MLB notes: Mets re-sign Manuel

Manager Jerry Manuel and the New York Mets agreed on a two-year contract that includes a club option for 2011. Manuel replaced Willie Randolph on an interim basis June 17. Beating the odds After homering just once in 192 at-bats against left-handed pitching during the regular season, Tampa Bay's Akinori Iwamura hit the go-ahead home run against Chicago White Sox lefty Mark Buehrle. Read More

No-name bullpen big part of Rays' turnaround

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The art of bullpen building requires a keen eye and a knack for scoping out hidden treasures and underappreciated assets. Spend enough time sifting through the merchandise, and somebody else's castoff could turn out to be your personal savior -- or Grant Balfour. Heaven knows the Tampa Bay Rays needed an upgrade after 2007, when their bullpen numbers were uglier than a Lehman Brothers balance sheet. The team ERA was a major league-worst 6.16, and one of the few relievers to emerge with his dignity intact was utility infielder Josh Wilson, who twirled an inning of shutout ball in a 14-8 loss to the Marlins. Read More

Will we see four MLB sweeps in 1st round?

Heading into this weekend’s games, which begin tonight at 6:35 p.m. with the Brewers and Phillies, each series of the MLB playoffs divisional round is at 2-0 in a best-of-5. Obviously being up 2-0 when only needing three wins to advance welcomes the idea of a sweep. But which of the four series will actually end like that? Read More

Jenkins: Miller Park will be rocking

NEW YORK — Omar Minaya is staying as general manager of the New York Mets. MILWAUKEE -- Geoff Jenkins had this dream plenty of times. He'd be standing in the Miller Park outfield and hear the deafening roar of raucous Brewers fans enjoying their long-awaited taste of the postseason. He just didn't expect to be wearing a visitor's uniform. It was weird enough for Jenkins in late April, when he arrived with the Phillies for a regular-season game against the Brewers. Read More

Mets extend Manuel despite 2nd collapse

The Mets gave the manager job permanently to Jerry Manuel, who replaced Willie Randolph in June and rallied the team to a 3 1/2-game September lead before a second consecutive swoon. Manuel was given a two-year contract Friday that includes a club option for 2011. The Mets, who blew a seven game lead with 17 to play in 2007 under Randolph, frittered away a smaller lead in the same amount of games this time around, finishing 89-73 and a game out of the wild-card playoff berth. Read More

Moyer is Game 3

MILWAUKEE -- For some reason, the world always seems to forget about Jamie Moyer when the topic turns to the walking history museums of baseball. Greg Maddux always comes up. Randy Johnson always comes up. Tom Glavine tends to nudge his way into these conversations. Heck, you might even hear names like Mike Timlin or Kenny Rogers or Tim Wakefield before someone gets around to saying: "Hey, what about Jamie Moyer?" Read More