The D-backs had hoped to have the Chase Field roof open for Games 3 and 4 of the National League Division Series. So much for that.

The Tigers chased too many pitches out of the strike zone against Ivan Nova in Game 1 and correcting that may be the most significant key for the Tigers heading into Thursday's decisive Game 5.

In the traditional sense, Game 5 is Ivan Nova versus the Tigers, Doug Fister versus the Yankees (and Yankee Stadium), and Nova opposite Fister. But it also is Nova competing against the challenges that are New York, the Yankees and their plans for the future.

After playing in parts of 11 Major League seasons, Eric Byrnes said he has evolved as an MLB Network analyst over the past year — as his own playing career gets smaller in his rear-view mirror.

General manager Jon Daniels gave manager Ron Washington's work in the American League Division Series a one-word review. "Tremendous. Tremendous," Daniels said.

After all of the talk this year about Phil Hughes' diminished velocity, it was a good sign for the Yankees to see the right-hander pumping strong fastballs in the eighth inning of Tuesday's American League Division Series Game 4.

Michael Pineda left his mark on the Mariners in his rookie campaign and he'll return next spring as an integral part of manager Eric Wedge's rotation and the franchise's future.

The Rangers are holding off on announcing the rotation for the ALCS, but Ron Washington did say that C.J. Wilson will be the Game 1 starter, regardless of the opponent, and that Alexi Ogando will stay in the bullpen.

Maybe this wasn't the way the Yankees would have scripted their adventure in the American League Division Series, but it is headed for a conclusion they'd gladly have accepted.

It's the topic that won't die, as much as Cardinals manager Tony La Russa wishes it would. With another late-afternoon/early-evening game at Busch Stadium on Wednesday, the subject of shadows on the field came up once again.

When the American League Championship Series begins on Saturday, Terry Francona will be in the broadcast booth serving as a guest analyst for FOX, alongside veteran play-by-play man Joe Buck.

Mets left-hander Johan Santana, who was sidelined all season while recovering from shoulder surgery, will shut it down for the offsesaon following instructional league rather than play winter ball.

Doug Fister had a rough outing in Game 1 when it resumed on Saturday after rain forced it to be suspended. He hopes for better results on Thursday with the Tigers' season on the line.

Entering Thursday's ALDS Game 5 at 8 p.m. ET on TBS, with advancement or elimination their only remaining options, the Yankees could hardly choose a better option to pitch than Ivan Nova.

Terry Collins' coaching staff will have a new look in 2012, as only hitting coach Dave Hudgens and pitching coach Dan Warthen will return in their same roles.

A rematch of Ivan Nova and Doug Fister awaits in Game 5 of the American League Division Series as the Yankees and Tigers battle for a spot in the AL Championship Series against the Rangers.

The Yankees expect to tell CC Sabathia to lace up his game-day spikes for Thursday's Game 5 of the American League Division Series, just in case he is needed out of the bullpen. But Tigers manager Jim Leyland was emphatic that Justin Verlander will watch the deciding game of the ALDS as a spectator.