Tonight could be end for Varitek  —  Contract expiring; status is in doubt  —  Jason Varitek wouldn't acknowledge it yesterday, but tonight's game at Fenway Park could be the team captain's last in a Red Sox uniform.  Given a contract that expires after this season, and a markedly poor offensive year …

Manny Ramirez made the Dodgers important again  —  He single-handedly made the team a force to be reckoned with.  —  T.J. Simers  —  MANNYWOOD — The Dodgers are finished two weeks ago, Jose Lima still standing as the team's postseason hero over the last 20 years, if it isn't for Manny Ramirez.

Hank: Joba likely to start for Yankees  —  TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—Hank Steinbrenner says Joba Chamberlain likely will return to the New York Yankees' rotation at the beginning of the 2009 season.  —  “The plan as of right now is Chamberlain is going to be a starter,” the Yankees co-chairman …

Three candidates get second interview for Mariners' GM job  —  The Mariners are bringing back Jerry DiPoto, Tony LaCava and Kim Ng as they begin the final round of interviews today for their vacant general manager's job.  —  DiPoto, 40, is director of player personnel for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Tom Tresh dead at 71  —  Tom Tresh, who burst onto the big-league scene in 1962 and won Rookie of the Year honors as a fill-in shortstop for the Yankees after Tony Kubek was called into military service, died Wednesday at his home in Venice, Fla., of a heart attack.  He was 71.

Can the Reds be the 2009 Phillies?  —  There are defining moments in every baseball game, usually a defining moment.  —  As for the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday night in the NLCS, it was the first batter of the game.  —  LA pitcher Chad Billingsley slipped two quick strikes past Jimmy Rollins.

Cubs intent on keeping GM Hendry  —  Team declined Seattle's request to talk to GM  —  The Cubs are intent on keeping general manager Jim Hendry, despite the ongoing uncertainty of their franchise sale.  —  According to major league baseball sources, Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney recently declined …

Nationals show interest in Willie Randolph  —  The Washington Nationals are interested in adding former Mets manager Willie Randolph to their coaching staff, Newsday has learned.  —  Washington, which fired five of its coaches following a 59-102 showing in 2008, would like Randolph to serve …

Remembering the '93 Phillies and the early days of rap-rock  —  When Carlos Ruiz squeezed his mitt tight around Nomar Garciaparra's pop fly on Wednesday night, it did more than send the Phillies to their first World Series in 15 years.  It also marked the official start of what will be …

Bring Me The Head Of Mr. Met  —  Imagine taking your kids to Disneyland, and watching in horror as someone runs up and yanks the head off of Donald Duck.  Mets fans were traumatized in a similar fashion last night, as Fox News inadvertently broadcast the live decapitation of Mr. Met …

Mientkiewicz, Michaels among targets  —  Pirates' GM would like to retain versatile veteran leaders  —  PITTSBURGH — As general manager Neal Huntington prepares to shape the Pirates' 2009 roster, he said he plans to approach both outfielder Jason Michaels and utility man Doug Mientkiewicz …

The true meaning of B.J. Upton  —  Be real: Evan Longoria, regardless of what happens to the Rays, is the new face and future of baseball.  He's everything the game needs, everything it's supposed to be about.  David Wright should be ticked.  —  Sitting 15 to 20 feet away from him in the dugout during …