Mets set sights on Sandy Alderson, White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn as general manager candidates  —  MLB Consultant for Dominican Operations Sandy Alderson visits the New York Mets Dominican Summer League facility.  He might be more involved with the Mets very soon.

Rangers on the brink of first playoff series win  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Following Cliff Lee in the postseason is a tough act, yet C.J. Wilson made it look easy.  —  Now, the Texas Rangers are up 2- in their AL division series against the Tampa Bay Rays, with a chance to make franchise history …

With Lincecum Pitching, a Lead Feels Insurmountable  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Tim Lincecum climbed atop a small stage Wednesday and sat down to answer questions from the news media, moments after Roy Halladay finished off his no-hitter in Philadelphia.  —  Lincecum's seat was barely warm when he was asked if he had seen Halladay's gem.

Yanks head home with 2-0 series lead over Twins  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Andy Pettitte and the New York Yankees stumbled through September and landed in the AL wild-card spot.  —  As the Minnesota Twins can attest, the Yankees are hardly an underdog in October.

MLB players want offseason meeting  —  PHILADELPHIA — Representatives from the Major League Baseball Players' Association are trying to organize what would be a rare meeting between umpires, players and the commissioner's office to discuss growing concerns about the state of umpiring in Major League Baseball.

Roy Halladay's humbleness, work ethic much appreciated  —  PHILADELPHIA — Roy Halladay excels at many things.  —  Being the center of attention is not one of them.  —  Halladay, who threw the second no-hitter in more than 100 years of postseason major league baseball on Wednesday …

Hall chats about new direction with fans  —  Club president fields questions during online chat … Derrick Hall: Welcome to today's chat.  It has been busy around here as you all know, but the dust is beginning to settle.  I just came upstairs from watching the Instructional League game here between the D-backs and the Rockies.

Dave Roberts now first base coach  —  SAN DIEGO — Dave Roberts is returning to the field as first base coach of the San Diego Padres.  —  The former major leaguer will move over from his current role as a special assistant in the baseball operations department.

Samuel on Brewers' radar  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  Dan Connolly, baseball writer for the Baltimore Sun, tells me that former Orioles third base coach and interim manager Juan Samuel has spoken informally to the Brewers about their managerial vacancy and hopes to be interviewed for the position.