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 …

Divine Plan?  —  Are you there, God?  It's me, Metstradamus.  —  Twenty years ago tonight, the Mets won their last World Series championship thanks in part to Mets icon Mookie Wilson and his ground ball though the legs of Bill Buckner.  —  Twenty years to the day later …

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 …

Yanks waiting on Sheffield decision  —  The Yankees have not yet officially picked up Gary Sheffield's $13 million 2007 option, although they "probably will" in due time, a person familiar with the situation told Newsday.  —  Multiple reports this morning, stemming from a story …

Cubs add three to Major League coaching staff  —  The Chicago Cubs today announced that the club has added Mike Quade as third base coach, Matt Sinatro as first base coach and Lester Strode as bullpen coach.  —  Quade, 49, will also serve as the club's outfield and base running instructor.

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

Ringolsby: Selig properly followed his basic instinct  —  ST. LOUIS - Back in the days when George Steinbrenner made it a part of every October to fire his manager - and, of course, steal headlines from the World Series - Major League Baseball instituted a rule that no major announcements could be made during the Series.

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.

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.

Arizona Fall League Notebook: Oct. 26  —  MESA, Ariz.—Mets righthander Mike Pelfrey is currently having an awakening of sorts in the Arizona Fall League.  —  The book on Pelfrey for much of his first full season, after signing late as New York's first-rounder (and ninth overall) in 2005 …