San Diego

Cubs management announced after Sunday evening's 15-inning loss to the Padres that the team successfully avoided the outgoing mayor of San Diego during their entire weekend series in the Southern California city.

Following the Chargers' disappointing loss to the rival Broncos, Chargers GM A.J. Smith gave embattled coach Norv Turner yet another vote of confidence, hoping to quell the rumors that Turner's job is on the line this season.

According to team sources, the 7-7 Chargers have yet to decide whether to get blown out by Detroit on Saturday, or defeat the Lions so they can crush their own fans' hopes at the last possible moment with a Week 17 loss to the Raiders.

A contrite Philip Rivers issued an apology today to a Midwestern man he’s never met Tuesday. In a fit of rage, Jack Snellenwarth of Waterloo, Iowa emailed the Chargers star explaining that Rivers had all but single-handedly destroyed Snellenwarth’s fantasy football season.

"The Padres went 71-91 this year, which is the exact same record the Cubs had," said Epstein. "You can't teach that kind of symmetry. So we see no reason to believe there will be a drop-off in when Jed and Jason join our club."

After trading for Roberto Alomar in 2003 and again in 2004, the White Sox are reverting to old, reliable means to improve their output at second base. Wednesday afternoon, the White Sox traded for Roberto Alomar on the same day the retired player was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame.

The Padres re-upped on Tuesday with pitcher Mark Prior on a one-year minor league deal that can earn the injury-plagued right-hander up to seven figures in salary in 2009. The unique contract requires Prior -- who signed with the Padres before the '08 season for $1 million, but did not pitch in a single game before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery -- to wear a ski mask to the mound every time he pitches.