After Game 2, all signs point to Detroit  —  Ladies and gentlemen, we have a series.  —  The Tigers prevailed Thursday in what was, at its core, a must-win affair for the Motown Nine.  Going down 2-0 against the demonstrably superior Yankees would've all but snuffed out their World Series aspirations.

Nats add Baker, Pendleton to search  —  Two added in effort to fine Robinson's replacement  —  WASHINGTON — Add Dusty Baker and Terry Pendleton to the list of candidates who could possibly replace Frank Robinson as manager of the Nationals, according to baseball sources.

Kranitz may stay if he chooses  —  Joe Girardi is gone, but the Marlins want the pitching coach he brought to stay.  —  New manager Fredi Gonzalez spoke with Rick Kranitz on Wednesday, and indications are the Marlins want him back.  First-base coach Perry Hill and hitting coach Jim Presley are strong holdover candidates.

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 …

Rangers players aren't surprised  —  Players say they had a feeling Showalter's firing was coming  —  ARLINGTON - Hours after Buck Showalter was fired Wednesday morning, Rangers players spoke volumes about their relationship with him.  They did it with what they didn't say.

Pirates Q&A with Dejan Kovacevic  —  Q: Fred-dy!  Fred-dy!  —  David Sculley of Sewickley  —  KOVACEVIC: Yeah, this just in: Freddy Sanchez is good.  —  Welcome, one and all, to the season-ending Q&A — a little longer than usual, so that it can be spread over several of the next few Fridays …

Popgun Padres down to last gasp  —  Offense again MIA as Friars fall 2-0; head to St. Louis trying to avoid sweep  —  SAN DIEGO - Getting out of September intact was the hard part for the St. Louis Cardinals, who clinched a division title while stuck in reverse.  —  And the San Diego Padres?

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.

Notes: Brewers claim Balfour from Reds  —  Righty spent 2005 and much of '06 recovering from surgery  —  SAN DIEGO — The Brewers have begun stocking arms for 2007, claiming right-hander Grant Balfour off waivers from Cincinnati on Thursday.  —  Balfour, who turns 29 in December …

Glavine Pitches Like an Ace, Small Ball Does the Rest  —  José Reyes, who was 1 for 3 with a walk, after he hit a single in the sixth inning.  Reyes also had two runs batted in.  —  As the Mets started confronting life without Pedro Martínez and Orlando Hernández, a 290-game winner lurked in the background.

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.