Source: Sox made play for Mets' Capuano  —  Their wild card lead evaporating, the Red Sox are on the hunt for reinforcements, even if only for a game, in an attempt to make the playoffs.  —  According to a source with knowledge of the talks, the Red Sox have spent the better part of a week trying …

Joe Girardi deserves a lot of credit  —  He may not get manager of the year love, but Bombers' skipper was key to season  —  NEW YORK — New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi likely won't win American League Manager of the Year.  —  In fact, he'll be lucky to finish in the top three in the voting.

Manny ineligible to join Dominican winter team  —  Manny Ramirez will have to scratch his plans to play winter baseball in the Dominican Republic.  —  Rob Manfred, Major League Baseball's executive vice president of labor relations, confirmed Thursday that Ramirez will not be able to play in the Dominican …

Cardinals reach deal with Berkman … ST. LOUIS (AP) — Lance Berkman has agreed to another one-year contract with St. Louis, giving the Cardinals a valuable bat for 2012 if this year's September charge falls short.  —  The 35-year-old Berkman is wrapping up a big comeback season with 31 home runs, 91 RBIs and a .300 average.

Moneyball The Movie  —  WARNING: I don't THINK there are any spoilers or plot giveaways here — I suspect most of you know that Moneyball The Movie is about the 2002 Oakland A's and their attempt to win with new baseball knowledge — but if you are the sort of person who likes to go into a movie …

Sox, not free agency, on Buehrle's mind entering final start  —  CLEVELAND — The Chicago White Sox are the only team that Mark Buehrle has pitched for during his storied career that started in 2000, and he'll try to temper his emotions Tuesday night when he makes possibly his final start …

Pitching repertoires and BABIP  —  People like trends.  I like trends, you like trends, heck, even your mom likes trends.  Why?  Because we are human, and viewing the world in trends is intuitive and makes the big bad world just a little less scary.  While tempting, this impulse does not always produce the best analysis.

Yankees' Phil Hughes has MRI, may have herniated disc in back, could miss rest of season  —  CC Sabathia will take the ball to open the AL division series a week from Friday.  But to do so on regular rest, he will have to make his final start of the season on Sunday with just three days off after Wednesday night's 127-pitch outing.

Debate: Ryan Howard  —  Ryan Howard is one of the most polarizing players in baseball.  Some fans see an elite slugger, while others see an average player who is paid like an elite slugger.  —  The purpose of this article is to host a debate on the topic.  Is Howard elite?

2011 Pioneer League Top 20 Prospects  —  Despite its Rookie-advanced classification, the Pioneer League plays more like the short-season New York-Penn or Northwest leagues than its sister Appalachian League.  Whereas Appy Leaguers average about 20 years in age, the other three leagues come in just north of 21.

Mariners Hand Twins 11th Straight Loss, 5-4  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Ichiro Suzuki stopped Kevin Slowey's no-hitter with a two-out infield single in the sixth inning and added an RBI double in the seventh, spurring the Seattle Mariners to a 5-4 victory Wednesday night in Minnesota, the 11th straight defeat for the Twins.

Royals Designate Kila Ka'aihue For Assignment  —  It wasn't long ago that Kila Ka'aihue seemed like a promising piece of the Royals' future.  But the Hawaiian first baseman doesn't appear to fit into their long-term plans any more, despite the career minor league on-base percentage of .390 …