ophy." Thats been Elways message since last January,

SEATTLE -- Sonny Grays tuneup for his first stint in the post-season went as Oakland manager Bob Melvin hoped. But it came with no guarantees that Gray will be in the Athletics rotation for the AL Division Series against Detroit, at least until its officially announced. "You can make your own assumptions," Melvin said. "I really dont want to say anything right now until we have it all decided and that probably happens at some point in time tomorrow." Grey threw five shutout innings, Oakland had a pair of four-run innings and the Athletics closed out the regular season with a 9-0 win over Seattle in Eric Wedges final game as Mariners manager. The As now turn their attention to the ALDS against Detroit that will begin Friday in Oakland, while Seattle enters the off-season with another managerial search on the docket. Oakland is likely to start 18-game winner Bartolo Colon in Game 1 and from there they have a multitude of options. Theres Jarrod Parker (12-8), Gray (5-3), Tommy Milone (12-9), Dan Straily (10-8) and A.J. Griffin (14-10) all serving as options that Melvin can use to fill out his rotation for the remainder of the series. "It would be nice. Hopefully Im fortunate enough to be able to do that," Gray said. "If my name gets called Ill definitely be ready." Oakland gave a few of its starters the finale off, while some others made cameos before getting a rest before beginning the post-season. Jed Lowrie, Coco Crisp and Yoenis Cespedes all sat Sunday, while Josh Donaldson, Brandon Moss and Chris Young were lifted early. "We have a bigger goal right now and that is to go deep in the playoffs and probably didnt want anything freak to happen on a day like today," Donaldson said. It didnt matter who was hitting against the Mariners. The As scored four times in the second inning, all charged to Seattle starter Erasmo Ramirez, and four more times in the fifth. Young got Oakland started with a two-run single in the second, followed by RBI doubles by Seth Smith and Moss. Alberto Callaspo had an RBI single in the fifth, followed by an RBI double from Josh Reddick and a two-run single by Daric Barton. Gray (5-3) gave up a pair of singles in the first inning and walked a pair of batters in the third, but otherwise got through his final regular-season outing without any trouble. Gray struck out eight and gave up three hits. It was the 16th time in the final 19 games of the regular season that Oaklands starter allowed two earned runs of less. Oakland finished with 96 wins, the most since reaching that total in 2003. "He doesnt like to give up runs," Melvin said of Gray. "Thats a good attribute in a pitcher. He goes out there and hes grinding on it whether its 8-0 or 1-0. That kind of attitude really plays anywhere and to be able to continually motivate yourself for perfection and youre not always going to get it." Seattle finished 71-91 and went a 12th straight season without the making the playoffs. More important, theyll now be seeking another manager with Wedges decision to walk away from the Mariners messy situation. Wedge announced on Friday he would not return to the club in 2014. With Ramirez (5-3) and the Mariners bullpen struggling, most of the attention for Seattle turned to Raul Ibanez and his attempt to become the first player 40 or older to hit 30 homers in a season. Ibanez had been stuck on 29 since homering on Sept. 21, tied with Ted Williams. He grounded out to end the first inning and struck out with the bases loaded in the third -- the only time Seattle threatened against Gray. Ibanez struck out looking in the sixth inning off reliever Jesse Chavez and popped out to left in the eighth. Ibanez was replaced after going out to the field for the top of the ninth and received a standing ovation from the crowd. "It was a really special moment and one that I will always remember," Ibanez said. "Im always going to appreciate the fans here in Seattle for that and obviously for all the years I was here and Im always going to appreciate Eric Wedge for letting that moment happen." NOTES: Cespedes didnt play the final two games of the regular season to give his right shoulder extra rest. Oakland believes hell be ready for the ALDS. ... Wedge said he and his family intend on staying in the Seattle area for now, but that he would like to manage again. ... Jemile Weeks got his first hit of the season with a single in the fifth inning. ... Seattle drew 17,081 for the finale. The Mariners had one sellout in 81 home games. Cheap Jerseys China . The Brazilian-born strikers brace drew him level with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo as the leagues leading scorers with 17 goals apiece through 16 rounds. "The important thing is to help the team win, not the goals," Diego Costa said. After a first half dominated by defence, Atletico pressed Valencia into its area and Diego Costa did the rest. Wholesale Authentic Jerseys . While the pair of Spain internationals return, midfielder Xavi Hernandez will not be included in the squad after failing to recover from a muscle strain