Cardinals secure first title since 1982  —  Weaver pitches gem, and Eckstein plays pivotal role yet again  —  ST. LOUIS — It didn't take 80-plus years.  It only felt that way.  —  The Cardinals won their first World Series championship since 1982 on Friday night, topping …

Giants hire Bochy  —  Longtime Padres manager signs three-year deal  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bruce Bochy had no intention of leaving a winning situation with the San Diego Padres — until the division rival Giants came calling.  —  On Friday, Bochy concluded a whirlwind week with his introduction as San Francisco's manager.

David Eckstein: 'Cute little kid' or 'man of iron?'  —  In the World Series, no one may have stood out more for the Cardinals than their shortest player.  —  David Eckstein, the Cardinals 5-foot-7 shortstop who was playing with a sore shoulder he hurt in the National League Championship Series …

Evans continues to elevate his game  —  Angels prospect playing well in Arizona Fall League  —  Jeremy Bonderman has shown that being traded for Jeff Weaver can help your career.  The young right-hander was a key member of the Detroit staff that has the Tigers in the World Series.

Dodgers hire Conte as head trainer  —  Veteran physical therapist spent 15 years with San Francisco  —  LOS ANGELES — Stan Conte, who spent 15 years with San Francisco and the last seven as head trainer/physical therapist, was named on Friday as the director of medical services and head athletic trainer of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Cubs add three to coaching staff  —  The Cubs added three coaches to new manager Lou Piniella's staff Friday.  Mike Quade will be the third base coach, Matt Sinatro the first base coach and Lester Strode the bullpen coach.  —  Piniella last week hired former Tigers manager Alan Trammell …

Alfonso Soriano: Mets not Expected to Pursue  —  Update: A source familiar with the Mets' thinking believes that the team will not pursue Soriano or Barry Zito, both of whom are free agents, or Manny Ramirez in a trade, the NY Post reports.  —  Recommendation: The Mets' agenda this offseason still …

Hochevar-Pelfrey faceoff foiled again  —  Shoulder discomfort sidelines Hochevar ahead of AFL showcase  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Whenever tall, lanky and talented right-handers Luke Hochevar and Mike Pelfrey are scheduled to share the same mound in the same game, something goes awry.

Skaalen named new hitting coach  —  Brewers hope veteran instructor can cure team's hitting woes  —  MILWAUKEE — The Brewers did not stray far in their search for a new hitting coach.  —  The team promoted from within, naming Minor League hitting coordinator Jim Skaalen to the Major League staff on Friday.

Notes: Franco to coach MLB All-Stars  —  Mets veteran will act as hitting instructor for Japan series  —  PHOENIX — Even at the age of 47, Julio Franco is still an active baseball player.  But over the next couple of weeks, the right-handed hitting reserve of the New York Mets will get a feel …

After whiffing on picks, let's keep swinging  —  Oh-and-four.  Oh-and-freakin'-four.  That's how well I did picking the winners of the Division Series.  —  I got one thing right: I said the postseason would be unpredictable.  It sure was, for moi.  But seriously, I doubt many people picked …