Pennant race item: With the Padres about to lose another game and another chance to reverse the awful chain of events that includes the loss of two of their starting outfielders, Brian Giles blasted a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning, rescuing San Diego.
Reaction: Wow.
Pennant race item: Prince Fielder slammed homers No. 49 and 50, and as Tom Haudricourt writes, he's hoping for Nos. 51 and 52 in an effort to shut up his estranged father. In the story, Fielder speaks about the possibility of getting the MVP:
"It would be a cool award to get but that's not something I think about," he said, "besides the fact my dad never did it. If I do get it, that shuts him up again."
Fielder said he was "serious" about trumping his father, adding, "A lot of people said that's the only reason I got drafted. That's what drives me. People said I was too big and all this, and the only reason I got drafted was because of the name.
"That's why I'm so passionate about playing. I don't mind people comparing me to him but I'm a completely different player. One day I want people to mention my name and not have to mention his."
As for the recent comments from his father, Fielder said, "You've got to look at who's saying it. Let's be honest. He's not really the brightest guy."
Reaction: Wow.
Pennant race item: Troy Tulowitzki and the Rockies are changing the equations of the wild-card race, writes Troy Renck.
Reaction: The Rockies will be the NL team nobody wants to play if they make the playoffs, because they can flat-out wear down starting pitchers, and they've got some hard throwers with shut-down stuff on their pitching staff.
Pennant race item: The Indians blew a lead in the bottom of the ninth, but won in extra innings, in Seattle.
Reaction: Cleveland has the best record in the majors and can benefit more than any other team from taking the extended AL playoff schedule -- not only because it might have the most dominant No. 1-2 starters among the four playoff teams, but also because the Indians have the toughest finishing schedule of all the AL teams. Seven games in six days, including their current trip to Seattle. The Indians could use a break, and have earned a break.
Pennant race item: Major League Baseball is apparently still in fact-gathering mode in the Milton Bradley case, but San Diego first base coach Bobby Meacham -- well-regarded and well-respected in baseball circles -- tells Tom Krasovic that the truth will clear Bradley.
Reactions: At the very least, Major League Baseball should not allow Mike Winters, who is scheduled to work the San Diego-Milwaukee series later this week, to umpire any more Padres games until this matter is resolved. We don't know what Rockies first baseman Todd Helton has said, if anything; Helton says he has been contacted by Bob Watson. But if Winters' written report accounts for his own words very differently from what Meacham, Bradley and Helton say, then I don't know how MLB would be in a position of keeping Winters on the field.
"If everybody tells the truth, I think things will work out," Meacham told Krasovic. "If everybody doesn't tell the truth, I don't think it'll work out. At some point, the truth does become important."
Pennant race item: Manny Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis returned to the Boston lineup Tuesday. Manny is back, writes Dan Shaughnessy.
Reaction: The Red Sox staff must be cautiously optimistic about getting Ramirez back. But Eric Gagne's performance continues to be a major question mark -- he allowed a hit and a walk in 2/3 of an inning Tuesday -- and nothing that he does between now and the end of the regular season is going to change the fact that every time he comes into a game in October, there will be doubt.
Pennant race item: Roger Clemens won't pitch again during the regular season.
Reaction: The Yankees will begin the playoffs having no idea what their No. 3 starter will provide. The Yankees are the team nobody will want to play in the postseason, and at the same time, they have a vulnerability that could crush their hopes -- starting pitching -- just like every other playoff team has a vulnerability.
Pennant race item: The owner of the first-place Mets held a very public private meeting with his manager and general manager to settle the perception that there is a front-office split from the manager, as Roger Rubin writes.
Reaction: Even if this season ends with the Mets winning the World Series, the resentments in this situation run deep enough that there will always be wounded feelings. The individuals involved are all professionals and will work through this, but the damage from stuff said and unsaid, privately and publicly, is irreparable.
