Dodgers missed the playoff spot

The Dodgers missed a chance to grasp the playoff spot on Friday because of making some mistakes which has made the team lose to the Pirates. Despite the best record in the National League, the Dodgers couldn't beat the team in the NL Central and had lost six straight and 23 games.

The Dodgers gave away a run in the first inning when Blake DeWitt threw away a possible double-play ball. The Dodgers tied the score in the second inning off Jeff Karstens on two-out doubles by DeWitt and Orlando Hudson.

Devils add center Rob Niedermayer

Devils' President Lou Lamoriello Friday announced that the team have signed free agent center Rob Niedermayer. "I felt that we needed a little size and strength down the middle," Lamoriello said. "Now with Travis and Zubie and Robbie, I think we have three pretty good size, strength center ice men. We know Robbie well, of course. We've played against him enough in the Stanley Cup. He's had tremendous Stanley Cup experience and can be used in different roles."

Niedermayer scored 14 goals and 7 assists with Anaheim Ducks in 2008-09. But he lost to the Devils in the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals before achieving the trophy with Ducks in 2007. Niedermayer is expected to join the team by Monday.

Jose Reyes takes batting practice

According to the New York Daily News, Jose Reyes took indoor batting practice before Monday's game against Atlanta and he still hoped to return to the field before the end of the season. Reyes has not played in the game since May 20 and was diagnosed with a complete tear of his right hamstring last month. The Daily News said that he will continue to take batting practice for the rest of the week, and on Friday he will have a significant running session on the field. If the running session goes well, Reyes will tell the media that he will try to play in one or two final games next week.

"What I'd like to know in Spring Training is he's healthy. That's the No. 1 thing for me. Spring Training becomes a very important time for him versus what it has been the last few years." Mets manager Jerry Manuel said on Sunday.Hope he will show up on the field next week with his Mets jersey.

Lopez leads Mariners to win

Jose Lopez hit a solo home run in the eighth inning, leading Seattle past Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field on Tuesday. Mariners reliever Shawn Kelley replaced starter Ryan and allowed an RBI single by B.J. Upton, but avoided more damage.

Smith pitched well but was worn down by patient Tampa Bay hitting, allowing four walks and six hits in five-plus innings. He also allowed three earned runs, marking his sixth consecutive start. Seattle's offense couldn't get too much going against Rays starter Jeff Niemann, who allowed four hits and three runs.

Johnson returns to Giants in relief

When the public-address announcer introduced Randy Johnson as he entered the stadium in his Giants jersey in Saturday's Giants-Dodgers game in the sixth inning, the audience in the Dodger Stadium applauded respectfully. Having made his first appearance since his left shoulder was injured on July 5, Johnson yielded to Dodgers' Rafael Furcal and Andre Ethier. Johnson threw just 14 pitches, but Giants manager Bruce Bochy said that he had agreed on a light workload upon his return.

The Giants hoped that Johnson could intensify the bullpen during the season's final weeks. Johnson, threw his fastball in the high 80mph range, which was closed to the velocity he displayed before his injury.

Sabres sign forward Tyler Ennis

Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier announced that the team have signed forward Tyler Ennis to a three-year contract on Thursday. Ennis was one of Buffalo's two first-round selections in the 2008 Entry Draft.

The highlight of the season for Ennis was a 6-goal performance on February 27, scoring all of his team's goals. Ennis finished 236 points in 245 career games with Medicine Hat, including a career-high 91 points in 2007-08. He is a native of Edmonton, Alberta, and also a member of Team Canada's at the 2009 World Junior Championships in Ottawa.

Leafs host Bruins on NHL Network

There are some exciting preseason action for the NHL season on the NHL Network on Wednesday, for example the Boston Bruins visit the Toronto Maple Leafs. Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke has imported free agents Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin, adding them to Tomas Kaberle and last season's rookie Luke Schenn. Now Maple Leaves has a new look.

The Bruins will host the 2010 NHL Winter Classic later this year, they had the best record in the Eastern Conference last season, which was led by Norris Trophy winner Zdeno Chara and Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas.

Hampton's surgery is a success

It is reported that Left-hander Mike Hampton will miss the entire 2010 season after undergoing surgery on Tuesday morning to repair his left rotator cuff. Astros general manager Ed Wade received the report on Tuesday morning from Hampton's agent Mark Rodgers. Wade said that Dr. David Altcheck in New York City found a full rotator cuff tear and a "big hole" in Hampton's rotator cuff.

Astros signed Hampton to a one-year, $2 million contract in the offseason. Various injuries,especially Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery, made the left-hander attending just 25 Major League starts from 2005-08. Recently Hampton said he also wants to have arthroscopic surgery on both knees in the offseason. Wade said Hampton will likely join the team next week in Houston.

Pitcher Steve Blass aces a pair

Steve Blass, the former right-hander whose pitching career ended prematurely once he developed a strange inability to throw strikes, stole the Pirates alumni's annual golf outing by sinking two holes in one in a span of 11 holes at Greensburg Country Club. Ace No. 1 came on the 154-yard and ace No. 2 came with a seven-iron on the 175-yard

Golf numbers-crunchers estimate the odds at 67 million-to-one. In 1972 he had his finest season for the Bucs, with a 19-8 record. That season, he totaled 76 unintentional walks in 2/3 innings. In 1971, Blass picked up two wins as the Pirates took Baltimore in a seven-game series.

Soriano had surgery yesterday

It is reported that Cubs' left fielder Alfonso Soriano had surgery yesterday on his broken left knee and he will miss the rest of the season. Soriano has suffered much in the joint for most of the season. He last played in the match on Sept. 3.

Team orthopedist Dr. Stephen Gryzlo performed the surgery and before he goes back to the Dominican Republic for the rest of the season, Soriano will then have three weeks to recover with the Cubs' training staff.

Bruce may not come back to Reds

Although Jay Bruce had three hits for Triple-A Louisville last week, Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker is not definitely sure that Bruce is going to join the Reds' lineup again. After breaking his right wrist in New York, Bruce missed two months playing. The outfielder will rejoin the team in Colorado during a four-game series.

Before Bruce was injured, he had suffered a difficult season. He had 18 homers and 41 Run Batted Ins in 83 games, but his batting was just 207. The catcher Ryan Hanigan had three hits and scored twice that day and was 5-for-12 with a double in his first three games. Now Hanigan is eligible to come off the disabled list several days ago, so is Burce. Fans are looking forward to seeing him playing on the field again in his Reds jersey.

Ducks term with veteran defenseman Eminger

It is reported that veteran defenseman Steve Eminger has agreed to a two-year deal with the Anaheim Ducks. He was selected in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals. He spent five seasons with the Capitals collecting five goals and 26 points in 71 games. "Being only 25 years old, we expect him to continue improving as a player and make a solid contribution this season."said Ducks Executive Vice President and General Manager Bob Murray.

Totally Eminger has 11 goals and 69 points in 283 regular-season games. He also scored a goal for the Capitals during the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs. "He's a guy everyone likes and a good player. Any time you have a chance to get a defenseman that's 25 and has played 300 games, you try to get them," said Ducks Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations David McNab.

Nathan McIver will remain in Canucks

The President and General Manager Mike Gillis of Vancouver Canucks announced last month that the team have re-signed defenseman Nathan McIver. McIver splits the 2008-09 season between the Anaheim Ducks and Vancouver Canucks. In 18 NHL games with Anaheim Ducks, McIver collected 1 assist and 36 penalty minutes. In addition, in other 28 games with the American Hockey League affiliate--Manitoba Moose, McIver also had 2 assists and 59 penalty minutes. This defenseman was originally drafted by the Canucks in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.