Bonus Baseball

Baseball Update:
Alexei Ramirez's grand slam in the sixth inning broke up a 2-2 tie and turned out to be the game winner for the White Sox who advanced to a one game playoff against the Twins with their 8-2 victory.

The Brewers have decided to use Yovani Gallardo as their starting pitcher for Game 1 of the NLDS. He'll be facing Phillies ace Cole Hamels.

Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew are expected to be in the lineup for Game 1 of the Red Sox series against the Angels.

The Yankees closer Mariano Rivera will undergo shoulder surgery but is expected to be ready to go by spring training.

Indians catcher Kelly Shoppach had knee surgery on Monday.

The Cardinals have signed pitcher Kyle Lohse to a four year deal worth $41 million, while the Tigers have stated they will not exercise SS Edgar Renteria's 2009 option and the Marlins dropped Sergio Mitre.

Coaching Update: Bud Black will stick with the Padres...while the Rangers Bench coach Art Howe and third-base coach Matt Walbeck will not...Pirates pitching coach Jeff Andrews and first base coach Lou Frazier are out of a job...And everyone but manager Manny Acta and pitching coach Randy St. Claire will be on the umeployment line in Washington.

The Blue Jays will in the market for a new team president after Paul Godfrey announced his resignation effective at the end of 2008.

2008 produced the lowest total of homeruns since 1993, the last year the Yanks were not in the playoffs. Miracle upon miracles, it seems baseball has somehow survived these two power outtages!

Nascar Update:
Congrats to Jimmie Johnson who won on Sunday in Kansas. The win vaulted him to the front of the points standings. Click here for the updated Chase standings.

Paul Menard will reportedly leave DEI and sign with Yates Racing.

Nascar is close to locking up a naming sponsor for its Truck Series and it's looking like it's going to be Camping World.

Petty Enterprise maybe close to squeezing out Kyle Petty. Goodness knows this should have been done a long time ago, there is no reason he should be driving a car, he's much better as a race analyst and car owner.

News&Notes: The Steelers stormed back in their ugly throwback uniforms to stun the Ravens, 23-20 in OT...Jaguars OT Richard Collier who was shot in early September is reportedly paralyzed from the incident and had to have one of his legs amputiated. So sad...The NFL has suspended Jets safety Eric Smith for one game for his head-to-head hit on Caridnals reciever Anquan Boldin...The Rams fired head coach Scott Linehan...Can Lane Kiffin be next? Can they just fire him already because this will they are won't they stuff becomes very embarassing for the team more so than the coach...Randy Pfund resigned as GM of the Miami Heat. Team President Pat Riley will take over his duties...The Blackhawks have placed goalie Nikolai Khabibulin on waivers...Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar will miss four to six months after undergoing surgery on his dislocated shoulder.

Check this out: I'm absolutely in love with a little show on the CW called Privileged. It's smart, it's funny and it stars the adorable JoAnna Garcia (Reba). Plus it has three very good looking possible love interests for Ms. Smith (Garcia) including Charlie Hogan (Michael Cassidy who was Zach, Summer's boyfriend in the second season of The OC) and Will Phillips (Brian Hallisay). So if you've never watched an epsiode, click here to catch up and don't forget to tune into the CW tonight at 9 PM/est to catch an all new episode!