Dodgers bullpen might not include Takashi Saito  —  His roster spot could go to left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo.  —  PHILADELPHIA — Speaking of how suddenly everything changed for him, Takashi Saito laughed.  —  “I didn't expect this,” he said.  —  Saito went into Manager Joe Torre's office …

Cubs pick up Harden's '09 option  —  Led Major League pitchers with .183 batting average against  —  CHICAGO — The Cubs took care of one offseason project Wednesday and picked up the $7 million option for pitcher Rich Harden for 2009.  —  If the Cubs had not picked up the option …

Francona press conference  —  Here's the transcript from Terry Francona's press conference today at Fenway Park, as provided by the Red Sox media relations staff.  Click “full entry” at the bottom of this post to read all of the manager's responses:  —  On the Red Sox' pitching rotation for the ALCS:

Examining baseball's final four (cont.)  —  Philadelphia Phillies  —  This Phillies team has major stars, including the last two MVPs in Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard, and starting pitcher Cole Hamels, whose changeup has been devastating.  But the thing that stands out about these players …

Union may play role in where Sabathia goes  —  CC Sabathia told reporters this past week that his experience with the Brewers opened up his world.  That no longer was he married to the idea of using his impending free agency to relocate his job near his West Coast home.

When Philadelphia Was a Winner  —  PHILADELPHIA — If you could relive the happiest moment of your childhood, what would it be?  I'm lucky, I suppose, because I never have to think twice.  —  It was Oct. 8, 1983, a quarter of a century ago Wednesday.  I was 8, and nothing mattered as much as the Philadelphia Phillies.

RENTAL CAR TROUBLE FOR BURRESS  —  The Giants shouldn't feel bad.  They weren't alone in having a hard time getting in touch with Plaxico Burress.  —  He also has dodged calls from Khoury Alternative Claims Management, a San Antonio-based third-party administrator trying to catch …

Mariners to begin GM interviews  —  The Mariners, jump-starting the process of hiring a general manager, will interview five candidates this week, according to industry sources...  The Mariners, jump-starting the process of hiring a general manager, will interview five candidates this week, according to industry sources.

How the economy is affecting sports fans … If you're a typical sports fan — you know, the kind who worries about gas prices, tuition and the trade deadline — New York's new stadiums might look as if they belong behind a boutique window.  —  In the Bronx looms the skeleton of Yankee Stadium 2.0 …

Cano, Kuo and Abreu  —  1. The more I talk to Yankee officials the more I become convinced that Robinson Cano will not be dealt.  That is because the Yanks plan on valuing him as the 2006-7 Cano and not last year's discouraging version.  As I canvas executives from other teams, however …

New Giants boss Neukom lays out his vision  —  New Giants managing partner Bill Neukom clutched a top-secret folder containing his broad vision for the franchise — three pages of jottings he crafted over a couple of long-haul flights.  —  It's the rough draft for what Neukom is calling the …

What We Learned: ALDS … Lester, who made headlines by throwing a no-hitter in May, finished the year third among AL pitchers in VORP behind likely Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee and 20-game winner Roy Halladay.  His performance against the Angels in the ALDS offered further proof of his value.

Yankee Stadium goes out on a whimper as planned finale axed  —  Fan cheers during a game at Yankee Stadium.  (amNewYork photo/ RJ Mickelson / September 17, 2008)  —  The Yankees have scratched plans to host one final farewell to the stadium, disappointing New Yorkers who were counting on a last visit to the House that Ruth Built.