Agent: Prior wants to pitch for Padres  —  Right-hander and native San Diegan hopes feeling mutual  —  SAN DIEGO — More than four months removed from shoulder surgery, Mark Prior is at the stage in his recovery when he's starting to play catch.  —  Soon enough, the 28-year-old right-handed pitcher hopes …

Phillies fan compiles scorekeeping streak  —  GLEN ROCK, PA. - When Bob Bogart married in 1989, his streak was in its infancy, about 500 games.  —  His new bride couldn't have known it would keep going, that it would last 19 more years and counting, that it would be acknowledged by his heroes.

Brewers interview Randolph  —  St. Petersburg, Fla. - I just heard from a very reliable source that former New York Mets manager Willie Randolph was scheduled to be interviewed today for the Brewers' managerial opening.  —  That makes perfect sense because I've written from the beginning …

Hendry signed to four-year extension  —  Third-longest-tenured Cubs GM won consecutive division titles  —  CHICAGO — Jim Hendry, who has guided the Cubs to the postseason three times during his six full seasons as general manager, has been given a four-year contract extension through the 2012 season.

Moneyball  —  I thought I'd go dig out some quotes from Michael Lewis's book, especially from the chapter on the 2002 draft.  Billy Beane desperately wanted Nick Swisher with the 16th pick, and was worried about other teams taking him first, especially the Mets, drafting one spot higher.

Stuck in Tampa with hardly a Ray of hope  —  THE ATTACK on Philadelphia came yesterday, predictable as the sunrise.  (It was almost as predictable as the coming collapse of the wet-behind-the-ears, error-prone x-Rays.)  —  The attack came winging north from fetid Tampa Bay, launched by a Tampa Tribune columnist by the name of Ruth.

Mailbag: How will the rotation change?  —  Beat reporter Mark Bowman answers Braves fans' questions  —  Let's say that the Braves are able to get Jake Peavy in a trade.  Do you think they would then go out and get another top-notch pitcher like Derek Lowe or Ben Sheets?

Heavenly result for Devil-less Tampa Bay Rays … Devil ... be gone!  —  For 10 years, they were a lousy team with a fiendish nickname: The Tampa Bay Devil Rays.  Then the club exorcised the “Devil” from its name, and suddenly Tampa Bay is in the World Series.

Mailbag: Can Brewers sign Sabathia?  —  Beat reporter Adam McCalvy answers fans' burning questions … I realize that CC Sabathia will be tough to sign, but is it really that out of the question?  Small market or not, three million fans is still three million fans.

Derek Lowe interested in Red Sox, not Yankees, report says  —  Rumors of a Derek Lowe-to-Yankees move this offseason started before the Dodgers were even eliminated from the playoffs.  However, a recent article in The Boston Globe suggests Derek Lowe has the Boston Red Sox atop his list of places of interest.

Cards decline Mulder's $11 million option for '09 … ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals intend to cut ties with often-injured left-hander Mark Mulder, paying a $1.5 million buyout rather than exercising an $11 million option on his contract.  —  General manager John Mozeliak …

Young Rays enjoy being on big stage  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—The manager wears thick-rimmed glasses and listens to everything from the Rolling Stones to the Four Tops.  Mohawk is the haircut of the moment.  Inspirational quotes decorate walls of the Tampa Bay Rays clubhouse — and we're not talking conventional baseball wisdom.

ESPN ISSUED INTERNAL “DO NOT REPORT” WARNING ON FAVRE STORY  —  When we asked for PFT Planet to chime in regarding the possible reasons for ESPN's decision to avoid the story of Brett Favre's coaching internship with the Lions, we never expected to hear from someone at ESPN.  —  But we did.

A roster of issues  —  Lest there be any doubt, Theo Epstein is a shrewd man.  He will not tip his hand.  During the winter of 2008-09, the Red Sox “have the ability to be selective in free agency” or they “might do something big.”  They could go in any number of directions.  Only Theo knows.