Game 1: The Day After  —  Yes the Yankees lineup is formidable, but if you look at the final box score you see a Tiger team that nearly matched them hit for hit.  The Yankees posted 14 hits, 5 for extra bases including 2 homers.  The Tigers banged out 12 hits, 7 for extra bases including 2 homers.

Baker heads to ESPN for postseason  —  Former Cubs skipper rumored to be in line for Nationals job  —  CHICAGO — Dusty Baker won't be out of work for long.  —  Baker, whose contract was not renewed by the Chicago Cubs on Monday, will join ESPN's postseason baseball broadcast crew this weekend.

Hernandez expected to miss postseason for Mets; Maine to start Game 1  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Orlando Hernandez is expected to miss the entire postseason because of a calf injury, and Mets rookie John Maine will start Game 1 of the playoffs Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Showalter won't manage Rangers in 2007  —  The Texas Rangers parted ways with manager Buck Showalter, Dallas media outlets reported Wednesday.  —  The Rangers did not make the postseason in his four years at the helm.  Texas lost the finale 3-2 Sunday at Seattle to finish 80-82 …

A Base-Running Blunder Dooms the Dodgers  —  In one blur of bodies, David Wright went from third baseman to third-base coach.  —  Jeff Kent of the Dodgers passed in front of him.  J. D. Drew followed.  They were rounding third base and heading home, one after another, as if they were on a baseball relay team.

Little rain, but Tigers-Yankees Game 2 postponed  —  NEW YORK — Justin Verlander was throwing in the outfield, Mike Mussina was nowhere to be seen and the fans in Yankee Stadium just wondered what was going on.  —  In a rainout with hardly any rain, Game 2 of the AL Division Series between …

Rothschild, Speier could be back with Cubs  —  While none of the Cubs coaches are expected to return when a new manager takes over, pitching coach Larry Rothschild and third base coach Chris Speier aren't completely out of the picture.  —  Rothschild could be Lou Piniella's choice …

Bonds undergoes surgery on left elbow  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Bonds had surgery to remove bone chips from his troublesome left elbow that caused the San Francisco slugger pain and swelling throughout this season.  —  Bonds, who had the operation Monday, said he expects to be ready to resume …

Ellis fractures finger in Game 2 win  —  Second baseman's status unknown, update on Thursday  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Already without their starting shortstop, the A's might have lost their starting second baseman in Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Wednesday at the Metrodome.

Despite another bad record, McClatchy to continue running Pirates  —  PITTSBURGH (AP) -Kevin McClatchy will remain as the Pittsburgh Pirates' chief executive officer and managing general partner, even though the franchise hasn't had a winning season since he took control in 1996.

The Ledger Domain  —  Ticket Snub  —  While we're all getting ready to watch some great postseason baseball, an increasing number of fans who haven't invested in advance ticket packages are finding that the only way that they will be able to see games in person is with the help …

All-Brennaman booth  —  The Reds today hired Thom Brennaman to join their radio and TV broadcast teams and signed him to a four-year contract through 2010.  —  Thom will be in the radio booth for "selected" broadcasts alongside his father and also will do television.

Q&A with new Cubs boss: In Hendry he trusts  —  When Tribune Co. was looking for a new man to put at the top of the Cubs' food chain, no one could have predicted they would turn to a lifelong White Sox fan to try to right the ship.  —  "I'm a Cubs fan," John McDonough protested.  "I grew up a White Sox fan."

AFL Preview, Part One  —  The first Baseball Abstract I purchased was in 1985.  One of my favorite pieces in that book was a comparison of the 1984 Detroit Tigers to other great teams of the last 25 years.  In the essay, Bill James compared the players on each position to each other …