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.

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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.