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 agrees in principle to become Giants' new manager  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Diego Padres manager Bruce Bochy has agreed to become the new skipper of the San Francisco Giants, and was still working out details Thursday night after meeting with team officials most of the day.

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 …

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.

PETTITTE MIGHT BE AN OPTION  —  Scott Boras recently made the case for having veteran, top-notch, left-handed starting pitching to thrive in the postseason, and noted the New York teams, the Yanks particularly, could use such a creature.  —  His angle was clear.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Russell interested in Nationals job  —  Veteran baseball man likes the way Washington is headed  —  John Russell said on Thursday he would like to manage the Nationals for the 2007 season and beyond.  Washington received permission from the Phillies to talk to Russell, but an interview has not been scheduled.

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.