Zumaya is his own worst critic  —  ST. LOUIS — We forget.  We see their loopy smiles and awkward fist pumps and awestruck embraces and we forget.  —  Not every rookie can step onto a World Series stage for the first time and own it.  —  Sometimes the throat dries and the lines disappear and the fear consumes.

New Agreement Includes Draft, Rule 5 Changes  —  ST. LOUIS — Overshadowed by more wide-ranging issues and the sheer euphoria of an agreement between Major League Baseball and the Players Association being reached with no rancor or threats of a work stoppage, the structure …

Players Union to Yankees: No New Taxes  —  In the negotiations that culminated in a new labor agreement that was announced yesterday, the union had the best interests of George Steinbrenner's checkbook in mind.  Whereas the other clubs are out to get the Yankees' money and inhibit …

Twins' Liriano contemplating elbow surgery  —  The Twins pitcher, unhappy with his rehabilitation progress, left the team's Fort Myers facility to re-examine his options.  —  Still experiencing pain in his left elbow, Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano has left the team's year-round facility …

Delgado is still playing hardball  —  ST. LOUIS - Carlos Delgado, traded to the Mets in the middle of a multi-year deal, has the right to demand a trade.  He again declined to rule that out yesterday, though he may just be angling to get the Mets to guarantee a 2009 option.

Bombers planning to pick up & ship out Sheff  —  ST. LOUIS - The biggest buzz among the few general managers attending the World Series is the silent auction the Yankees have apparently already begun for Gary Sheffield.  It turns out that Yankee GM Brian Cashman had always intended to pick …

A-Rod, Yanks stand united  —  Agent: Brian vows no trades  —  Speculation about the possibility of Alex Rodriguez getting traded will surely linger until he actually takes the field at the Stadium on Opening Day, but the embattled third baseman's agent said yesterday that he has received assurances …

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 …

Dirtgate, Creepy Emails, And Busch Stadium Turns Into Nashville (Again)  —  The Gambler Plays The Cards With A Dirty Hand  —  As the day wore on Monday, many Cardinal fans got more a nd more angry with what happened—and didn't happen—Sunday night in Detroit.

Rock bottom  —  Ex-Sox pitcher Stewart threw it all away when he succumbed to drugs  —  SALISBURY, N.C. — His life gone up in smoke, his eyes vacant, former major league pitcher Sammy Stewart remembers the beginning of the end.  —  "The first time I ever smoked crack was in Framingham …

GM wants Yount back  —  thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com  —  St. Louis - Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin is still optimistic that bench coach Robin Yount will return to the club next season.  —  Melvin, attending the three World Series games here, spoke briefly with Yount …

Winds of change  —  Manager Lou Piniella should consider 4 key categories while deciding how to improve the Cubs  —  ST. LOUIS — During his introductory news conference last week, Lou Piniella vowed to pore over statistics sheets this winter in an effort to determine why the Cubs don't have more success at Wrigley Field.