Hendry: 'Lou is the perfect guy'  —  Piniella, Cubs agree on three-year deal worth $10M-$12M  —  After two weeks of pink slips and resignation letters littering the landscape at Wrigley Field, the last-place Cubs are relieved to finally be announcing some good news today …

Turner, MLB reach 7-year TV deal for LCS coverage  —  NEW YORK (AP) — TBS will alternate showing the NL and AL championship series for seven years starting next season under a television deal with Major League Baseball announced Tuesday.  —  Turner Broadcasting System paid about $310 million for the package.

Cards seem to have edge in best-of-three affair  —  ST. LOUIS - The postseason hardly is proceeding according to form, but if the pitching matchups mean anything, the Cardinals hold a clear edge now that the National League Championship Series boils down to a best-of-three.

Bochy to interview for San Francisco job  —  With Padres' OK, manager to talk with GM Sabean today or tomorrow  —  ST. LOUIS - For the second consecutive autumn, an upper-level member of the Padres' management team will interview with a National League West rival less than six weeks after San Diego won the West.

Arrest warrant issued for Sox's Uribe  —  Lawyer says shortstop wasn't at place where shooting happened  —  An arrest warrant was issued Monday for White Sox shortstop Juan Uribe in connection with a shooting Friday night that wounded two men in the Dominican Republic.

Rangers to interview A's Washington  —  ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Oakland Athletics third base coach Ron Washington will be the first of at least five candidates interviewed for the Texas Rangers' managerial vacancy.  —  Washington, a coach with the A's the past 11 seasons, will interview Tuesday.

Lyons to Keep Part-Time Dodgers Job  —  Steve Lyons, fired by Fox for on-air comments the network deemed inappropriate, will keep his job as a part-time television commentator for the Dodgers.  —  The team, in a statement issued Monday, said Lyons would undergo diversity training and that he was given probationary guidelines.

A Game 1 could go to Duque  —  ST. LOUIS — If the Mets do advance to the World Series, Orlando Hernandez seems likely to be their starting pitcher for Game 1 Saturday in Detroit.  —  Before last night's rainout, the logical choice would have been Tom Glavine.

Sox land pitching coach — Farrell leaves Indians to guide staff  —  John Farrell, the 44-year-old credited with much of the success for the talented young arms in the Cleveland Indians organization, will get a chance to do the same for the Red Sox.  Farrell was named the team's pitching coach yesterday.

Marcos Bretón: Manager's job is overrated  —  Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1  —  Ken Macha took the A's further than any Oakland manager in 14 years — to the American League Championship Series — and got fired anyway Monday.  —  But who really cares?

Where Did the Mets Come From?  —  Since playing in the World Series six years ago, the New York Mets have been a perennial disappointment, going 377-431 over the next five years and not returning to the postseason until this season, as a combination of homegrown stars and bigmoney free agents cruised to the National League East title.

Yankees pitcher Lidle mourned at service  —  COVINA, Calif. —Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle was remembered as "a loving husband and an awesome father" Tuesday at a memorial attended by family, friends and teammates of the avid yet inexperienced pilot who was killed during an aerial tour of New York City.

Phils manage to send Manuel clear message  —  The team's three new coaches have a wealth of experience.  —  ST. LOUIS - If Pat Gillick's lukewarm endorsement on the final day of the regular season wasn't enough to make you believe that Charlie Manuel's seat will he hotter than a waffle iron come April …

Protrade: Is there a carryover?  —  September success does not mean October victories … This is one of the oldest and most reliable adages in sports.  But is it really true?  —  The baseball-writing establishment certainly thinks so.  Google the phrase "St. Louis Cardinals 2006 collapse" …

The Best Fans In Baseball  —  Watching the middle of this Championship Series has been slightly odder for me than it would be if it were taking place anywhere else in the National League.  The ridiculously retentive reader will recall that my midsummer jaunt in 2006 was to the very same Busch Stadium we focus on now.

So far, SNY's on-site show a hit  —  The Mets' victory Sunday ensured that the playoff circus will be back in town tomorrow, and that its most unusual sideshow will return to Gate A outside Shea Stadium.  —  Clearly, SNY's pre- and postgame shows have gotten an energy jolt from Gary Cohen …