Cards Notebook: DeWitt gives nod to La Russa  —  SAN DIEGO — Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt underscored the organization's satisfaction with manager Tony La Russa's performance this season, saying there was "never any thought given" to reviewing the skipper's status had the club not held on to win the National League Central title.

Not a Blue-Plate Special  —  Dodgers come back to tie after a strange double play, but Mets take advantage of Penny in a rare relief role and win the series opener.  —  NEW YORK — The Dodgers have one starter they trust to pitch deep into the game, and he did not.

BOSS NOT IMPRESSED BY METS  —  An ornery George Steinbrenner stormed out of Yankee Stadium shortly after the Yankees game against the Tigers was postponed last night and promptly knocked the league and his team's crosstown rivals.  —  Steinbrenner was asked if he was happy the Mets won …

Heat of the Moment  —  NEW YORK - For all of the talk about Joel Zumaya's eye-popping fastball, it doesn't stand up to the power of his sneeze.  —  Really, that did pop his eye.  Or a blood vessel in his right one, at least.  Doctors call it a subconjunctival hemorrhage …

A-Rod goes 0-for-4 with 3 Ks as Yankees drop Game 2 to Tigers  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Rodriguez strode to the plate and the Yankee Stadium fans cheered as one, imploring him to deliver that elusive clutch hit.  —  Strike one.  Strike two.  Strike three.  —  Another missed chance for baseball's $25 million man.

Abuse charge dropped against Phillies pitcher  —  BOSTON (AP) - An abuse charge against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Brett Myers was dismissed Thursday after his wife said she did not want her husband prosecuted for hitting her in the face during an argument near Fenway Park.

Scully Recalls the Daffy Days of Brooklyn  —  The play, in which two Los Angeles Dodgers were tagged out in succession yesterday by Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca after a single by Russell Martin, was perfectly set up for Vin Scully, working solo in the cramped visitors' radio booth at Shea Stadium.

Dodgers victims of wild double play  —  Mets retire Kent, Drew at home in same second-inning play  —  NEW YORK — Less than nine outs into its duration, the lasting image and memory from this National League Division Series between the Dodgers and Mets may have been created.

Bowden knows how to pick 'em - baseball players, that is  —  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden once helped turn a would-be major leaguer into a Heisman Trophy winner.  —  Bowden isn't likely to get that chance with a certain other baseball player - Minnesota Twins star Joe Mauer.

Judge: Anderson must be freed  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal judge ordered Barry Bonds' personal trainer released from prison Thursday, saying a legal "snafu" had arisen.  —  U.S. District Judge William Alsup said Greg Anderson must be freed, because a federal appeals court hadn't affirmed …

New TBS comedy visits Wrigley Field  —  "My Boys" will feature a sports writer who covers the Cubs  —  CHICAGO — A new TV series about a sports reporter from Chicago shot its final show of the season at Wrigley Field on Wednesday, and the cast was thrilled to be able to step on the field.

Showalter move shows GM is in charge  —  ARLINGTON - On one of his better days as a baseball owner Wednesday, Tom Hicks was nowhere in sight.  —  Hicks, whose success as a hockey owner has not been duplicated in his nine years with the Rangers, took a step toward respectability in baseball …

Eight Ugly Options  —  When attached to long-term contracts, club options are strange things.  In a sense, they are a way for a team to say, "Just in case you perform beyond our wildest dreams, we want to have the chance to pay you another 15 million bucks.  You know, when you're 38."

Weis, Mora, Pratt and ???  —  Perhaps because they are so unexpected, surprise October performances by unlikely heroes seem even more prevalent than examples of the game's biggest stars shining on the postseason stage.  Mets history is littered with such unlikely icons, with the predictable …

Nats' Offseason Focus Is Soriano, New Manager  —  The Washington Nationals have identified their two most important offseason decisions — who to hire to replace ousted manager Frank Robinson, and whether to sign left fielder Alfonso Soriano.  Team officials were apparently working on both fronts yesterday.