In news that isn't coming as a surprise to anyone, Alex Rodriguez, the former and probably future Yankees 3rd baseman, was named the American League Most Valuable Player today. It was the third time Rodriguez was named the MVP, winning previously in 2003 with the Rangers and in 2005 with the Yankees. This past season, A-Rod set career high marks in runs scored (143) and RBI (156). He also led baseball with 54 home runs......

A day after the biggest end-of-season collapse in baseball history, New York Mets Carlos Delgado, John Maine and a few others cleared out their lockers at Shea (a few lockers, including Tom Glavine's and Billy Wagner's, were cleaned before reporters arrived). General Manager Omar Minaya made comments supporting manager Willie Randolph's leadership ("I believe in Willie Randolph"), and the Post reports that that kind of support will be important: "Mets ownership has ordered Minaya......

Mets 13, Marlins 0: For once, optimism abounds. John Maine struck out 14 and took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning -- he lost it on a bleeder up the third-base line -- to guide the Mets back into a tie for first place. For once, the Mets roughed up a pitcher they needed to rough up. If they hadn't gotten to Chris Seddon, they probably didn't deserve to make the playoffs. Even though......

Yankees 8, Red Sox 7: Everything looked good for the Red Sox as they were playing last night's game. They were up 5.5 games on the Yankees and about to make it 6.5 when the top of the 8th came around and everything went south. Down by 5 runs, the Yankees scored 6 runs in the inning before making a single out. They started the scoring with back-to-back solo home runs by Jason Giambi......

Yankees 11, Royals 5: Good thing the Yankees didn't make that Alex Rodriguez for Ervin Santana move this offseason. Rodriguez hit two homers -- Nos. 50 and 51 -- as the Yankees cruised past the Royals. Detroit beat Seattle again, so the wild-card lead stands at three games. Johnny Damon, who looked like a corpse for most of the season, has played better of late. He socked his 10th homer as the Yankees gave plenty......

Mets 3 Braves 2: Some people may question Willie Randolph’s managing, but they had better give him credit for this weekend. After a dismal sweep at the hands of the Phillies, the Mets responded in a huge way, sweeping their archrival in Atlanta. Tom Glavine contributed at both ends, driving in the first run of the game and allowing only one run in six innings. David Wright added his 25th home run of the year,......

Yankees 9, Devil Rays 6: Mike Mussina might want to worry now. Ian Kennedy threw seven innings of three-run ball -- though only one run was earned -- as the Yankees evened their series against the Devil Rays. Mussina might start if Roger Clemens is unable to go Monday, but the rookie Kennedy probably earned himself a few more starts with this one. Alex Rodriguez found himself at the center of everything today. He hit......

Yankees 5, Red Sox 3: This game wasn't important in the American League East race. If a miracle occurs over the next three weeks, it may be looked upon as signifcant, but right now it simply helps the Yankees in their quest to make the playoffs as the wild card. Andy Pettitte threw seven innings of three-run ball, and the Yankees broke a 3-3 tie when Johnny Damon homered off Daisuke Matsuzaka in the seventh......

Quick, call the locksmith! Before Thursday's Yankees-Tigers game, Mayor Bloomberg gave away yet another key to the city. Just last week, Bloomberg gave a ceremonial key to Mets pitcher Tom Glavine for winning his 300th career game. Thursday's key was for Alex Rodriguez hitting his 500th career home run. Rodriguez said that the key "will be something I hold dear to me for the rest of my life." In addition to receiving the key......

Yankees 6 Tigers 1: In desperate need of starting pitching the Yankees turned to a reliable source. Andy Pettitte threw eight innings of five-hit ball shutting down the Tigers’ offense and giving his team a chance to win. And, the offense responded with Bobby Abreu, Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi and Andy Phillips providing big hits. With Boston splitting a doubleheader, the Yankees gained a ½-game in the standings. But, they will have to keep their......

Yankees 11, Indians 2: We thought things were supposed to be tougher for the Yankees when they played winning teams, but that doesn't seem to be the case. While Mike Mussina allowed one run in the first inning, the Yankees scored all they would need in the second when they tagged Paul Byrd for 7 runs. The inning included a two-run homer by Alex Rodriguez, who added another two-run shot in the 8th inning. While......

Last Sunday, Mets pitcher Tom Glavine finally won his 300th career game with a victory over the Chicago Cubs. To honor Glavine, Mayor Bloomberg presented the 41-year old lefty the Key to the City on Wednesday. This was enough to upset at least one New Yorker. The Politicker noted that a caller to the Mayor's radio show today suggested that Bloomberg should have rescheduled with Glavine considering the city's subway system was deluged by early......

Mets 8, Cubs 3: The pitcher's win is among the most overrated stat in baseball. When you pick up 300 of them, however, you probably don't stink. Surefire Hall-of-Famer Tom Glavine fits that description, though he was a legend long before he reached an arbitrary cutoff point. He went 6 1/3 innings to pick up his 300th career win in Chicago as the Mets took two of three from the Cubs. The veteran lefty......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a person under a train at New Utrecht Ave. and 62nd St. in Brooklyn, a man overboard approximately 23 miles south of Floyd Benett Field (lower bay), and a shooting on East 13th St. and Ave. B. in Manhattan. A grand jury is deciding whether the off-duty cop who shot a man during a fender-bender will be charged. A 23-year-old former aide of Councilman Dennis Gallagher testified before a......

Yankees 16 White Sox 3: Is it really possible that the Yankees could tie a club record by belting eight home runs, yet somehow Alex Rodriguez would be about the only person not to get one? Somehow, that’s exactly what happened Tuesday as every starter except for A-Rod, Jeter and Andy Phillips went deep and Hideki Matsui did twice. Shelly Duncan continued his Shane Spencer imitation by belting his 4th home run in 21 AB’s.......

