Cubs part ways with Baker  —  Manager not offered extension following 2006 campaign  —  CHICAGO — Dusty Baker didn't take any questions on Monday after the Cubs announced they were not renewing his contract.  There was nothing left to be said.  —  Baker is gone after four seasons in Chicago …

Giants say goodbye to Alou after 76-85 season  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Nobody in the Giants' front office is blaming Felipe Alou for San Francisco's failures the past two seasons.  Owner Peter Magowan is willing to take the heat for that.  —  The club cut ties with Alou on Monday …

It should be a tough day for hitters  —  Santana faces off against Zito in battle of Cy Young winners  —  MINNEAPOLIS — For a playoff matchup that was literally thrown together at the eleventh hour, Oakland and Minnesota found a way to super Cy-ize the opener.

Cards' hitters an undisciplined lot … In three games last week at Busch Stadium, the Cardinals lost the first two to the Padres and only won the third because Cla Meredith threw a fastball intended to run in on Albert Pujols out over the plate ... and Pujols hit it into Illinois.

Royals have reason for optimism  —  Young Kansas City squad improved in second half  —  KANSAS CITY — With yet another 100-loss season in the books, the Royals' fourth in the last five years, there is no better place to look than ahead.  —  And that is precisely what general manager Dayton Moore …

Milledge, two others, left off Mets roster  —  Rookie outfielder one of three players not included for NLDS  —  NEW YORK — As part of the only Division Series that will not begin play until Wednesday, the Mets have a little more time to set their 25-man roster for the series against the Dodgers.

Girardi's dismissal looms  —  Marlins may quickly snap up Gonzalez to fend off other teams  —  MIAMI — They won't exactly pass each other in the Dolphin Stadium parking lot, but it shouldn't take long for the Marlins to grab the keys from Joe Girardi and hand them to Fredi Gonzalez.

Notes: Twins mulling final reliever  —  One of three rookies will make staff as 11th available arm  —  MINNEAPOLIS — With less than 24 hours before the start of Game 1 of the American League Division Series, the Twins had yet to finalize their playoff roster.

Prosecutor cites "inaccuracies" in steroids story  —  The federal prosecutor overseeing an investigation of steroids in baseball said Monday a newspaper report that five players, including Roger Clemens, had used illegal performance-enhancing drugs contained "significant inaccuracies."

Bright Weekend, Dark Day  —  Notes from the last weekend of the regular season, from one very depressed man, idly hitting buttons looking for some baseball...  - The best story, to me, was the disparity among managers in the importance placed on the difference between winning the division or the wild card.

Dejan Kovacevic Chat Transcript 10/02/06  —  Pedro_Cerrano: Should I order my 2007 playoff tickets now?  —  Dejan Kovacevic: As long as they come fully refundable, and as long as you have that kind of disposable cash, yeah, go nuts. ...  Welcome, one and all, to our final chat of the season.