Xavier Nady News

The New York Yankees were busy upgrading the signage at their major and minor stadiums, shops and other facilities on Thursday, replacing "26" with "27" to mark the team's total of World Series titles.

Derek Jeter paused at the question. "Can you hear anything here that you haven't heard in Boston?" Jeter was asked prior to a Citizens Bank Park workout yesterday in preparation for tonight's World Series Game 3 against the Phillies.

New York Mets Mets Xavier Nady center, who hit the winnning home run in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Houston Astros, gets a high five from coaches Manny Acta, left, and Jerry Manuel at the end of the game.

Johnny Damon makes grab Saturday night but will he haul in new contract from Yankees? Even though their primary focus remains on the games themselves, Yankee GM Brian Cashman and his baseball operations staff are also engaged in an evaluation process of a half-dozen of their prospective free agents this postseason, most notably Johnny Damon and ...

NEW YORK - He may never get to Cooperstown, but his name sure pops up in the conversation with many of the game's all-time immortals.

Bobby Abreu has 2,111 career hits. He has a .299 average, a .404 on-base percentage and a .493 slugging percentage.

Over the course of the off-season, this space is going to look at various free agents whose moves would have an impact on their fantasy statistics and draft position.

You'd probably have a tough time convincing, say, Ernie Banks that it's been a lonnnnnggg time since the Yankees won themselves a World Series.

It's always a depressing day when you realize yet another baseball season's come to a close.

After being primarily relegated to the bench during the White Sox American League Division Series against the Rays last year, Nick Swisher will find himself on the postseason center stage in just three days in New York.

Although Pettitte's left shoulder was the talk of the Yankees ' universe when he took the mound against the Angels in an eventual 5-2 loss, Robertson's right wing is also very important to the team's chance for postseason success.

"I'm 1-0," Nady said during batting practice Monday. "And I'll win tonight if I get 7 from Reggie Wayne ." Nady was in his element before the Yankees' game with the Angels, back around teammates for the first time since Tommy John surgery on July 8. He will be back this weekend at Yankee Stadium, though the Yankees have filled his old locker.

When it comes to tolerance, it's easy to gauge exactly where Sean Gallagher stands when it comes to needles.

Along with resting their regulars whenever they see fit this season, the Yankees have enjoyed the luxury of having a quick-healing team.

Nobody has played major-league baseball as consistently bad as the Pirates, who will make history by recording their 17th consecutive losing season with their next defeat.

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Great, Finally, an influential member of the media has come out and declared the 2008 deadline day deal the Yankees made with the Kansas City A's, I mean the Pittsburgh Pirates, a win for the Bucs.

" Ross Ohlendorf has had a breakthrough season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, going 11-9 with a 3.97 E.R.A. for a last-place team.

Nate McLouth: Injured hamstring, reinjured hamstring, disabled list. One look at all the injuries sustained by players recently traded by the Pirates, and it is enough make one wonder if there is some sort of pox upon them ... Xavier Nady: Reconstructive elbow surgery, out almost all of this season.

" The Yankees have won their last 10 games against the Orioles, their longest winning streak in this rivalry since 1955.

One can imagine if Major League Baseball created a separate DL League that went on after the Major League season, a league that consisted of all the players on a team that were injured at one time or another.