500,000 honor the champs  —  It sounded like one long stadium curtain call.  It looked like a horizonless sea of Cardinal red, as if every available Redbird shirt and hat had been pressed into service.  —  No more games to be played.  But the 2006 season for the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals …

World Series Leaves Lessons to Consider  —  What we learned from the World Series: Pitchers can throw a baseball 60 feet 6 inches with great precision, but add a few feet, and they're recklessly inaccurate.  —  Four times Detroit pitchers failed to throw to first and third bases accurately …

Ten Notable Arizona Fall League Performances  —  Today, I will break down five oustanding performances and five disappointing performances by top prospects in the Arizona Fall League.  It's difficult to generate any meaningful conclusions about a player's development only three weeks after opening day …

Nixon, Kapler file for free agency  —  Pair of gritty, oft-injured outfielders join Mirabelli on market  —  BOSTON — After making a Boston career of tough, gritty play in the outfield, Trot Nixon filed for free agency Sunday.  —  Nixon, along with teammate Gabe Kapler …

Soriano targeted; Pat's pact edible?  —  LIKE EVERYONE else in the Phillies family, president David Montgomery gnashes his teeth when he thinks of the St. Louis Cardinals hoisting the Commissioner's Trophy.  —  Maybe signing Alfonso Soriano, who filed for free agency yesterday …

Soriano, Armas file for free agency  —  Retaining slugger remains top priority; righty uncertain  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals outfielder Alfonso Soriano and right-hander Tony Armas Jr. were two of 24 Major Leaguers who filed for free agency on Sunday.  The Nationals' other three free agents …

Stopper, big bopper high on Cubs' wish list  —  The Cubs' game plan for 2007 might include an audible or two, depending on whether third baseman Aramis Ramirez returns.  —  But acquiring starting pitching and another middle-of-the-order slugger remains their primary objective, regardless of whether Ramirez stays or go.

83 players file for free agency  —  NEW YORK — Washington's Alfonso Soriano filed for free agency Sunday along with San Francisco pitcher Jason Schmidt.  —  Oft-injured Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood also was among 24 players who filed on the second possible day, as was Cardinals backup catcher Gary Bennett …

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 …

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.

Reds' Blogger Chat  —  Alright, the Reds' bloggers got together for another chat and I actually showed up this time.  Most of my comments revolved around how I disgusted I was with Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez getting traded.  I have part three and I'll post the other four parts when they come online.

Van Slyke remains ringless  —  While the rest of the Tigers' traveling party headed back to Detroit after Friday night's fifth game of the World Series, when the Cardinals clinched their 10th title with a 4-2 victory over Detroit, first-base coach Andy Van Slyke was headed home to Chesterfield.