Ump's calls upset Sox, Halos  —  Players, managers dispute pair of infield plays  —  ANAHEIM — Close calls created some dispute in Game 1 of the Red Sox-Angels series.  —  At the center of three disputed plays was first-base umpire CB Bucknor, who caught an earful from both managers …

Gaudin would start in ALCS instead of Chamberlain  —  Should the Yankees advance to the ALCS, they are leaning heavily toward using Chad Gaudin rather than Joba Chamberlain as the Game 4 starter, The Post has learned.  —  The Yankees would not finalize plans unless they beat Minnesota.

Burnett: ‘Give me either one’  —  NEW YORK - A.J. Burnett just wanted to get to Friday's start, his first in the postseason, and feel the excitement he waited for his whole career.  But he instead found himself trying to explain away the controversy that will accompany him to the mound against the Twins.

Ninth-inning nightmare  —  October 8, 2009 — Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday is unable to catch a fly ball off the bat of Los Angeles' James Loney for an error in the ninth inning (Chris Lee/P-D)  —  LOS ANGELES — What couldn't happen did happen to the Cardinals Thursday afternoon.

Babe Ruth Like You've Never Seen Him Before  —  SECAUCUS, N.J. — Babe Ruth has struck out looking.  Displeased, he leans on his bat, right hand on his hip, and looks back at the umpire.  He utters something that can only be imagined.  Lou Gehrig, on deck, leans on his bat, too, as if he has seen this act before.

Floyd among three waived by Padres  —  De La Cruz promoted; Burke undergoes surgery  —  The Padres on Thursday requested unconditional release waivers on right-handers Cha Seung Baek, Shawn Hill and outfielder Cliff Floyd and announced they had selected the contract of right-hander Eulogio De La Cruz from Triple-A Portland.

Did Mr. October's magic finally rub off on Alex Rodriguez? (cont.)  —  A Twins tribute  —  The Twins are amazing.  To erase a seven-game deficit in September is incredible.  And to do it without injured slugger Justin Morneau is really incredible.  —  Michael Cuddyer, who replaced Morneau …

Cubs seek ‘Ray’ of hope in Milton Bradley fiasco  —  In shedding OF problem, Tampa's Burrell could fit  —  Tom Ricketts just needs a nod from a bankruptcy judge — business is booming for those guys these days — and he gets the keys to the Cubs, possibly by the end of this month.

Astros to talk to managerial candidates  —  Contact with potential skippers will begin on Friday  —  HOUSTON — The Astros will begin making contact with perspective managerial candidates on Friday, general manager Ed Wade said Thursday.  Houston is looking for a full-time manager after dismissing Cecil Cooper last month.

Chip Caray Is in a Verbal Slump in the TBS Booth  —  In his third season as TBS's No. 1 national baseball announcer, Chip Caray is slightly better than he was two years ago when the network began carrying the league division series.  But that doesn't mean he is a No. 1 announcer.

Rockies and Phillies to play Sunday's Game 4 at 8 p.m.  —  It was a good news-bad news scenario for the Rockies and their fans for Sunday's Game 4 of the NL division series in Denver.  —  Major League Baseball on Thursday said that first pitch for the Rockies-Phillies game Sunday will start …

Nationals cut ties with Cardenal  —  Spent five seasons teaching Minor League outfielders  —  WASHINGTON — Jose Cardenal, a special advisor to the general manager since the 2005 season, was dismissed by the Nationals on Thursday.  He was given the news by assistant general manager Bob Boone.

Wanted by Braves: Big bat, righty preferred  —  We've got some Junior Wells wailing on the stereo, Dodgers-Cardinals muted on the TV, door to the patio open and a nice Punch cigar burning.  It hasn't been a week since the season ended, but doesn't it already feel like long time since the Braves …

De La Rosa to test groin; Hammel OK with snowfall  —  PHILADELPHIA — Jorge De La Rosa sat at his locker Thursday afternoon.  The bruise on his left leg was ugly shades of red and purple.  —  Still, if the Rockies advance to the next round, they could receive a big boost from baseball's most successful starter since June 1.