On the Yankees beat

Some tidbits for your enjoyment...

* Robinson Cano continued on his tear, going 2-for-4 with a double and home run. He moved ahead of Derek Jeter in the batting race, .340 to .338. And he is in contention for the American League batting title, trailing Minnesota's Joe Mauer by only .004. To qualify for the title Cano needs 30 plate appearances over the final nine games, and Joe Torre seems willing to give him the opportunity. Cano probably would have sat Friday night, but he was the designated hitter instead, a half-day off instead of a full. "You will be seeing more of that for that reason," Torre said. Since coming off the disabled list August 8, Cano is 64-176 (.364) with 23 doubles, eight home runs and 44 RBIs. Could Cano be the Yankees' best hitter?

* Too bad Chien-Ming Wang isn't facing the Devil Rays in the playoffs. Wang allowed only one run in seven innings Friday to improve to 18-6, and in four starts against Tampa this season he is 3-0 with a 1.14 ERA. That's four earned runs in 31 1/3 innings.

* T.J. Beam was told before the game he will pitch in the Arizona Fall League, an experience the Yankees believe will have him on the right track for the start of spring training when he could be vying for a roster spot.

* Also, general manager Brian Cashman told me before the game the Yankees have signed amateur scouting director Damon Oppenheimer to an extension, and according to a person familiar with the situation it's a two-year deal. Oppenheimer has run the last two amateur drafts, and Cashman said he has been happy with Oppenheimer's picks and signings. On that note, the contracts of Tampa-based executives Mark Newman, Billy Connors and Gordon Blakeley will be expiring later this year. The rumblings right now point to them staying with similiar two-year deals.