Cards one win from title after thriller  —  Eckstein's RBI double puts away Tigers in Game 4  —  ST. LOUIS — They waited out yet another rain delay.  They waited out an early deficit and some shaky command by starting pitcher Jeff Suppan.  They waited, and waited, and waited, for David Eckstein to get sorted out.

Bochy takes job as Giants manager  —  Padres assembling list of candidates  —  Manager Bruce Bochy and the San Francisco Giants agreed last night on a three-year contract, leaving the Padres without a manager for the first time since 1994.  —  Bochy, the Padres' all-time leader in wins …

Opening the Flood-gates  —  Just like in '68 Series, a slip in the outfield proves big  —  ST. LOUIS (AP) — Curt Flood and Curtis Granderson will be forever linked for their World Series flops on the outfield grass in St. Louis.  —  In 1968, Flood took a tumble at old Busch Stadium …

FACE IT, YOU JUST CAN'T KEEP SHEFF SATISFIED  —  All you need to know about Gary Sheffield is that he was furious in spring training that the Yankees would not pick up his 2007 option and now he is furious that they are planning to pick up the $13 million option.

SOURCE: METS NOT GUNNING FOR BIG 3  —  Two big names - Barry Zito and Alfonso Soriano - will be free agents this fall, and a third big name, Manny Ramirez, could available in a trade.  But right now, according to a source familiar with the situation, the Mets are not interested in pursuing any of them.

Donnie next to Joe  —  Both as bench coach in '07 and top candidate to be Torre's successor  —  Guessing Joe Torre's successor has long been a parlor game for Yankees fans.  But never in Torre's 11 years as Yankees manager has a plan for succession seemed as clear as it does now.

RANGERS NOTES  —  Hillman ready to start process  —  ST. LOUIS — Trey Hillman, one of five candidates for the Rangers' managerial opening, is through managing the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in the Japan Series.  The Fighters won the best-of-seven championship four games to one with a 4-1 win Thursday over the Chunichi Dragons.

Uribe said to be in the clear soon in homeland shooting  —  Sources close to Juan Uribe said Thursday that the White Sox shortstop is expected to be cleared by the end of the weekend in a shooting investigation.  —  Uribe has maintained his innocence since he first was named in the shooting …

Plan aims to tame wild cards  —  St. Louis - When the general managers meet in Naples, Fla., in two weeks, there will be a lively discussion about taming the wild card.  —  Commissioner Bud Selig has broached the idea of making it more difficult for wild cards to win the World Series.

Credit Where It's Due  —  Black is white, up is down, cats chase dogs, boy bands play instruments, David Samson and I are going out for a beer, Paris Hilton is judged on merit and Britney Spears on her music.  —  Why not?  I'm about to do the unthinkable (doubtless my editors are thinking …

Devil Rays lose bright prospect  —  Canoe accident claims life of Minor Leaguer Erik Walker  —  The days of searching and dwindling hopes finally came to an end on Thursday morning, when Devil Ray Erik Walker's body was found.  He was 23 years old.  —  Walker, who just turned 23 on Oct. 15 …

If Aaron Sorkin wrote a show about baseball  —  This is how I imagine a typical scene would go.  —  EXT.  KAUFFMAN STADIUM — NIGHT … LEO  —  You can't get a good lobster in this town.  —  DANNY  —  Last I checked we were in Kansas City.  —  LEO

Focus turns to stadium  —  With labor negotiations completed, Major League Baseball officials plan to focus on the Marlins' unresolved stadium issue during the next two months.  —  MLB President Bob DuPuy said two representatives of baseball were in Miami this past week.