BASEBALL

GIAMBI LIKELY TO BE LEFT OFF PLAYOFF ROSTER

Jason Giambi probably will be left off the Yankees’ roster for their first-round series against Minnesota, beginning tonight at Yankee Stadium.

Giambi tried to play himself back into shape after undergoing treatment for a benign tumor, but he went 4-for-33 after he was activated from the disabled list on September 14. He hit a career-low .208 this season with 12 homers and 40 RBIs.

Manager Joe Torre plans to carry 11 pitchers because he isn’t sure whether Orlando Hernandez, bothered by a weak shoulder, can start Game 3 on Friday night.

MARINERS FIRE MELVIN AFTER TWO YEARS

Bob Melvin was fired as manager of the Seattle Mariners yesterday, a day after the team ended the season with its 99th loss. In May, the Mariners exercised the option on Melvin’s contract for 2005 despite a 9-16 start. He led the team to a 93-69 record in 2003, his first season after Lou Piniella left for Tampa Bay.

The front office also told most of the coaching staff – hitting coach Paul Molitor, bench coach Rene Lachemann, first base coach Mike Aldrete, third base coach Dave Myers, and bullpen coach Orlando Gomez – they are free to pursue other jobs, though each remains under contract with Seattle through October 31.

BLUE JAYS RE-SIGN GIBBONS DESPITE LAST-PLACE FINISH

John Gibbons will return as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays next season. Gibbons was given a one year contract yesterday after guiding the last-place Blue Jays to a 20-30 record during the final eight weeks of the season. He took over as interim manager on August 8, when Carlos Tosca was fired after the team opened 47-64.

The 42-year-old Gibbons had been the Blue Jays’ first-base coach since Tosca took over from Buck Martinez on June 3, 2002.

HOME RUNS, SCORING UP THIS YEAR

Despite preseason predictions that power numbers would decrease with the start of steroid testing in the major leagues, home runs and scoring were up this season. An average of 2.25 home runs were hit in each major league game, up 5.1% from last year’s average of 2.14, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Runs per game increased 1.8% from 9.46 to 9.63, and the major league batting average increased from .264 to .266.

FOOTBALL

CHIEFS NOTCH FIRST WIN AGAINST RAVENS

Priest Holmes ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns, and the Chiefs wore down the highly-touted Baltimore defense in a 27-24 victory last night. Trent Green went 21-for-31 for 223 yards to help Kansas City (1-3) to its first win since December 28. After going 13-3 a year ago, the Chiefs were off to their worst start since 1980.

Through three quarters, Kansas City had 22 first downs compared to four for the Ravens. A one-yard touchdown run by Holmes on the first play of the fourth quarter put the Chiefs up 27-17, and that proved to be enough to end the Ravens’ seven-game home winning streak.

PACKERS TRADE MCKENZIE TO SAINTS

Packer cornerback Mike McKenzie got his wish yesterday when he was traded to the New Orleans Saints for a second round pick in 2005 and a backup quarterback. Since ending his holdout without retracting his trade request three weeks ago, McKenzie has been paid more than $485,000, but played just nine snaps, all against Chicago. That led fans and teammates to wonder whether he was still holding out, but getting paid anyway.

McKenzie was left home when the Packers traveled to Indianapolis two weeks ago and wasn’t on the sideline Sunday when the Packers lost to the Giants. The Packers acquired quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan, 25, and the second-round selection in the 2005 draft in return for McKenzie, 28, and a future conditional draft choice.

BENNETT TO MISS AT LEAST TWO MORE WEEKS

Minnesota running back Michael Bennett will miss at least two more games after undergoing arthroscopic surgery yesterday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Bennett, who hasn’t played since spraining the knee in an August 27 exhibition game, reinjured the knee in his first fully padded practice Thursday. The injury was expected to push back his season debut until October 24 against Tennessee.

BASKETBALL

PIPPEN EXPECTED TO RETIRE

Scottie Pippen, who won six titles with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, is expected to retire after 17 seasons, an NBA source said yesterday. The source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Pippen is scheduled to make the announcement today on the Bulls’ first day of training camp.

Pippen was brought back last season to give leadership and experience to a young Bulls team, but he had knee surgery in December and played in only 23 games as the Bulls went 23-59. It was the first time in his career the seven-time All-Star missed the playoffs.

PAYTON REPORTS TO CELTICS CAMP Gary Payton, the veteran guard the Boston Celtics acquired in an off-season trade with the Lakers, reported to training camp yesterday. Payton, 36, had said he didn’t want to play in Boston or move his family from the West Coast. He missed an August 13 deadline for his physical. New Celtics coach Doc Rivers had said he was hopeful that Payton would appear.

– Associated Press