Yanks faked Crawford interest to cost Red Sox  —  They really will do whatever it takes to win in this epic rivalry.  —  New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman admitted on Thursday that he feigned interest in Carl Crawford this offseason to drive up the price for the Boston Red Sox to sign the free agent.

Martin: ‘I hate the Red Sox’  —  NEW YORK — Russell Martin's views on the American League Wild Card chase won't win him any buddies in Boston, but his sentiments should gather plenty of support in the Bronx.  —  Martin said on Thursday that he'd love to see the Yankees play spoiler …

Lincecum prefers short-term deals  —  Los Angeles — Contract talks with Tim Lincecum might be Job One for the Giants this winter, and though Lincecum said he would listen to whatever the team has to say, he told The Chronicle on Thursday he is not keen on locking himself into a long-term deal that would buy out future free-agent years.

MLB asks judge to order sale of Dodgers  —  Major League Baseball does not intend to approve any sale of television rights that would help Frank McCourt maintain ownership of the Dodgers, according to the request filed with a bankruptcy judge.  McCourt's plan to emerge from bankruptcy is ‘dead on arrival,’ MLB says.

Tigers Justin Verlander undoubtedly most ‘valuable’ player … Go on.  Get out your scale.  —  Forget that we are from Detroit.  Forget that we love the Tigers.  Put your guys on one side and Justin Verlander on the other.  —  And let's see who's MVP.  —  Forget that Verlander is the best theater in baseball right now.

Danny Litwhiler dies at 95  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Danny Litwhiler, who followed an 11-year major league career in the 1940s with a lifetime of coaching college players and work on inventions intended to improve the game he loved, died Friday at the age of 95.

Rangers' Lowe Still Hopeful of Pitching Playoffs  —  ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The availability of Rangers reliever Mark Lowe for the playoffs is very much in doubt because of a partial tear in his left hamstring.  —  Lowe said he is disappointed but not giving up on the idea of pitching in the playoffs …

Rockies' Todd Helton done for season because of bad back  —  HOUSTON — Todd Helton's sense of humor returned Thursday, the pregame featuring his crooked smile and dry wit.  There will, however, be no more hits this season.  Bothered by a stiff back over the past two weeks, Helton is shut down for the season.

2002 ‘Moneyball’ draft class in review  —  A's had some success stories, but they also had an unwitting victim — Jeremy Brown  —  If Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane is the engine that drives “Moneyball” — the book and movie versions — Jeremy Brown plays the role of the caboose.

Theo: 'There's no disconnect between me and Tito'  —  NEW YORK — Theo Epstein strongly refuted comments made yesterday on the radio by MLB Network and NESN analyst Peter Gammons that there is a “disconnect” between the Red Sox' GM and manager Terry Francona.

NY Mets brass begins to look at 2012 season, decisions to be made on Terry Collins, coaching staff  —  ST. LOUIS - The Mets returned to New York Thursday night for one final home stand, ready to intensify planning for 2012.  According to team insiders, the front office will soon solidify decisions about next year's on-field leadership.

NY Mets deal St. Louis Cardinals crushing defeat in NL wild card chase, come back to win 8-6  —  ST. LOUIS - It was a Mets game rife with playoff implications - not, though, for the Mets.  —  In defeating St. Louis 8-6, the Mets gave Atlanta a two-game wild-card lead over the Cardinals.

Reyes prepared for week of uncertainty  —  Only the NL batting title is left in what could be the star's last homestand at Citi Field  —  ST. LOUIS — As Jose Reyes returns to Citi Field for perhaps his final homestand as a New York Met, the shortstop offered this prediction to longtime teammate David Wright: