Cardinals take 2-1 lead over Mets in NLCS  —  What does it mean when lightning strikes both sides of Spruce Street within the same block and the same 13 months?  —  What does it mean when a 97-win team glances up from its sixth postseason game to discover its bullpen has worked more than its starting rotation?

Tigers GM draws up championship blueprint  —  DETROIT - Here is the best possible news for the Rangers to come from the baseball playoffs:  —  In Jon Daniels, maybe, just maybe, they have the next David Dombrowski.  They both went to Cornell.  They both were once the youngest general managers in the game.

Lou 'refreshed,' ready to return  —  Piniella says time off from managing has changed his perspective — but his only goal still is to win, and it appears he'll try with Cubs  —  DETROIT — Barring a snag in contract talks that are expected to begin Monday, Lou Piniella will become the next manager of the Cubs.

Pujols pulls no punches  —  Bat, mouth are trouble  —  Albert Pujols had an at-bat to remember last night, one that showcased all of his ability as the game's most dangerous hitter.  In the seventh inning he fouled off six pitches from Guillermo Mota during an 11-pitch at-bat that ended …

With whom will Barry bond?  —  Prospects for 2007 may be problematic  —  Played a name-association game with a National League scout last week.  —  ``Barry Bonds.  Answer: ``Advil.  That's where you start.  Any team thinking about signing Bonds for what should be the historic season …

White Sox still eyeing Rodriguez  —  Now that Joe Torre has come full circle with George Steinbrenner - facing the same "show me what you're made of" edict in the potential final year of his Yankee managerial tenure as he did in his first - his main mission must be to re-establish the …

Hillman again a Rangers candidate  —  Fighters manager will worry about Texas after Japan Series  —  Trey Hillman is trying to keep his priorities straight.  It's been a difficult task lately because of what's happening with the team that he has followed since 1972.

How to fix Yanks  —  So the conclusion was reached that whatever ails the Yankees, Joe Torre isn't the problem.  At least not so much of a problem that another manager is the solution.  —  It will be Torre's charge to confer with Brian Cashman and the rest of the brain trust to find …

Gonzo journalism  —  Fox drops ball with Luis in booth  —  Fox's Jeanne Zelasko and Kevin Kennedy got all self-righteous a couple of weeks ago while attacking the veracity of a Los Angeles Times report that revealed names said to appear on the affadavit from the federal investigation of Jason Grimsley and his alleged HGH distribution.

It's all about the arms  —  Even as the postseason goes on without the Yankees, here and in St. Louis and so splendidly in Detroit early yesterday evening, here is a daring prediction for next season:  —  The Yankees win the American League East again.  —  Yankee fans are hoping for more …

Krivsky offers Twins peek  —  Reds insider  —  The firing of Chris Chambliss was the latest move in the "Minnesota-ization" of the Reds.  If the Minnesota-ization continues we could see bigger moves.  —  Let's explain the Minnesota-ization theory.  —  Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky worked …