Rogers' smudge leaves lots of issues  —  ST. LOUIS - Revise the script.  Rewind to Sunday night, Game 2 of the World Series.  —  FOX cameras detect a brown splotch on the left hand of Tigers pitcher Kenny Rogers in the first inning.  And Cardinals manager Tony La Russa goes nuts.

World Series ratings hit record low for opener, rebound for Game 2  —  ST. LOUIS (AP) — Television ratings for the World Series hit a record low for the opener, then rebounded for Game 2.  —  The St. Louis Cardinals' 7-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night received …

Catch him if you can  —  "All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand."  —  I figured that quote was appropriate since the discovery of a smudge on Kenny Rogers' pitching hand in Game 2 is being treated as a tragedy of Shakespearian proportions.

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 …

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.

Four Mets undergo successful surgeries  —  Floyd, Hernandez set to be operated on Wednesday  —  NEW YORK — They turned into the Met-icals on Monday.  Four days after their elimination from the postseason, the Mets began offseason repairs.  —  Four players underwent surgery …

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

Monroe's Doctrine  —  When he takes his position in left field at Comerica Park in Detroit, Craig Monroe has the likeness of Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg looking over his shoulder from left center field.  —  That is, he used to have Greenberg looking over his shoulder.  Now, it's more like the two are eye to eye.

Labor deal to be unveiled  —  ST. LOUIS — Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Assn. intend to announce tonight that they have agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement that will run through 2011, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.