Tracy decision 'doubtful' for today  —  Pirates' GM says he needs more time, MLB clearance for announcement  —  The Pirates could deliver their decision on manager Jim Tracy and his staff today, general manager Neal Huntington said yesterday, but two factors could foil that.

Yanks already in fight for playoff lives  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  It feels almost like checkmate.  —  Yankees right-hander Chien-Ming Wang again pitched poorly on the road Thursday night in Game 1 of the AL Divisional Series, losing to the Indians 12-3.  —  Left-hander Andy Pettitte faces …

Duquette resigns from O's  —  Unhappy with role, O's VP will pursue front office position elsewhere  —  Unsatisfied with his role in the Orioles' front office, vice president Jim Duquette resigned today after two seasons with the club.  Duquette had one year left on his contract …

Monster mash  —  After excessive hype, Dice-K focused on task … When Daisuke Matsuzaka arrived in Boston last winter, the Red Sox [team stats] staged an elaborate event that was part press conference, part celebration, part coronation.  Such was the interest in the Sox' new right-hander …

Diamondbacks take Game 2  —  If you saw just one moment, one play, from this game or this series, the full-count pitch from Ted Lilly to Chris Young in the second inning Thursday night would satisfy outcome and circumstance, pathos and bravado.  —  It was a snapshot moment in a series …

ALDS Game 2: Yankees at Indians  —  Here are the lineups:  —  YANKEES  —  Damon LF  —  Jeter SS  —  Abreu RF  —  Rodriguez 3B  —  Matsui DH  —  Posada C  —  Cano 2B  —  Cabrera CF  —  Mientkiewicz 1B  —  Pettitte LHP  —  INDIANS  —  Sizemore CF  —  Cabrera 2B  —  Hafner DH

Red Sox fan assaulted in New York  —  A 25-year-old carpenter from Quincy is in serious condition after he was assaulted outside a Yonkers, N.Y. hotel last night by a group of men he said had earlier asked about his allegiance to the Red Sox.  —  Two men were arrested in the assault, authorities said.

Wang = ace??  —  Whether or not Chien-Ming Wang is or can be an ace eventually, I'm not sure.  He certainly has the wins over the last two seasons to make the argument that he is an ace.  But he also pitches for the team with the best offense in baseball.  And if you look at his road numbers, he's just not dominant.

The Yankees Super Secret Hotel Aliases Revealed  —  If you want a sense of the zeal with which Yankees front-office employees were shoveling as many receipts at taxpayers as possible in 2005 (as reported in this week's Voice), look no further than this: Accidentally included in a stack …