Report: Schuerholz expected to step down  —  FOXSports.com, Updated 28 minutes ago  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  The Braves have a major announcement scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET.  —  It's expected that longtime GM John Schuerholz is stepping down and being replaced by his assistant, Frank Wren.

Call Derek Jeter the Teflon Captain  —  Joe Torre would probably like to have the same lifetime pass, because of all the winning he did here, that Derek Jeter does.  And who knows?  Maybe Torre does.  Maybe all the winning will get him over again.  Maybe he can still keep his job …

All signs point to Kielty  —  Barring a sudden change of plans, it appears the Red Sox [team stats] indeed will start Bobby Kielty instead of J.D. Drew [stats] in right field tomorrow night against the Cleveland Indians in the first game of the American League Championship Series.

Looking ahead to pending free agents  —  Future in balance for 13 players who are eligible to file for 2008  —  NEW YORK — Beginning the day after the final game of the World Series, Mets fans can expect vacancies in the 40-man roster to start to open up.

My 2007 MVPs  —  The regular season is over and it's been an exciting one, but now the real season begins—no, not the postseason, the awards season.  Ultimately, of course, none of these awards mean anything—they're just subjective opinion backed by a trophy—but I find it impossible to not get riled up and excited about it.

Stu Scott Breaks Down Poetry Jam on SC  —  What can I possibly add to the ridiculousness of Stu Scott's Garnett-inspired poetry jam from last night?  Let's just say that this is what absolute rock bottom for SportsCenter looks and sounds like.  Prepare to cringe:

Classics of fall created with gut, not brains  —  With a straight face, Rockies manager Clint Hurdle now confidently states a goal that would have caused the Colorado mountains to crumble from laughter only a month ago: "We will not be happy if we don't get to the World Series."  —  And know what?

Peters' influence provides playoffs hint of Oriole Way  —  If you've been paying attention for the past 10 years or so, you've probably noticed that Baltimore is no longer the center of the baseball universe.  —  Maybe it never was, but there was a time when the Orioles …

A-Rod situation of interest to Rangers  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - Now that the New York Yankees have been eliminated from the postseason, the Rangers find themselves in a ticklish position on the sidelines of the Alex Rodriguez contract negotiations.  —  Among the potential options:

My Conversation With Stan Kasten  —  The Baseball Games may well be over for Our Washington Nationals—but this off season may well be as busy as the just concluded 2007 Season.  A New Stadium is on the horizon—scheduled to open in Spring, 2008.  Thousands of Season Ticket Holders need …

Catching on ... and on  —  At 35, Varitek remains productive at plate - and invaluable behind it  —  News item: The Detroit Tigers picked up the $13 million option on catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who turns 36 Nov. 30, for the 2008 season.  "People just throw around other options like you can get anybody …