Lackey needs elbow surgery  —  He'll be sidelined for 2012 season  —  Ben Cherington did have one major announcement to make on the day he was introduced as general manager of the Red Sox.  —  Righthander John Lackey has elected to undergo Tommy John elbow surgery, a procedure that will keep him out for the entire 2012 season.

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.

Epstein has open mind on roster  —  Zambrano and Ramirez won't be cut loose from Cubs without due deliberation  —  While Theo Epstein was as non-committal on Tuesday about player personnel decisions as the fate of manager Mike Quade, he did offer some tidbits that could mean he's leaning …

Dodgers' Kuo scratched from Taiwan exhibition  —  Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Hong-Chih Kuo, who has a long history of arm issues, has been scratched from an upcoming five-game exhibition series in his native Taiwan after experiencing discomfort in his left elbow on Monday.

Royals hire Eiland as pitching coach  —  The Royals used today's break in the World Series schedule to announce the hiring of Dave Eiland as their new pitching coach.  —  Eiland, 45, replaces Bob McClure, who was fired one day after the 2011 season concluded following six years in the job.

Darryl Strawberry: '86 Mets tough team  —  Darryl Strawberry has no doubts that the 1986 New York Mets would beat the 1998 New York Yankees.  —  And if there's anyone who should know, it's Strawberry, who played on both championship teams.  —  “There's no question.

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 …

Brian Cashman contract by Halloween?  —  NEW YORK — The New York Yankees and general manager Brian Cashman fully expect to have a new contract signed by Halloween.  —  “It will be done by Oct. 31,” a team official said Tuesday.  —  Since the season ended, Cashman and Yankees officials …

Scioscia says he, ex-Angel Napoli didn't clash  —  Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Tuesday that personality conflicts with catcher Mike Napoli had nothing to do with the January trade that cost the Angels one of the most powerful hitters in the American League and saddled them with the onerous contract of Vernon Wells.

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 …