Goose Gossage doesn't think there is even a question that Mariano Rivera is the greatest closer baseball has ever seen. "I'm very proud of Mariano; he's a great relief pitcher and the greatest modern closer of all-time," Gossage said. "But to compare him to guys like me, Rollie Fingers, Dan Quisenberry and Sparky Lyle, it's apples and oranges. These guys are so dominant in that one-inning role, people forget about what we used to do."

Manny Ramirez played in his final rehab game on Monday night, going 1-for-3 with with two strikeouts. Ramirez is eligible to return to the Dodgers on Friday night against the Padres after serving a 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy. The Dodgers originally planned to have Manny play in another rehab game on Tuesday, but because of the game's early start they didn't feel like it was needed. "I don't think one more game is going to make that much difference," said general manager Ned Colletti.

With one game of Interleague Play remaining on the 2009 schedule, the American League has posted a 137-114 record, marking the sixth straight season in which the A.L. has won the season-series and extending its all-time Interleague lead to 1,673-1,533 (.522). Nine of the A.L.'s fourteen clubs finished over .500. A.L. Clubs collected a .263 batting average with 1,201 runs scored, 315 home runs and a 3.91 ERA, compared to the N.L.'s .257 batting average, 1,061 runs scored, 249 home runs and 4.46 ERA. Major League Baseball drew 8,371,002 fans during Interleague games this season for an average of 33,351 per game. The 2009 Interleague average is 16.1 percent higher than this season's current intraleague average of 28,727 per game. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who scored a Major League-leading 118 runs, earned the top Interleague record with a 14-4 (.778) mark, followed by the Tampa Bay Rays, who went 13-5 (.722), and the Minnesota Twins, who were 12-6 (667). Overall, A.L. East Clubs went 52-38 (.578) in Interleague Play, with three of its five Clubs going 11-7 or better. The New York Yankees, who were 10-8 in Interleague Play this year, have baseball's best all-time Interleague record at 133-95 (.583), followed by the Minnesota Twins at 132-96 (.579). The Colorado Rockies recorded the N.L.'s best Interleague mark with an 11-4 record, followed by the Florida Marlins, who were 10-8. The Marlins still hold the National League's best all-time Interleague record at 120-99 (.548).

If Carlos Zambrano ever leaves the Cubs, he would only want to pitch for the White Sox or Red Sox. Zambrano is 4-3 with a 3.69 ERA in thirteen starts this season. He has 66 strikeouts in 83 innings, and has walked just seven batters. Entering Monday night's action, the Cubs were 3.5 games out of first place in the very competitive NL Central.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen says that his team's fans are much smarter than those of the rival, cross-town Cubs. Guillen was explaining why attendance at U.S. Cellular Field was greater when the Cubs where in town than when the Dodgers visited recently. "Because our fans are not stupid like Cubs fans," Guillen said. "They know we're [expletive]." Guillen added that fans will watch any game at Wrigley Field because the stadium "is just a bar."

Ian Snell struck out 13 straight batters on Sunday in a start for the Indianapolis Indians. He had a total of 17 strikeouts, a Minor League season-high over seven innings. Snell was assigned to Triple-A Indianapolis after struggling with the Pirates. "I haven't felt like that all year. It's just amazing," Snell said. "These guys are great and these guys are a bunch of goofballs. It makes you want to be here and pitch well here." He was 2-8 with a 5.36 ERA in Pittsburgh this season.

Ken Griffey Jr. hasn't yet decided whether this season will be his last. "I haven't made any decision" about retiring "and won't until the off-season, until we have time to decide what we want to do," Griffey said. Griffey has mainly played designated hitter for Seattle, but played some left field against the Dodgers this past weekend.

Dodgers manager Joe Torre isn't a fan of interleague play, but he understands why it's a fan favorite. "I'm not a big fan," Torre said. "It's a novelty for the fans; I think we're doing it for the fans. Which is fine. "In certain cities, it works. I mean, we play the Angels, and, of course, Chicago with the White Sox and the Cubbies."

Blue Jays left-hander Ricky Romero has been frustrating hitters with an off-speed pitch this season. Hitters have asked Romero if he is throwing a splitter or a screwball, but ESPN's Buster Olney says that he throws a changeup with a classic circle grip. Romero's pitch doesn't move like a traditional changeup. "It's a tremendous finishing pitch," one general manager said this weekend. The pitch tends to move away from right-handed hitters, and reminds many of Fernando Valenzuela's screwball.

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins will return from a four-game break Tuesday after being benched in hopes of breaking a deep slump. Rollins is hitting .211 with a .254 on-base percentage, six homers and 27 RBIs in 68 games this season. He will be in his customary lead off spot on Tuesday night "unless something really changes between now and then," manager Charlie Manuel said.