Mets 6, Pirates 3: Tom Glavine picked up his 299th career win by taking advantage of a rare night of productivity from Paul Lo Duca. A start after wilting despite having a 6-0 lead before he threw a pitch, Glavine shut down the Pirates at Shea. Lo Duca entered the game with a .312 on-base percentage and a .357 slugging average, and, despite the Mets' laughable efforts to have him elected to the All-Star Game,......

Mets 13, Dodgers 9: While Tom Glavine was on the mound attempting to win his 299th career game, the Mets were trying to win their first game against the Dodgers this year. In an trip to Los Angeles earlier this season, the Mets were swept in a three game series. The Mets jumped out to a 6-run lead in the first inning last night and never trailed, but Glavine couldn't keep the Dodgers from scoring......

Mets 2, Reds 1: On a night when the Mets honored one member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, a future member inched closer to the 300 win milestone. It was Ralph Kiner Night at Shea Stadium and the Mets announced that their broadcast booth at Citi Field will bear the broadcaster's name. The TV booth at Shea is already named after Kiner, who played in the Majors for 13 seasons, mostly with the Pittsburgh......

Yankees 5 Minnesota 1: It should have been a great night at the ballpark. Roger Clemens became only the 8th pitcher to win 350 games and Bobby Abreu hit a monster home run, into the middle of the upper-deck in right, but it was all overshadowed by A-Rod. This wasn’t about his wife’s t-shirt or a dramatic play on the field, but the sight of A-Rod grabbing his right leg after running to first in......

Orioles 4, Yankees 0: Roger Clemens had struck out a batter in 200 straight starts until he lost to the Orioles on Wednesday. Maybe it was the heat -- it was 97 at the first pitch -- but when Clemens last went without a strikeout, he only pitched an inning before leaving with an injury. The Yankees have now lost four straight games and have not looked good doing it. They have managed four runs......

Mets 9 Oakland 1: Tom Glavine showed that he isn’t done yet. In eight innings of work, Glavine kept the A’s tied up, allowing only seven base runners while striking out five. About the only thing he did wrong all night was getting thrown out at home, but he still went 2-for-3 at the plate. Shawn Green had a big night at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and home run, while driving in......

Mets 2, Yankees 0: Poof! Just like that, the Mets' five-game losing streak and the Yankees' nine-game winning streak have been snapped. Oliver Perez shut down the Yankees for the second time this season, and Roger Clemens was good but not good enough in the loss. Jose Reyes and Carlos Gomez -- the two Mets speedsters and fans of untucking their jerseys within seconds of the final out -- supplied the two Mets runs.......

Yankees 13 Pirates 6: It’s official, the Yankees are on fire. Sunday they completed their sweep of the Pirates, bludgeoning them behind two home runs from Alex Rodriguez and a 4-4 day from Bobby Abreu. The win was their sixth in a row and leaves them one game below .500 and 9 ½ back in the division. From the outset, the bats were cooking, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first, but the......

Phillies 4, Mets 2: The two runs in the second were nice, but not scoring for nine innings after that didn't work out that well. The Mets gave back their 2-0 lead in the third inning and then exchanged baserunning mistakes and inept offense with Philadelphia until the 11th inning. Pedro Feliciano came in to pitch and did just what Manager Willie Randolph wanted from a lefty specialist: He gave up a home run to......

Braves 2, Mets 1:John Smoltz got the better of his friend Tom Glavine and picked up his 200th win as the Mets lost the rubber game in Atlanta. Glavine didn't pitch poorly -- he gave up two runs in six innings -- but he didn't get any offensive support. Jose Reyes is 3 for his last 23, and without him to get things started, the Mets will struggle to score runs. This is the......

Yankees 8, Red Sox 3: A loss would have dropped the Yankees 11 1/2 games back. Although they wouldn't have admitted it, losing two of three to Boston would have forced some early wild-card thoughts. Instead, the Yankees are within 9 1/2 games and have some life. For the second time this season, Andy Pettitte outperformed Curt Schilling, but Wednesday's game ended up better for the Yankees than did the one April 22, when the......

Mets 5 Cubs 4: There are so many ways to lose a game, but probably none more humiliating than walking in the winning run. Michael Wuertz did that Monday night when he walked Carlos Delgado and the Mets completed a great comeback. Tom Glavine wasn’t at his best and Chicago jumped out to a 4-0 lead. David Wright cut that in half with a home run that barely cleared the fence in right. In the......

Yankees 8 Rangers 2: It’s amazing what some pitching can do for you. For the second night in a row and for only the 5th time in 31 games, the Yankee starter pitched seven innings. Tuesday night Andy Pettitte scattered seven hits while striking out four. New York had twelve hits with Alex Rodriguez going deep for his 15th of the year and the slumping Robinson Cano slashing two doubles while making a great relay......

Yankees 4, Rangers 3: The storms have passed in Texas, and the Rangers and Yankees played two. In game 1 of the doubleheader, everything was normal as Andy Pettitte pitched for six strong innings. While he left the game with the lead, Luis Vizcaino was unable to hold the 3-2 lead as the Rangers tied the game in the 7th. Derek Jeter singled in the 8th inning to extend his hitting streak to 19 games......

Red Sox 7, Yankees 6: This outcome shouldn't be all that surprising. Over the last two games of the series, the Yankees sent two Triple-A pitchers and a lineup without three regulars and still hung tough with the Red Sox, who sent two aces and their full lineups. Daisuke Matsuzaka didn't look all that great -- just like Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling before him -- but the Yankees have gotten nothing out of their......