NOBODY GETS TO PLAY SHORTSTOP FOREVER  —  C'mon, Cal Ripken Jr. said after the 1996 ALCS.  It had been Derek Jeter running, maybe the fastest player in the league, home-to-first from the right side.  —  That, Ripken explained, is why he couldn't throw out Jeter on a two-hopper up the middle in the Yankees' Game 5 clincher.

Morrison Homers Twice, Mariners Beat Jays 7-5  —  TORONTO — Logan Morrison hit two home runs, Mike Zunino also connected and the Seattle Mariners kept their faint playoff hopes alive, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5 Thursday.  —  Morrison hit a three-run blast off Todd Redmond in the fourth …

Now Commenting On:  —  Brewers looking at all options for first base  —  9/19/14: Ryan Braun races to deep right field and makes a catch to retire Jordy Mercer  —  CINCINNATI — After posting the National League's lowest OPS at first base for a second straight season …

Twinsights: Josh Willingham plans to retire at season's end, source says  —  DETROIT —Josh Willingham insists he hasn't made any decisions about his playing future.  —  However, an associate of the 35-year-old outfielder/designated hitter for the Kansas City Royals says he has told people close …

Source: Jocketty, Price will be back for 2015  —  Both general manager Walt Jocketty and field manager Bryan Price will be back for 2015, a Reds source said.  —  Jocketty is in the final year of his contract.  An extension will likely be announced next week.

Max Scherzer wins 18th as Tigers drop Twins, near AL Central title  —  DETROIT — Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez homered, Max Scherzer made it through six tough innings and the Detroit Tigers moved closer to another AL Central title with a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.

Royals roll, pull within 1 win of playoff berth  —  U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago, Illinois  —  Recap  —  Box Score  —  Play-By-Play  —  Photos  —  Conversation  —  Royals close in on playoffs as Eric Hosmer powers win over White Sox  —  CHICAGO — Eric Hosmer homered and drove in two runs …

Pirates cut Cards' lead to 1 game with rout of Braves  —  ATLANTA — Edinson Volquez threw seven scoreless innings, Travis Snider and Neil Walker hit homers and the Pittsburgh Pirates moved within one game of the NL Central lead with a 10-1 win over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night.

Travis d'Arnaud, Mets manager Terry Collins tight-lipped about injury  —  Also, Dillon Gee was already eager to get on the mound for his final start of 2014 and now he he is even more so.  —  WASHINGTON — Travis d'Arnaud was not in the lineup for Wednesday night's game that was postponed …

Twins third baseman expected to be ready for Spring Training  —  9/24/14: Trevor Plouffe leaves the game in the 6th after suffering an apparent injury while attempting to tag A.J. Pollock at third base  —  DETROIT — Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe saw a specialist in the Twin Cities …

Padres to focus on bats in offseason  —  9/23/14: Padres manager Bud Black discusses his team's approach at the plate against Jorge De La Rosa  —  SAN DIEGO — Padres manager Bud Black got a bit nostalgic Wednesday afternoon during his final pregame media session at Petco Park this season.

A's Brandon Moss out with hip problem; will need surgery  —  From Chronicle Staff Writer Susan Slusser at the Coliseum  —  First baseman Brandon Moss was unavailable Wednesday with a right hip problem that will require offseason microfacture surgery, Moss told The Chronicle after the A's loss to the Angels.