to his left leg. http://www.chinajerseyscheap.com/ .twitter.com/TeZD3KOvlA — Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) September 24, 2014 Sorry for the delay, we just got back from lunch at Papa Vons #NBAFastFood pic. Stitched Jerseys . -- The Chicago Bears have agreed to terms with safety Brock Vereen and QB David Fales on four-year contracts. NFL Jerseys China . LOUIS -- The St. JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- John Elway says Peyton Manning cannot stamp himself as the greatest quarterback in NFL history even if he wins the Super Bowl on Sunday. Elway told The Associated Press on Wednesday that hes come to realize the argument over whos the best QB ever is a lot like beauty: Its in the eye of the beholder. "I dont think theres ever going to be a very best. I think theres always going to be a conversation," said Elway, the Broncos Hall of Fame quarterback-turned-executive vice-president who lured Manning to Denver after his release from Indianapolis two years ago. Manning has the chance to become the first starting quarterback to lead two franchises to Super Bowl titles when the Broncos play the Seahawks at MetLife Stadium. When Manning signed with the Broncos on March 20, 2012, Elway declared, "My goal is to make Peyton Manning the best quarterback thats ever played the game." But at the team hotel on the Hudson River on Wednesday morning, Elway said he now realizes that question will never truly be answered "even though when he walks away Peyton may well have broken every single record." "So, youre going to always have your detractors, but he may have a large percentage of whos the best, you know what I mean?" Elway said. "Yeah, all he can do is he can continue to cement his legacy, especially if he continues to keep going like the year he had this year. And Im going to try to make sure he has all the weapons to be able to do that." Manning has brushed off all questions about his legacy this week. With Manning leading the huddle and Elway the front office, Denver is back in the big game for the first time since the Broncos won back-to-back titles in 1998 and 99, after which Elway tried his hand at running restaurants and car dealerships. Those businesses "dont have scoreboards on Sundays," so Elway returned to his beloved Broncos in 2011 to rescue the foundering franchise after a slow descent under Mike Shanahan and a nosedive under Josh McDaniels. Tebowmania quickly came and went and with Manning throwing for 99 touchdowns, the Broncos have gone 28-6 the last two years. Elway looked more relaxed in his suit and tie than he ever did during the weeks preceding the five Super Bowls he played in, wins over Green Bay and Atlanta after losses to the Giants, Redskins and 49ers. Thats because Super Bowl week is way more stressfuul on a quarterback, he said.dddddddddddd. "Well, Im finally at the stage where I worry about what I can and cant control," Elway said. This is quite the contrast from Jan. 12, when the Broncos fended off a fourth-quarter rally for a 24-17 win over San Diego that avoided a repeat of their crushing loss to Baltimore exactly a year earlier. Elway said he was "absolutely miserable" watching that game and "it took me four hours to get the pit out of my stomach afterward." "San Diego was different because that was a hump we had to get over because of Baltimore," Elway said. "So, that was something that we had to put in our rearview mirror because if we hadnt done it, then were going to be talking about it for another full year. Then, were dealing with another year of the same thing." That 38-35 double-overtime loss to the Ravens, helped along by Rahim Moores infamous gaffe that allowed Jacoby Jones to haul in a 70-yard touchdown pass in the final minute of regulation, haunted the Broncos for 365 days -- and might return to burden them anew if they dont beat Seattle on Sunday night. As Terrance Knighton put it, "Our goal wasnt to get here. Our goal was to get out of here -- with the Lombardi Trophy." Thats been Elways message since last January, delivered both subtly and forcefully at times. Manning said Elway created an "uncomfortable atmosphere" at Dove Valley last off-season. Elway used Denvers sloppy 40-10 preseason loss at Seattle in mid-August as an opportunity to send a message about effort and expectations. "John pretty much laid it on us," Manning recalled Wednesday. "He was not happy with that game. It was a butt-kicking, and whether its preseason or regular season, he was just sharing his thoughts that that wont be accepted." So unusual was Elways exasperation that Manning took notes, which he said he reviewed this week in preparing for the Seahawks. "He talked about what he thought our potential could be and didnt want to see that wasted," Manning recounted. "So, I think guys got the message. If I was reading it the right way, he mightve been giving the message to some coaches as well. ... I think it was a challenge, too, that he saw some real potential in this team. He thought it had the makings of a special team and just wanted to be sure we were going to max out." ' ' '