Veteran umpires will work Series

Stung by a rash of blown calls in the playoffs, Major League Baseball is breaking tradition and sticking with only experienced umpires for the World Series.

Longtime crew chiefs Joe West, Dana DeMuth and Gerry Davis, along with Brian Gorman, Jeff Nelson and Mike Everitt will do the games, The Associated Press reported.

In 24 of the last 25 World Series, the six-man crew has included at least one umpire working the event for the first time -- baseball likes to reward newer umpires, plus replenish the supply of umps with Series experience.

In each of the last two years, there were three new umps working the World Series.

CB Bucknor was in line to work the World Series for the first time this year. But he missed two calls in Game 1 of the division series between the Red Sox and Angels, damaging his chance to get picked.

Umpiring mistakes caused anxious moments for MLB in the first two rounds: Phil Cuzzi's foul call on a drive by Joe Mauer that was fair by a foot, Jerry Meals' error on a ball that bounced off Chase Utley's leg, Dale Scott's miss on a pickoff and Tim McClelland's call on a tag play, among others.

These problems ramped up calls by fans for expanded use of instant replay. Loading up with veteran umpires, however, is no guarantee of getting it right. McClelland missed an obvious double play Tuesday night in the AL Championship Series between the Yankees and Angels.

Indians interview Valentine: Back after six years in Japan, former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine had his second interview with the Cleveland Indians on Thursday. The 59-year-old admitted he has a lot of catching up to do after being away from the major leagues but would embrace the opportunity to take over in Cleveland.

Valentine took the Mets to the World Series in 2000. He has a 1,117-1,072 record managing Texas and New York.

Valentine is the second candidate to have a sit-down interview with the Indians.

On Tuesday, former Washington manager Manny Acta met with Cleveland's owners and front-office members. Torey Lovullo, the club's Triple-A manager in Columbus, is up today, and the club is trying to schedule a meeting with Los Angeles Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly.

La Russa still undecided: Nearly two weeks after his team was swept in the first round of the playoffs, Tony La Russa is still trying to decide whether he wants to return for a 15th season as St. Louis Cardinals manager.

In a telephone interview Thursday with The Associated Press, La Russa promised the team he'd make a decision fairly soon. Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and general manager John Mozeliak have both said they'd like La Russa back.

Wakefield has surgery: Red Sox right-hander Tim Wakefield wants to pitch as long as possible after undergoing back surgery Wednesday for a herniated disk.

Retirement "never crossed my mind. I was fully confident in what our doctors were telling me," the 43-year-old knuckleballer said in a conference call Thursday. "I'm not very sore at all, so I'm looking forward to getting to my rehab and get ready for next year."

Inge set for surgery: Detroit Tigers All-Star third baseman Brandon Inge will undergo surgery on both knees next month. The team said the Nov. 3 procedure at the Detroit Medical Center will address patella tendinitis that plagued Inge this season.

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