Diamondbacks Fire Kirk Gibson, Alan Trammell  —  3:55pm: In a curious decision, the D'Backs have announced that Trammell will manage the final three games of the season.  —  3:22pm: The Diamondbacks announced that they have fired manager Kirk Gibson and bench coach Alan Trammell.

Santana allows five runs over five innings as New York finishes sweep  —  9/21/14: Freddie Freeman fields a grounder to first and throws to Andrelton Simmons to start a 3-6-3 double play  —  ATLANTA — Now that the Braves have bid adieu to any thought of playing in October …

Brewers to exercise Yovani Gallardo's $13M option for 2015  —  The Brewers plan to exercise top starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo's $13 million option for 2015, sources say.  —  The call to bring the right-hander Gallardo back rather than buy him out for $600,000 isn't a surprise …

Jason Rogers gets try at first base  —  Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jason Rogers  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  Cincinnati —Jason Rogers got a start Thursday at first base for the Brewers because, why not?  —  As the 2014 season draws to a close …

Sluggers Bryant and Gallo make the cut, as do pairs of Dodgers, Nationals and Red Sox  —  MLBPipeline.com's Jim Callis takes a closer look at the players chosen for the 2014 All-Prospect Team  —  Last week, MLBPipeline.com handed out year-end awards for top hitting and pitching prospects.

Rays fighting uphill battle to keep franchise relevant  —  St. Petersburg, Fla. — When evaluating precisely why the Tampa Bay Rays, despite excellent management, look as if they've peaked as a franchise, you have to start with the stadium.  —  If I ever needed to show my daughter …

2-time All-Star Abreu to retire, hopes to coach  —  NEW YORK — Bobby Abreu was a 22-year-old rookie, struggling through his first month in the big leagues with the Houston Astros.  —  Terry Collins was his manager.  —  “Are you ever going to get a hit?”  Collins asked Abreu on that long-ago day at the Astrodome.

Nats Clinch Home Field on Fister's 3-Hit Shutout  —  WASHINGTON — The NL East champion Washington Nationals locked up home-field advantage until the World Series by beating the Miami Marlins 4-0 on Doug Fister's three-hitter in the opener of a day-night doubleheader Friday.

ROCKIES' JUSTIN MORNEAU BATTLING TO WIN HIS FIRST BATTING TITLE  —  The Denver Post  —  Down the stretch they come in a tight batting race that could very well be decided on the final day of the season.  —  Entering baseball's final weekend, Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau trails …

Very Important Baseball Question: Is A Hot Dog A Sandwich?  —  Is a Hot Dog a sandwich?  —  “Of course not.  It's a hot dog (you imbecile)... ” would be your response, if you're anything like the average major-league baseball player.  —  Point of Order—while no major leaguer actually called …