pocket after the final out when the Red Sox wrapped up the World Series Sunday in Game 4 at Denver.

HOLLYWOOD ENDING  —  Though the Dodgers strongly denied they have a completed deal with former Yankees manager Joe Torre, people on both sides of the situation said yesterday the process of Torre replacing Grady Little in the dugout is moving forward.  —  Los Angeles GM Ned Colletti said Torre …

Halos broadcasters up for Frick Award  —  Physioc, Mota and Pi-Gonzalez on this year's ballot  —  Balloting for the 2008 Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence is underway, with fans given the opportunity to vote for as many as three baseball broadcasters.

Papelbon on Letterman  —  A transcript of Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon's appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman on Wednesday night:  —  Letterman: "Our first guest dominated opposing hitters throughout the postseason and closed out the World Series for the Boston Red Sox.

Patterson joins free agent CF class  —  Orioles speedster officially files for free agency  —  BALTIMORE — Corey Patterson filed for free agency Wednesday, joining a celebrated class of center fielders that also includes Atlanta's Andruw Jones and Minnesota's Torii Hunter.

'Tainted supplement' excuse outmoded  —  Blaming a tainted nutritional supplement might be a plausible explanation for a positive urine test for a banned stimulant.  —  Five years ago.  —  But anti-doping experts say the already slim chances of a supplement triggering a positive for a stimulant …

What's Wrong With Sports Illustrated  —  AND HOW TO FIX IT.  —  In August 1994, on the occasion of the magazine's 40th anniversary, Sports Illustrated ran a 22,000-word story called "How We Got Here."  Steve Rushin's sprawling, multipart essay on integration, the rise of television …

Time for Braves to get Griffey  —  Let's try this again.  After all, we've typed these words before, but never have they made more sense.  The Braves need a center fielder until their youngsters are ready, and veteran Ken Griffey Jr. loves Bobby Cox, the accomplished Braves manager …

Baseball rocks, and other lessons learned in 2007  —  I tend to learn lessons the hard way — like that time when, as a little kid, I learned about electricity by sticking one of my dad's car keys into an electric socket in my grandparents' basement.  Thirty years down the road …

Texas Rangers welcome back Benoit, Jaramillo  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  The Rangers had a special on two-year contract extensions Wednesday.  Both hitting instructor Rudy Jaramillo and reliever Joaquin Benoit took advantage of the offers.  —  Only hours before his contract was to expire …

Don't blame Pedro  —  Lost in the gnashing of teeth and rending of garments that followed the Mets' distastrous 4-13 collapse to finish the 2007 season was the return of Pedro Martinez.  As you know, Pedro missed most of the year after undergoing shoulder surgery last off-season …