Cardinals leaning toward Lohse if there's a Game 7  —  • The Cardinals would prefer not to face the decision but for now remain inclined to start Kyle Lohse in a possible Game 7.  —  Lohse endured a third consecutive abbreviated start this postseason during the Cardinals' 16-7 win over the Texas Rangers in Saturday's Game 3.

Ken Griffey Jr. calls Commissioner's Award ‘humbling’  —  Future Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., was honored as the 12th recipient of the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award on Sunday night prior to Game 4 of the World Series in Arlington, Texas.

Baseball on Fox  —  I was writing a quarterback factory post that I hope to have up in a little while, but as these things tend to go I went off on this long discourse about Tim McCarver and baseball announcers that sort of overwhelmed the whole thing.  So I pulled that and use it here.

Ready?  OK, now for the ten best postseason series of all-time:  —  10. 1997 ALCS: Indians over the Orioles in six games.  110.8 points.  —  Did you guess this one?  Me neither.  I'd never heard of this series.  (The late 1990s were a low point for my following of baseball).

Free Agent And Trade Market For First Basemen  —  The Orioles, Rays, Blue Jays, Indians, Cubs, Brewers, Pirates, Cardinals, and Dodgers could be in the market for first base help this offseason.  Despite internal options at the position, the Angels, Mariners, Rangers, Marlins, and Nationals can't escape speculation either.

Thome eager to play again in 2012  —  CLEVELAND—Jim Thome intends to keep moving up baseball's home run list.  —  The 41-year-old slugger on Monday became the first ballplayer to address the City Club of Cleveland since Babe Ruth in 1925 and said he still has the passion to play.

Cubs hoping Theo Epstein brings a cultural shift  —  CHICAGO — “Creating a New Culture” might not have the same ring to it as “Building a New Tradition,” Dallas Green's mantra three decades ago after arriving at Wrigley Field with a mandate of change.  —  But that's exactly what Theo Epstein …

Fifth time the charm for C.J. Wilson?  —  Rangers lefty, winless this October, faces Cards ace Chris Carpenter in Game 5  —  ARLINGTON.  Texas — Rangers starter C.J. Wilson has the movie idol looks and smooth delivery of an “Ocean's 11” headliner capable of being George Clooney's wingman at Lake Como.

Free Agent Stock Watch: Edwin Jackson  —  Last night's seven-walk World Series performance was one to forget for the Cardinals' Edwin Jackson, though the righty certainly isn't turning his attention to free agency yet.  Jackson might be the fourth-best free agent starter this offseason; let's take a closer look.

Joe Torre says MLB may ban alcohol from all big-league clubhouses after Red Sox drinking debacle  —  ARLINGTON - In the wake of the revelations that Red Sox players were drinking beer in the clubhouse during games during their September collapse, Major League Baseball is looking into the idea …

Expert poring over long-lost Philadelphia A's records  —  While Moneyball might be box-office magic, the baseball team at the heart of that hit movie desperately needs to pull a rabbit out of its green-and-gold hat.  —  Fifty-eight years after they abandoned Philadelphia, the Oakland A's are a mess.

Inside the Phillies: Slot for Phillies closer could be wide open  —  It's long forgotten, because the decision Charlie Manuel and Rich Dubee made at the end of spring training had little consequence in an ultimately disappointing season that was not the bullpen's fault.

Pujols certainly will hit the jackpot  —  Let's try to be rational for a moment, even though the history of baseball's free-agent market is practically a case study in irrationality.  —  Let's assume the owners finally figure out that signing free agents into their late 30s almost never is a good idea.