Lou Piniella cites ‘toll’ of managing  —  NEW YORK - Cubs manager Lou Piniella is only one victory shy of his 1,700th career triumph as manager, but he seems to be weary of the long grind that accompanies the season.  —  “It has been a tough year,” Piniella told the New York Daily News.

Torre in different place from Yanks  —  Skipper on cusp of in playoffs, looking out at former team  —  LOS ANGELES — Estranged Yankees Joe Torre and Don Mattingly are very much alive for postseason glory with the Dodgers, while their former team is done after a 13-year run.

Tigers' Todd Jones to announce retirement  —  After 16 seasons, 319 saves and approximately 250 columns for Sporting News, Todd Jones is retiring from baseball.  —  Jones, who writes about his decision to call it quits in the latest issue of Sporting News magazine, is expected …

Francona: Drew will start tonight  —  When the Red Sox take the field against the Cleveland Indians tonight at Fenway Park, J.D. Drew will be in the lineup for the first time since Aug. 17.  —  Manager Terry Francona revealed this afternoon during his weekly interview with the …

Alvarez in Pittsburgh, set to sign; MLB, union settle grievance  —  MILWAUKEE — Pedro Alvarez, the Pirates' first-round draft pick, is in Downtown Pittsburgh this morning and is expected to sign his contract this afternoon.  —  The parties agreed to terms on a four-year $6,355,000 contract Sunday night …

It's Cashman's Move; the Yankees Want Him Back  —  TORONTO — Brian Cashman spent part of his day Wednesday as the good organizational soldier, representing the Yankees at a news conference to announce a six-year partnership with the Class AA Trenton Thunder.

Senators batting champ Vernon dies at age 90 … Mickey Vernon, who batted .286 over 20 big league seasons, including two batting titles for the Washington Senators, died Wednesday afternoon at Riddle Memorial Hospital in Media, Pa., six days after suffering a stroke.

Pettitte shut down, “kids” to play some, Mussina expected to pitch Sunday  —  Andy Pettitte will not start Saturday.  Pettitte's left shoulder has been “barking” for some time, and since they are out of it, he will be shut down.  He had an MRI done at the start of the last homestand and nothing was found to be structurally wrong.

Aaron recalls making call on Chipper  —  When Hank Aaron leaves you a message to call his southwest Atlanta home as soon as possible, you dial his number even faster than that.  Said the man who is baseball's legitimate home run king instead of that other guy, “Something has just been bothering me, really.

Revitalized Lidge ready to face postseason demons  —  This qualifies as supreme irony.  —  Because Brad Lidge flamed out in the 2005 postseason with Houston, Philadelphia could be a force in the 2008 postseason.  —  The Phillies go into tonight's game against Atlanta with a magic number …

Your 2008 Playoff Roster  —  Here's a short story about a guy named Steve Green.  I shared it briefly in the comments section of the Happ post yesterday.  Steve Green has pitched six innings in his major league career.  He's currently a 30-year-old pitcher for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Gallardo to start tomorrow  —  Right-hander Yovani Gallardo, out since May 1 with a knee injury, will return to action tomorrow night against Pittsburgh, interim manager Dale Sveum just told us.  —  Sveum is trying to piece together a rotation for the final important week of the season …

The Tampa Bay Rays Are Still Adjusting To Success  —  The Rays have been a remarkable story all year and are headed to their first playoff appearance in the short history of the franchise, but they are still adjusting to the center stage of Octoberdom.  The biggest stumbling block for them right now?

Sadly, one play defined Merkle's career, life  —  WATERTOWN, Wis. — Fred Merkle was born in Watertown, Wis., in 1888, but he spent only one year there before his family moved to Toledo, Ohio.  —  Still, that didn't prevent Watertown resident David Stalker from claiming Merkle as the town's very own.