Motor skills  —  Tigers rip Yankees, reach ALCS for first time since '87  —  DETROIT (AP) — As a reborn baseball town erupted in splashes of orange and blue around them, the Detroit Tigers danced in the infield, kicking up dirt like kids on a sandlot.  —  They grabbed Jim Leyland …

Padres defeat Cardinals, 3-1  —  Dominant pitching by Young, key double by Branyan save San Diego from sweep  —  ST. LOUIS - Russell Branyan, Chris Young and Trevor Hoffman saved San Diego, stopping the St. Louis Cardinals from sweeping the Padres in the first round of the NL playoffs.

Nats Are Looking At Baker, Piniella  —  Since the Washington Nationals formally parted ways with Manager Frank Robinson earlier this week, most familiar with the search for Robinson's replacement figured the club wanted a young manager to take over what will, in all likelihood, be a team that struggles through the 2007 season.

Nomar, Thome win comeback awards  —  NEW YORK (AP) - Re-emerging with the Los Angeles Dodgers after two injury-shortened seasons with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, Nomar Garciaparra was voted NL Comeback Player of the Year.  —  Jim Thome was the AL winner in his first season with the Chicago White Sox.

Buck O'Neil, Negro Leagues Pioneer, Is Dead at 94  —  Buck O'Neil, a star first baseman and manager in the Negro leagues and a pioneering scout and coach in the major leagues who devoted the final decade of his life to chronicling the lost world of black baseball, died last night in Kansas City, Mo. He was 94.

Edmonds fights pain for playoff gain  —  Jim Edmonds' most complicated season resumes this morning with a simple, painful truth.  The Cardinals center fielder will arrive at Busch Stadium shortly before 9 a.m. and limp to the trainer's room, where he will accept a needle near the ball beneath his left foot.

Buckner: 'I try to look at it in a positive way'  —  Idaho.  It is called the Gem State for good reason, covered by an amazing landscape, endless vegetation and vast mountains.  —  Today, this is the home of William Joseph Buckner.  He is hardly recognizable in his current attire as the former hard-nosed major leaguer.

Beane just glad it was a short series  —  A's notebook  —  OAKLAND — Billy Beane described the division series as "five hands of blackjack" and didn't look like a man who had just been dealt a 20 for three straight hands.  —  As the wild celebration continued in the A's clubhouse late Friday afternoon …

Fox tries to punch up ALCS telecasts  —  At least one member of the White Sox will be working during the postseason.  Fox Sports has signed catcher A.J. Pierzynski to serve as an in-studio analyst for the American League Championship Series, which begins next week.  He will be joined by host Jeannie Zelasko and Kevin Kennedy.

Cultural Oddsmaker: It's Christmas In Philly!  —  AJ Daulerio's Cultural Oddsmaker runs every Friday.  Email him to let him know what you think.  —  One of the most vivid memories of the infamous J.D. Drew night at Vet Stadium was, at various points during the game, my father and I would just stand up to watch the crowd.