Soriano, Schmidt highlight latest free-agent filings  —  NEW YORK — Washington's Alfonso Soriano filed for free agency Sunday along with San Francisco pitcher Jason Schmidt.  —  Oft-injured Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood and Rangers All-Star center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. also were among 24 players …

An M.V.P. Cast in Billy Martin's Image  —  Whitey Eckstein clutches a pair of rosary beads that were blessed by Pope John Paul II as he watches his son David play for the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.  Whitey watches and prays, watches and prays some more.  —  All the while, Whitey watches television in awe.

Giants' Bochy knows the drill  —  Born into a military family, S.F.'s manager has done his share of moving  —  It's a daily spectacle at San Diego Padres games.  —  The camouflage-clad Marines enter the upper deck at Petco Park in boot-stamping unison, fill up an entire section …

Rangers to interview manager of Japanese team  —  Trey Hillman is former Rangers farm director  —  The Rangers plan to interview Trey Hillman for their managerial opening in person in Arlington Tuesday.  Hillman is in the fourth year as manager of the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan.

A-Rod situation as fluid as words  —  In late January of 2004, a month or so after his long-discussed trade to the Red Sox publicly fell to pieces, Alex Rodriguez and the Texas Rangers put an end to all the trade rumors.  —  After a five-hour meeting in a New York hotel suite …

Reds see three opt for free agency  —  Clayton, Weathers among 59 league-wide to file  —  CINCINNATI — Reliever David Weathers was among three Reds players to file for free agency on the first day on Saturday.  —  Shortstop Royce Clayton and pitcher Jason Johnson were also among …

Market forces will play out  —  Sides try to gauge effects of new deal  —  The Players Association will hold an informational session with player agents Tuesday to review the new Basic Agreement it reached with baseball owners.  Management has already been given the 70-plus-page agreement …

Wright's Excellent Adventure to Continue in Japan  —  David Wright played in 164 of the Mets' 172 games this season, and still that was not enough.  The promise of another hit will lure him halfway around the world, to Japan, as part of a major league exhibition tour that is scheduled to begin Thursday.

Rangers take note: Titles are won with pitching  —  DETROIT - Pay attention, Tom Hicks.  Take notes, Jon Daniels.  An important lesson just finished its prime-time run right in front of your eyes each night — when it wasn't raining — on national television.  —  You want to win the World

Five Phillies opt for free agency  —  Lieberthal, Wolf file on first day of eligibility  —  PHILADELPHIA — With the end of the World Series comes the dawn of the free agency filing period, and the possible end for two career Phillies.  —  Mike Lieberthal and Randy Wolf were among …

Arizona Fall League Notebook: Oct. 27  —  MESA, Ariz.—Since Trevor Crowe was in high school, he always had that certain confidence, that swagger, as a huge part of his game.  —  He had it for three years at Arizona, and carried it over to his pro debut after being a first-round pick in 2005.

Leyland laments Tigers' bat futility  —  People will talk about the five errors by Detroit Tigers pitchers.  They will talk about the slip by Curtis Granderson in Game 4.  They will talk about the long layoff and the nasty weather.  —  "It's a shame that the punch line from this World Series …

Royals get good news on Hochevar  —  Kansas City taking cautious approach with prized pitcher  —  KANSAS CITY — Nothing serious.  That's the prevailing diagnosis after Royals pitching prospect Luke Hochevar was examined Friday in Kansas City.  —  "It's a shoulder strain," …

La Russa works the numbers game  —  Left to slot the Cardinals' versatile collection of sometime starters and would-be role players into a lineup for each World Series game, manager Tony La Russa has let his pen follow the diving rod of numbers.  —  Preston Wilson's strong numbers get him a string of starts.