Allen Craig has two key pinch-hits in the World Series, but the slugger is more concerned with his start in Game 3, which will be in right field.

Commissioner Bud Selig spoke with Bob Costas in an interview that aired Friday night on MLB Network, discussing division realignment, Interleague Play, the possible addition of two more Wild Card teams, the use of instant replay and the possibility of him retiring.

For two days in St. Louis, every significant factor favored pitchers in Games 1-2 of the World Series. For the next three days here in northern Texas, every one of those factors will be turned on its head.

Depicting a 23-year-old Oakland A's slugger in a year when he'd take home Rookie of the Year honors, the 1987 memento projected, at the time, to be quite valuable. For Skip Schumaker, Mark McGwire's value falls in an entirely different context these days.

Michael Young is Mr. Texas Rangers, and he came through with a clutch RBI in Game 2 of the World Series.

Mike Maddux treats each and every game with the same level of excruciating attention to detail, and that's part of what has made him one of the more respected pitching coaches in the big leagues.

With the likes of Bill Belichick, Bill Parcells and John Havlicek visiting Cardinals Spring Training each year, one doesn't need to look very far to find someone with an impressive resume. Then again, the Redbirds' manager is pretty good, too.

Albert Pujols made no apologies Friday for not participating in postgame interviews following Thursday night's Game 2 of the World Series, asserting that he was available to reporters for 20 minutes after the contest.

Star players never make the best coaches or managers, the old adage goes. But even rarer are the great players who make standout executives. Nolan Ryan, the Hall of Fame pitcher and Rangers president, has become the exception to that rule. Ryan may be the best player-turned-executive in history.

When it comes to the World Series, Texas has had trouble generating the kind of offense it did in the regular season or previous rounds. That's what happened in St. Louis and the Rangers do not want it to spill over to their home park. If so, it could mean trouble.

This World Series is tied. The winning manager will be the one whose pitchers pitch better, whose players play better, and execute better than the other guys when the game is on the line.

While it may not have been apparent on the Rangers' flight back to Texas, the balance of the World Series took a seismic shift when Texas was able to score two runs in the ninth inning and return back to Arlington tied 1-1 instead of down 0-2.

Dirk Nowitzki, George W. Bush and Roger Staubach will throw out the first pitch at the three World Series games at Rangers Ballpark.

Baseball America has named Jeremy Hellickson as the 2011 Rookie of the Year, recognizing the Rays right-hander as the Major Leagues' top newcomer.

Manager John Farrell arrived looking to guide an up-and-coming ballclub and play a more aggressive style of baseball. Along the way, there were plenty of learning experiences, and even a few surprises.

Miguel Cabrera said in an interview that he'll skip the upcoming MLB All-Star series in Taiwan to rest his sore right shoulder.

In a pronouncement that comes as no surprise, general manager Neal Huntington said that the Pirates intend to decline club options for Ryan Doumit and Chris Snyder after the conclusion of the World Series. The catchers are two of four Pirates who hold club options for the 2012 season.