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 …

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.

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 Readies for First Postseason Start  —  A.J. Burnett of the Yankees will make his first postseason start, against the Minnesota Twins in Game 2 of their division series, on Friday night.  Burnett fielded one question about the Twins during Thursday's workout; he was asked more questions about who would catch him in the game.

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.

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 …

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.

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.

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 …