Cubs Hire Mike Quade  —  The Cubs signed manager Mike Quade to a two-year deal with a club option for 2013, according to the team.  Quade, 53, became Chicago's interim manager on August 23rd after Lou Piniella retired.  He was the team's third base coach from 2007-10 after managing the Triple-A Iowa Cubs for four seasons.

Mets will not pay closer Francisco Rodriguez $3.1 million as part of settlement from alleged assault  —  Francisco Rodriguez still must close out his legal problems, but he and the Mets have reached a settlement over his contractual grievance stemming from injuries suffered during …

Braves release Melky Cabrera  —  When I arrived at AT&T Park for Monday afternoon's National League Championship Series workout, it seriously felt like it had been two months since Rick Ankiel drilled that 11th-inning pitch into the water and gave the Braves what proved to be their last win of the year.

Nationals Sign Mike Rizzo To Five-Year Extension  —  The Nationals signed GM Mike Rizzo to a five-year extension and promoted him to executive vice president of baseball operations and GM, according to the team.  Rizzo, who turns 50 later this year, has been Washington's GM since August 2009 …

Minor League Transactions: Oct. 10-17  —  Released: RHP Erik Crichton, C Tyson Kendrick, 2B Chris Sedon, OF Londell Taylor  —  A 49th-rounder in June, Tyson Kendrick was the first-ever draft pick from Tabor (Kan.) College.  With short-season Connecticut after signing, he got into 12 games as a backup catcher and 5-for-20.

Lee humble after masterful performance  —  Hear from the Rangers and Yankees after Game 3 of the ALCS.  —  PRINT RSS  —  Updated Oct 19, 2010 3:06 AM ET  —  NEW YORK  —  The clock said it was past midnight, and nearly all the witnesses were gone.  —  Cliff Lee sat at his locker …

Cain Outduels Hamels, Giants Take 2-1 NLCS Lead  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Cody Ross keeps giving his best Barry Bonds imitation.  —  With the home run king watching and cheering from a front-row seat, Ross delivered again, Matt Cain outdueled Cole Hamels and the San Francisco Giants beat …

Yu Darvish will stay in Japan next season  —  From Yu Darvish's latest blog entry:  —  A lot has been mentions about the Majors.  —  I received a lot of comments, both on Twitter and on my blog.  —  I don't know if this will match everyone's guess.  —  Next season...

San Francisco Giants notebook: Edgar Renteria still expected to play shortstop despite a torn biceps tendon  —  Edgar Renteria is expected to start at shortstop again for the Giants today despite a completely torn biceps tendon in his left arm.  —  Renteria, who missed time in August …

Ted Lilly finalizes Dodgers deal  —  LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers finalized a three-year, $33 million agreement with Ted Lilly on Tuesday after the veteran left-hander passed a physical examination.  —  The deal ensures that at least three of the team's starting pitchers from 2010 will be back in the rotation in 2011.

Cano Become Jeter  —  Robinson Cano just hit a home run into the first row of seats, but the Rangers are claiming fan interference.  The ball hit on the top of the wall, so I'm not sure that is a ball that can be interfered with.  The fans did make contact with Nelson Cruz's glove …

Fenway Park improvements detailed  —  This image provided by ANC Sports shows what the new video display and signage will look like next season at Fenway Park.  At the bottom of this post is a video provided by ANC that outlines the specs of the video screens.

Natural Lee  —  Costello: Who has it?  —  Abbott: Naturally.  —  Costello: Who?  —  Abbott: Naturally.  —  Costello: Naturally?  —  Abbott: Naturally.  —  Costello: So I pick up the ball and throw it to Naturally.  —  Abbott: No you don't!  You throw the ball to Who.  —  Costello: Naturally.

Should Girardi have used Mo in Game 3?  —  Lost in Cliff Lee's continuing wizardry was the Yankee bullpen's ninth-inning meltdown, which turned a 2-0 nailbiter into an 8-0 blowout.  And as It's About the Money notes, it didn't have to end that way:  —  Rather than bring Mariano Rivera …