Drew wins postseason play of the year  —  Outfielder's slam in Game 6 of ALCS voted TYIB's top play  —  BOSTON — Yes, there was some amount of dread when a bases-loaded, nobody-out rally suddenly became two outs and the batter left to rescue the Red Sox and salvage some runs was J.D. Drew.

Jeter warns against rush to judgment on Clemens  —  Two of Roger Clemens' teammates on the New York Yankees defended the embattled pitcher on Thursday, the same day his lawyer unleashed another attack on media reports linking the seven-time Cy Young Award winner with the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Brian Schneider wants cheaters caught  —  Brian Schneider has friends and former teammates who were named in the Mitchell Report, and he's replacing another, Paul Lo Duca, as the Mets' starting catcher.  —  On Thursday, Schneider displayed no sympathy for those implicated in baseball's ongoing performance-enhancing drugs mess.

Election 2013 (or Later): Debates Already in Swing  —  The future is uncertain for Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.  Bonds could end up in prison if he is found guilty of felony charges of perjury or obstruction of justice for lying to a grand jury about using steroids.

Notes: Rangers close on Guardado?  —  GM Daniels also looking to shore up the rotation, outfield  —  ARLINGTON — Reliever Eddie Guardado appears to be what the Rangers are getting for Christmas.  —  The Rangers are still trying to upgrade their bullpen and are expected to have something done …

ALEX RODRIGUEZ HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE  —  Back in the day.. Before Alex Rodriguez fired Scott Boras, before Alex Rodriguez opted out of his Yankees contract during the World Series, before Jose Canseco said he had steroid related dirt on A-Rod, before Alex was seen with the chick with the tig 'o bitties …

Final column wraps up a lifetime in baseball  —  After 25 years this is my final column for USA TODAY.  There have been nearly 2,600 of them — some good, some awful, but none lacking my dedication and enthusiasm to inform and entertain our readers about the best game ever created.

Tribune Co. to sell Cubs before season  —  New CEO also says naming rights to Wrigley might be sold  —  CHICAGO — Tribune Co.'s new CEO Sam Zell said the Cubs will be sold by Opening Day, and that he may sell naming rights to Wrigley Field because such rights could be “extraordinarily valuable.”

MitchellReport has upside  —  Once the court of public opinion takes a deep breath and realizes the Mitchell Report is a he-said, she-said document, there is some value that can be taken from it.  —  No, commissioner Bud Selig can't suddenly start handing out suspensions, given the lack of legal verification of Mitchell's accusations.

AN INTERACTIVE FEATURE ON THE MITCHELL REPORT.  —  Sen. George Mitchell's 409-page report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball describes a thriving underground market for steroids and human growth hormone.  What began with just a few players and trainers expanded into a network of dozens …

Olney: Yanks plan to start Joba in the pen  —  Scroll past the PED talk in Buster Olney's latest blog entry, and you will arrive at a tidbit about Joba Chamberlain.  The Yankees, Olney reports, plan to start the season with Joba in the pen.  They just can't quit him. … Our initial reaction is one of fear.

Padres make case as front-runners for ex-Cubs ace Prior … The San Diego Padres appear to be the front-runner to sign pitcher Mark Prior, who figures to make a final choice among many offers very soon, perhaps within the next 24-48 hours.  —  The Padres have offered a modest base salary plus …