Steinbrenner Takes Another Day to Decide on Torre  —  If George Steinbrenner had acted on his impulse after the Yankees' swift playoff exit Saturday, Joe Torre would already be a former Yankees manager.  But Steinbrenner took a second day to contemplate Torre's fate, which could only be an encouraging sign for Torre.

Twins pick up $12 million option on Hunter for '07  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Torii Hunter will be back with the Minnesota Twins for at least one more year.  —  The Twins said Tuesday they picked up Hunter's $12 million option.  —  Hunter, 31, a five-time Gold Glove winner in center field, was a big part of the Twins' AL Central title.

Patient Tigers put away A's in Game 1  —  Detroit raps 11 hits en route to ALCS-opening victory  —  OAKLAND — Work the count.  Wear down the pitcher.  Get guys on base, hit them along and get them in.  —  On most nights of the season, it's the "Moneyball" variation that the A's have ridden …

Transcript: Willie on Cliff, Carlos, Etc.  —  Q. Can you just update us on Cliff's status and when and if you've made a decision.  —  WILLIE RANDOLPH: He had a nice little workout, swung the bat well in BP, and we're going to just wait until tomorrow to decide when he comes in.

White Sox Have New Start Time: 7-Eleven  —  It is not easy to conjure $500,000 out of the ether, but the Chicago White Sox have discovered a way.  Their financial trick was really quite simple.  —  They changed their evening game times at U.S. Cellular Field.

Nomar is TSN Comeback Player of '06  —  First baseman honored by peers after rebound season  —  LOS ANGELES — Dodgers first baseman Nomar Garciaparra has been named winner of The Sporting News National League Comeback Player of the Year in voting by fellow National League players.

Harrington Signs Deal With The Cubs  —  After six years, five draft selections and three independent league teams, Matt Harrington is finally headed to affiliated baseball.  —  Harrington, the seventh overall pick in the 2000 draft, signed a minor league contract with the Cubs …

MLB unveils roster for Japan tour  —  Philadelphia's Howard highlights collection of stars  —  Not all Major Leaguers will have their bats and gloves packed up in November.  A star-studded crew, led by Phillies slugger Ryan Howard, will go on a six-game tour of Japan.

Tired of waiting  —  So, I tried to watch Monday Night Football last night, I really did.  I had my Goldfish, my cantaloupe, my cheese and my mystery meat all set up for the game.  Alas, it was not a Mets playoff game, and thus my interest soon waned, I became a touch sleepy and the next thing …

On Fox, Sour Notes From a Pair of Veteran Voices  —  It was difficult not to see that the left-hander Tyler Johnson had come in to relieve for the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday night.  —  His name is on the back of his uniform.  Fox flashed up a graphic.  To paraphrase the old umpire Jim Honochick …

NY Yankees: Liars, cheats & gangsters  —  You'd never guess it by visiting the NY Yankees website, but this team was founded by a corrupt bunch of politicians and swindlers at the turn of the century.  No seriously...we're talking Gangs of New York type thugs.

Nazty  —  VILE ... Croatia fans make human swastika  —  CROATIA could be kicked out of Euro 2008 if fans abuse England's black players tomorrow.  —  Soccer chiefs fear trouble after 200 of their supporters formed a human swastika at a friendly in Italy.  —  UEFA's William Gaillard warned: "We won't tolerate racism.

Mailbag: How did Reds fare in trades?  —  Beat writer Mark Sheldon answers Reds fans' questions  —  Welcome to the first edition of the Reds offseason mailbag.  —  Each Monday I'll try to answer your questions about the Reds season that was and the one upcoming.

Yankees' Rotation, Old and Ineffective, Needs an Overhaul  —  Nothing against Mike Mussina, but he is the symbol of the Yankees' failure to win the World Series the last six years.  If George Steinbrenner is seeking a scapegoat, make it Mussina.  —  Mussina joined the Yankees as a free agent six years ago.