Manager Joe Torre named Gary Sheffield as his first baseman for the playoffs Saturday, and that was a relief to Jason Giambi, who will be limited to being a designated hitter.

Devils leading scorer Brian Gionta and four other veterans signed with New Jersey after the NHL gave the team $3.5 million in salary cap relief by placing veteran forward Alexander Mogilny on the long-term injury exception list.

There's nothing like a 9-1 drubbing at the hands of a team you last saw in the playoffs to raise the calls for somebody's head.