Heavenly result for Devil-less Tampa Bay Rays … Devil ... be gone!  —  For 10 years, they were a lousy team with a fiendish nickname: The Tampa Bay Devil Rays.  Then the club exorcised the “Devil” from its name, and suddenly Tampa Bay is in the World Series.

Agent: Prior wants to pitch for Padres  —  Right-hander and native San Diegan hopes feeling mutual  —  SAN DIEGO — More than four months removed from shoulder surgery, Mark Prior is at the stage in his recovery when he's starting to play catch.  —  Soon enough, the 28-year-old right-handed pitcher hopes …

Derek Lowe interested in Red Sox, not Yankees, report says  —  Rumors of a Derek Lowe-to-Yankees move this offseason started before the Dodgers were even eliminated from the playoffs.  However, a recent article in The Boston Globe suggests Derek Lowe has the Boston Red Sox atop his list of places of interest.

Hendry signed to four-year extension  —  Third-longest-tenured Cubs GM won consecutive division titles  —  CHICAGO — Jim Hendry, who has guided the Cubs to the postseason three times during his six full seasons as general manager, has been given a four-year contract extension through the 2012 season.

Mailbag: How will the rotation change?  —  Beat reporter Mark Bowman answers Braves fans' questions  —  Let's say that the Braves are able to get Jake Peavy in a trade.  Do you think they would then go out and get another top-notch pitcher like Derek Lowe or Ben Sheets?

Brewers interview Randolph  —  St. Petersburg, Fla. - I just heard from a very reliable source that former New York Mets manager Willie Randolph was scheduled to be interviewed today for the Brewers' managerial opening.  —  That makes perfect sense because I've written from the beginning …

Cards decline Mulder's $11 million option for '09 … ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals intend to cut ties with often-injured left-hander Mark Mulder, paying a $1.5 million buyout rather than exercising an $11 million option on his contract.  —  General manager John Mozeliak …

BEER & A POTSHOT FOR JOBA  —  SOX INSULT BEFORE DUI  —  By AUSTIN FENNER in Lincoln, Neb., and LEONARD GREENE in New York  —  Taunts about his team's lousy season prompted Yankee pitcher Joba Chamberlain to storm out of a Nebraska strip joint just before he was busted for alleged drunken driving, associates said yesterday.

Phillies fan compiles scorekeeping streak  —  GLEN ROCK, PA. - When Bob Bogart married in 1989, his streak was in its infancy, about 500 games.  —  His new bride couldn't have known it would keep going, that it would last 19 more years and counting, that it would be acknowledged by his heroes.

Mailbag: Can Brewers sign Sabathia?  —  Beat reporter Adam McCalvy answers fans' burning questions … I realize that CC Sabathia will be tough to sign, but is it really that out of the question?  Small market or not, three million fans is still three million fans.

ESPN ISSUED INTERNAL “DO NOT REPORT” WARNING ON FAVRE STORY  —  When we asked for PFT Planet to chime in regarding the possible reasons for ESPN's decision to avoid the story of Brett Favre's coaching internship with the Lions, we never expected to hear from someone at ESPN.  —  But we did.

Van Wieren surprises with retirement  —  Braves broadcaster of 33 seasons decides to make exit  —  ATLANTA — Over the past 33 seasons the Braves have annually changed faces and maintained the same familiar sound provided by Pete Van Wieren and Skip Caray.

TV Ratings  —  Earlier this morning I was chatting with a friend about how Fox probably wanted a Boston-Los Angeles World Series for high ratings.  I noted, however, that lots of people watch baseball in Florida on television.  You can tell because Rays broadcasts often just get back in time for the first pitch of an inning.