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.

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 …

Phillies extend Moyer's contract  —  Veteran southpaw signs two-year extension  —  PHILADELPHIA — How long will Jamie Moyer pitch?  —  At least until he's 45, as far as the Phillies are concerned.  —  Philadelphia signed the veteran on Monday to a two-year contract extension worth $10 …

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 …

What's in a Name?  For James Bell, It's A Baseball Lawsuit  —  Ballplayer James "Cool Papa" Bell received his nickname early in his career in the Negro League and carried it until his death in 1991.  To this day streets in Mississippi, the state of his birth, and Missouri, the state of his death, bear the Hall of Famer's moniker.

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 …