La Russa takes responsibility for bullpen call  —  Cards manager Tony La Russa said “it was his fault” on the confusion over calls to the bullpen in the eighth inning of Game 6 on Monday.  —  “There wasn't anything that Derek (Lilliquist) did wrong there,” La Russa said today.  “I've told him that.

Farewell, Red Sox Nation  —  I gave everything I had to the team and received even more in return  —  Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein gestures to fans during the 2004 World Series Championship parade.  (File 2004/Bill Greene/Globe Staff)  —  I GREW up in Brookline just down the road …

YOCUM EXAMINES LACKEY; ‘RESOLUTION’ NEAR  —  According to multiple industry sources, Red Sox right-hander John Lackey recently visited Dr. Lewis Yocum in California to have his right elbow examined.  According to one of the sources, the Red Sox are expecting “a final resolution” …

MLB accuses Frank McCourt of ‘looting’ $189 million from Dodgers  —  As the bankrupcty case moves forward, a slew of court filings on Monday show that beating victim Bryan Stow will be central to the arguments and outcome in court.  —  For the first time, Major League Baseball put …

Cashman has meeting with Hal Steinbrenner  —  Yankees GM confident of new deal before Monday's expiration  —  NEW YORK — Yankees general manager Brian Cashman met with managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner on Monday in New York, and a new contract for the GM is expected to be agreed upon before next Monday.

Twins Decline Option On Joe Nathan  —  The Twins announced today that they've declined their club option on reliever Joe Nathan.  The option was worth $12.5MM, but the team will pay a $2MM buyout. … Nathan signed a four-year contract extension for $47MM in March of 2008, and the total remains the record for a reliever.

Cardinals in need of another World Series comeback  —  By Associated Press / World Series Notebook  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — The St. Louis Cardinals are going to need a comeback in this World Series.  —  They've done it before.  —  After a 4-2 loss in Game 5 on Monday night against the Texas Rangers …

It's the Hardball Times Annual 2012  —  It's gone, out of my hands—sent away to be forever committed to paper.  There's nothing I can do about it anymore.  What is it?  It's The Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2012, our eighth Annual in a row.  And this year, it's different.

A's Release Wuertz, Claim Scribner, Hunter  —  The A's announced that they released Michael Wuertz to create 40-man roster space for right-hander Evan Scribner and outfielder Cedric Hunter, who were claimed off of waivers from the Padres.  The A's held a $3.25MM option for Wuertz in 2012 …

Minor Moves: Johnson, Maysonet  —  Here are today's minor moves...  - Padres catcher Rob Johnson has cleared outright waivers and elected free agency, according to MLB.com's Corey Brock (on Twitter).  Johnson, 28, posted a .190/.259/.285 line in 199 plate appearances as San Diego's backup catcher in 2011 …

Where were you for Game 6?  —  Focus on Sports/Getty Images The Mets weren't the only ones jubilant when Ray Knight scored the winning run in Game 6 of the World Series.  —  We asked Mets bloggers, a couple of our ESPN friends and an ex-Mets employee to reminisce about Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.