Calf injury could keep El Duque from Game 1 start  —  NEW YORK — Already missing Pedro Martinez, the New York Mets suddenly might have to replace pitcher Orlando Hernandez in Game 1 of the playoffs because of a calf injury, too.  —  El Duque felt discomfort in his right calf while he was jogging …

BATTLE'S ON IF TIGERS CAN FIND EARLY FORM  —  Which Tigers team shows up in the postseason?  The one that soared to 40 games over .500 (76-36) behind stellar pitching, defense and power, or the one that lost 31 of its final 50, including five in a row to close the year to fall into the wild card and this matchup against the Yankees?

As expected, Marlins fire Girardi after one year  —  MIAMI — Florida Marlins manager Joe Girardi was fired Tuesday, a move that had been expected after his rift with owner Jeffrey Loria boiled over in an on-field confrontation two months ago.  —  Girardi lost his job even though he's considered …

Jackson, Wallace Won't Return  —  BOSTON — The Red Sox said Monday the contracts of hitting coach Ron Jackson and pitching coach Dave Wallace will not be renewed for next season as part of a mutual agreement between the team and the two coaches.  —  It shouldn't take long for the Red Sox to name their successors.

Second course  —  Apple back on track for another Subway ride  —  The last sounds before pandemonium were a hard pock of wood on leather, half a stadium gasping, the other half screaming, and then the faint pop of white leather falling into black leather.  —  Mike Piazza's swat in Game 5 …

Yanks' Rodriguez Is Dropped to the Sixth Spot  —  As Alex Rodriguez embarks on another postseason tonight, he will hit sixth in the Yankees' lineup, the lowest spot he has hit from in more than 10 years.  —  Manager Joe Torre said he could not go wrong arranging so many powerful hitters in any order.

BALCO chemist subpoenaed  —  Steroid creator Arnold to appear before grand jury  —  Patrick Arnold, the Illinois chemist who created the designer steroid at the center of the BALCO scandal, has been subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury investigating San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds, a source close to Arnold told SI.com.

Former Phils organist Richardson dies  —  Fixture's passing comes after 35-year tenure with club  —  PHILADELPHIA — To the 73 million who passed through Connie Mack Stadium, Veterans Stadium and Citizens Bank Park since 1970, he was known as the guy behind the organ.

The Eagles Fan's Guide To Projectile Weaponry  —  As you well know, it's TO Week in Philly, as Dr. Kevorkian's latest muse joins the Cowboys to take on the Eagles on Sunday.  And while we at KSK certainly don't endorse something as tasteless as throwing objects onto the field, we're certainly looking forward to exactly that occurring.

Chopped liver  —  In 1999, Voros McCracken discovered what has come to be known as the "DIPS" theory - that pitchers have only a small influence on whether a ball in play becomes a hit.  Since then, and in the standard fashion of scientific enquiry, there have been frequent studies testing McCracken's hypothesis.

Birds take gamble with Reyes  —  On his way to the ballpark Sunday morning, rookie Anthony Reyes had no idea he was about to be part of a calculated wager by manager Tony La Russa that would set up the club's pitching for the postseason.  —  Or chance bankrupting it for a few days.