Pennant race item: The Phillies came back twice, but still lost to Atlanta.
Reaction: They play with passion, they are resilient. And they have so little pitching. The 2008 Phillies. Jim Salisbury wonders if they can come back again.
Pennant race item: The Braves won again on Tuesday, with Chipper Jones slamming a homer.
Reaction: Now they've got Tim Hudson and John Smoltz lined up to pitch the next two games. Win two more and they could have some serious momentum heading into the final weekend.
• Colorado controls its own playoff destiny, writes Tracy Ringolsby. Nomar Garciaparra likes the way Troy Tulowitzki plays. Clint Hurdle made a big decision and it paid off, writes Dave Krieger.
• The Cubs threw out a stinker in south Florida. Lou Piniella hasn't lost his touch, writes Chris De Luca. Piniella is considering a number of different options with his playoff rotation, apparently.
• The D-backs had a chance to put the hammer to the rest of the NL West contenders, and missed it. Augie Ojeda has been hitting for Arizona.
• The Angels lost ground in their effort to finish with the best record in the AL.
• If John McLaren gets dumped, writes Geoff Baker, than Bill Bavasi should walk out the door with him. It's official, the Mariners have been eliminated.
• The Yankees lost, but A-Rod had a grand night, writes Kevin Kernan. Jason Giambi treated the rookies to an expensive dinner, but he got to pick their clothes.
• The Mets mounted a comeback, but it wasn't enough. Orlando Hernandez figures he'll be ready for the playoffs.
• Ben Sheets isn't sure if he'll pitch again during the regular season. Ned Yost now knows he'll be back for the 2008 season.
• Yorman Bazardo kept the Tigers' slim playoff hopes alive.
• Curt Schilling threw well, again.
• Danys Baez will miss Year 2 of his three-year deal. Daniel Cabrera was The Man for Baltimore, against teasing the Orioles with what he might be if he put it all together.
• If the Phillies do make the playoffs, Cole Hamels is lined up to pitch Game 1 of the playoffs. Within the same notebook, there is word that the Phillies' brass has known for some time that Pat Gillick will retire after the 2008 season. His absences have been noted within the organization. Pat is and always will be an honorable person and wouldn't think of quitting without warning, but maybe it would be a good time for Gillick to ask Phillies' ownership if it is prepared to replace him -- and if so, it might be good for Pat to be able to move on to the next stage of his life.
For the first time in his career, Jimmy Rollins is a 30-homer guy.
• Neal Huntington faces many decisions, as the Pirates' new GM. The guess here is that Jim Tracy won't be retained as manager. The Pirates ended their nine-game losing streak by taking down a contender. Huntington made a good first impression, writes John Grupp.
• Johan Santana wonders if he's about to make his last start with the Twins. Matt Garza spent part of Tuesday screaming into his glove, never a good sign.
• The Brothers Lugo faced off, writes Susan Slusser.
• The Andruw Jones situation looms over the Braves, writes David O'Brien. The Braves dispute a report that their payroll will be cut.
• The Cardinals got a close look at Jeff Suppan from the other side of the field, and from their vantage point, it wasn't too good.
• Mark Teahen figures he'll get his power back in 2008.
• The Indians' staff met to discuss how to handle the last week of the regular season, writes Paul Hoynes.
• The Dodgers might be willing to trade young slugger Matt Kemp, writes Bill Plaschke, in the aftermath of last week's old school-new school dust-up in the L.A. clubhouse. It's official: The Dodgers are out, officially. Mike Lieberthal says he's not retiring yet, as Tony Jackson writes.
• Within this piece, Lou Piniella says that managing in Tampa Bay was a mistake.
• Ray Ratto has some ideas for a proper Barry Bonds send-off, which comes tonight in San Francisco; so does Mark Purdy. John Shea has the best moments of Bonds' time in San Francisco.
It's unlikely that Bonds will wind up with the White Sox, writes Mark Gonzales.