Schilling: ‘There Are No Fakes and Frauds In October’  —  Curt Schilling visited the Dennis & Callahan Show on Thursday morning to discuss the shape of the Red Sox and the baseball landscape as the playoffs approach.  Schilling discussed whether Josh Beckett or Jon Lester should start an ALDS Game 1 …

Best (and worst) of the playoff rotations  —  Starting pitching often rules in October, and that should bode well for the Red Sox  —  When you think of October, you think of Josh Beckett pitching a Game 6 shutout in Yankee Stadium.  You think of Cole Hamels, carving his own little slice of Mr. October history.

Tigers' Verlander strikes out 11 as Indians drop 11th straight  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — Justin Verlander (FSY) pitched the Detroit Tigers closer to a division title and pushed the Cleveland Indians within one loss of matching a franchise record for futility with a 6-5 win on Thursday night.

Rizzo chats with Nationals fans  —  GM discusses future of team, including Strasburg's role in 2010  —  Mike Rizzo: Welcome to today's chat.  I'm looking forward to answering your questions.  Here we go.  —  wilnieves: Elijah Dukes has been playing well since returning from Triple …

After a Disappointing First Season, Girardi Adjusts  —  Joe Girardi's hair is the color of steel, buzzed close to his scalp, suited for the military.  The reason is that anything else would look frizzy.  But the haircut, it seems, has always informed the narrative.

Pirates Claim Anthony Claggett  —  The Pirates claimed pitcher Anthony Claggett off waivers from the Yankees, according to a press release.  The Yanks had designated him for assignment ten days ago.  Claggett, a 25-year-old righty, was acquired by the Yanks from Detroit in the Gary Sheffield deal in November of '06.

Sox' low-key finish to '09  —  Subdued Williams says going with youth led to miscues  —  Ken Williams' team hadn't been officially eliminated yet, but the White Sox' general manager gave his end-of-the-season address to reporters Wednesday at U.S. Cellular Field.  On the Kenny Meter of Rage, this one barely moved the needle.

Rookie Anderson wins fourth straight as A's split series with Rangers  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers have gotten to know each other better this month — as in seven meetings in 11 days.  —  Last-place Oakland won five of those games and put a big damper on Texas' wild-card hopes in the process.

Giants win, likely to decline Freddy Sanchez option  —  PHOENIX — Freddy Sanchez will require surgery after the season to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, making it almost automatic that the Giants, 5-2 winners over Arizona on Wednesday, will decline their $8.1 million option on the two-time All-Star second baseman.

Greinke is a Good Pitcher - Not Dominant  —  Zack Greinke didn't really impress me last night.  He pitched well and maybe I caught him on a bad night, but to me he didn't seem dominant.  Greinke has may have the lowest ERA in the AL since Pedro Martinez in 2000, but he doesn't strike …

Can you trust any national baseball writer?  —  National baseball columnists offer opinions on the Dodgers that you might or might not agree with.  That's just the way it is.  —  Too often, however, their opinions are based on factual errors that, while not intentional, clearly reflect a lack of familiarity with the team.

Updates: Red Sox at Royals  —  THAT WAS CLOSE (11:25, BOT 8, 6-3 SOX)  —  Saito walked Olivo to score a run, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate.  Gordon grounded to Kotchman at first, who started a 3-6-1 double play, Saito reaching first just before Gordon dove head first into the bag.

Adding two more playoff spots would spice up baseball's final month … All things considered, baseball has done a remarkable job holding the means.  —  There have been no legitimate races per se, no media storyline despite Albert Pujols, Joe Mauer and Derek Jeter, and still attendance …

Pujols is TSN's Player of the Decade  —  Slugger topped a .300 average in each of his nine seasons  —  The Sporting News announced its Major League Player of the Decade on Thursday, and there was little in the way of surprise.  —  That honor was bestowed upon Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols …

The Dying Art of the Ballpark Tantrum  —  In a game last month, Shane Victorino of the Philadelphia Phillies was standing in centerfield when the home-plate umpire reared up and gave him the hook.  Apparently, Mr. Victorino had made one too many gestures of disapproval at the umpire's ball-and-strike calls.

Hairston update: Day-to-day  —  This from the Yankees: