MLB, union announce new labor deal  —  New Basic Agreement will run through 2011  —  ST. LOUIS — Major League Baseball and its players association have come to an historic labor agreement that will extend peace between the owners and union for another five years.

Clear as Mud: What Was on Rogers's Hand?  —  Correction Appended  —  The various explanations were as clear as mud or whatever you call that now-you-see-it, now-you-don't substance on the magical left hand of Kenny Rogers.  —  After Rogers led the Tigers to a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals …

Matsuzaka hires Boras  —  Japanese star expected to make jump to MLB  —  Top Japanese League pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka has hired agent Scott Boras to represent his interests in Major League Baseball.  —  Matsuzaka, a right-hander from the Seibu Lions, is expected to be posted, the process by which players jump to the majors.

Nelson De La Rosa, 38, Actor and Good-Luck Charm for Red Sox, Dies  —  Nelson De La Rosa, the diminutive actor who became a good-luck charm for the Boston Red Sox during their victorious 2004 World Series run, died at a hospital in New York on Sunday.  He was 38.

Pendleton bows out of Nats' search  —  Hitting coach cites loyalty to Braves as reason  —  WASHINGTON — Braves hitting coach Terry Pendleton took himself out as a candidate to become manager of the Nationals, informing the club on Monday.  The news comes a day after Joe Girardi took himself …

The Giants, their job, and the thing in the room  —  I'm wondering how the Giants' interview process is going with that elephant in the room.  It must be a little awkward.  —  On Monday, Brian Sabean, Mets coach Manny Acta and the elephant met about the team's vacant managerial job.

Game 3 Matchup: Carpenter vs. Robertson  —  RHP . . . 2006: 15-8, 3.09 ERA, 32 starts  —  Career in postseason: 4-1, 2.98 ERA, seven starts — Career vs. Tigers: 3-4, 7.03 ERA, 11 starts  —  * Including his postseason start against San Diego, Carpenter went 9-4 at home this season with a 1.85 ERA over 131 innings in 18 starts.

Delgado tops Mets' surgery list  —  First baseman, three others go under knife  —  New York Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado, catcher Paul Lo Duca, right-hander Aaron Heilman and infielder Chris Woodward had successful surgery Monday.  —  Delgado had surgery on his right wrist because of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Mischief on the Mound: An Abridged History  —  The moment of truth for Jay Howell in 1988.  Howell's glove had pine tar on it.  —  Major league pitchers have a long history of shenanigans, doctoring baseballs with such substances as sandpaper, thumb tacks, emery boards, pine tar and saliva.

2006 Minor League Free Agents  —  The following is the list of minor leaguers who have been declared free agents following the 2006 season, as provided by Major League Baseball.

Prospectus Matchups  —  Breakin' the Law  —  Mon dieu!  You would think nobody in baseball ever cheated before to hear folks carrying on about Kenny Rogers and his dirty hand.  Remember: this is a game with a long history of players and teams doing untoward things to get the upper...er...hand.

The David Eckstein Memorial Eckstein of the Year Award  —  Finally, they did it.  Major League Baseball and Holiday Inn proudly bring you the David Eckstein Memorial Ecksteiniest Eckstein of the Year Eck-ward, also known as the Holiday Inn Look Again Player of the Year.