Francona wants out of Boston; White Sox are logical landing spot  —  TORONTO, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 5: Manager Terry Francona of the Boston Red Sox looks on during batting practice prior to MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays September 5, 2011 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Petco Park claims another victim as Padres fire hitting coach Randy Ready  —  Earlier this season general manager Jed Hoyer tried to deflect criticism aimed at hitting coach Randy Ready for the Padres' offensive struggles, but today the team fired Ready after 2.5 seasons on the job.

Baseball Night in America  —  Baseball, like life, revolves around anticlimax.  That in many ways is the beauty of it.  I realize that's a hard thing to explain to someone who doesn't love baseball, no, more than hard, it's an impossible thing to explain because many people want sports to be more than life …

A's could hear soon on possible move to San Jose  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)—Athletics general manager Billy Beane expects to hear “very soon” from Commissioner Bud Selig about whether the club will be allowed to move south to San Jose and build a new ballpark.

Cardinals broadcaster McLaughlin again arrested for DWI  —  Cardinals broadcaster Dan McLaughlin has been cited for drunken driving for the second time after a stop by Chesterfield police on Sunday.  Police said McLaughlin, 37, was stopped at 10:13 p.m. on Baxter Road and Isleview Drive after he crashed his vehicle.

Indians pick up Manny Acta's option  —  CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians have picked up manager Manny Acta's contract option for 2013.  —  Acta kept the Indians in contention for much of this season before injuries overwhelmed the young club, which finished second in the AL Central.

Quick news and notes after the 2011 postmortem with Brian Sabean and Bruce Bochy (18)  —  The sweet funk of formaldehyde is in the air, which means it must be time for the annual postmortem with Giants GM Brian Sabean and Manager Bruce Bochy.  —  I'll get to transcribing in a moment, but here is the short and quick breakdown:

Bucs' summer excitement ended too early  —  Club looking to build upon strides made in first four months  —  PITTSBURGH — There are myriad ways to reflect upon the Pirates' 2011 season, which, though stamped as another losing campaign, was certainly unlike the 18 that had preceded it.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson confirms 2012 payroll expected to fall between $100 million, $110 million  —  NEW YORK - It was cleanup day at Citi Field, and the Mets clubhouse was mostly empty.  But general manager Sandy Alderson did offer a 30-minute post-mortem on the season just passed.

Playoffs ready to take flight for Yankees, Tigers  —  NEW YORK—After a long flight, a pre-dawn arrival and a workout that came all too soon, Derek Jeter is ready for the playoffs.  —  Almost.  First, a good night's sleep would be nice.  —  “Man, I got home at 4:30.

Hitless in last 46 at-bats, Velez sets dubious mark  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Eugenio Velez has broken a modern-day major league record for a non-pitcher by going hitless in his final 46 at-bats.  —  Velez grounded out to second as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning …