In Perry's Book, a Brown Smudge Is Not a Black Mark  —  Gaylord Perry, that master of doctoring a baseball who was just as much a master of making batters think he was doctoring it, has no doubt about what Kenny Rogers smeared across the palm of his left hand in the World Series.

Cubs name Alan Trammell bench coach  —  The Chicago Cubs today announced that six-time American League All-Star shortstop Alan Trammell has agreed to a two-year deal to be the Cubs bench coach and infield instructor.  —  Trammell, 48, spent his 20-year Major League career with the Detroit Tigers …

Randolph Is Excited About the Progress the Mets Made  —  Healing has come in small doses for Willie Randolph.  A shopping jaunt with his wife, Gretchen.  An excursion to some farms in northern New Jersey.  A day of watching football.  —  And the bottom of the fourth inning of Game 2 of the World Series.

Rogers better at Comerica, but is the success legit?  —  DETROIT — The conspiracy theory is as follows.  Kenny Rogers is scuffing his pitches.  But he only bothers to do so when he pitches at Comerica Park.  That's why Jim Leyland has engineered his rotation throughout the postseason to ensure that Rogers pitches at home.

Right mix made Mets winners  —  New additions and clubhouse chemistry gave team its swagger  —  NEW YORK — In the early morning hours following the end of the National League Championship Series, David Wright was parked in a New York restaurant, looking back with some of his Mets teammates on the season that was.

Philies sign lefty Moyer, 43, to two-year extension  —  Jamie Moyer will be 44 when the 2007 season starts, but the Phillies are banking that he has two more strong seasons remaining in his left arm.  —  Philadelphia signed Moyer to a two-year, $10.5 million extension Monday.

Monday Morning Ten Pack 10/23/06  —  1B Mike Carp, North Shore Honu (Hawaii Winter League, Mets)  —  Carp had a very good year in the High-A Florida State League, batting .287/.379/.450 for St. Lucie.  Not eye-popping numbers, but after considering the league, scout appreciation for his size …

The cap that killed the Cardinals?  —  Pine tar, gum, shoe polish, "a big clump of dirt" — whatever Kenny Rogers had out there Sunday night, Uni Watch thinks everyone's looking for it in the wrong place.  Instead of poring over still shots of Rogers' hand, take a look at his cap.

Top Candidate Withdraws  —  Citing Family, Girardi Won't Seek Nats' Job  —  Former Florida Marlins manager Joe Girardi, considered for weeks the favorite to become the next manager of the Washington Nationals, took his name out of consideration for the job yesterday, saying it was a decision based …

World Series Notebook: Does Matsuzaka want to join Ichiro?  —  Yankees expected to battle Mariners for star pitcher  —  DETROIT — The World Series, as always, is a celebration of the two teams that outlasted the other 28 to make it into the second half of October.

Francona hospitalized with infection  —  Red Sox manager will be unable to manage All-Stars in Japan  —  BOSTON — Just three days after accepting an invitation to manage a Major League All-Star team on a tour of Japan, Red Sox manager Terry Francona had to withdraw because of an infection …

Exclusive Interview w/ Steve Lyons on firing  —  Steve Lyons has had better days in his life.  After 11 years with Fox Sports, the broadcast analyst was fired shortly after Game Three of the ALCS between the Tigers and the A's for what Fox deemed as "making comments on air …

Indians name Ross Atkins director of player development  —  Spent the last three seasons as the director of Latin American operations; Pitched in the Tribe's minor league system from 1995-99  —  CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians today announced Ross Atkins has been named director of player development.