New York Mets-St. Louis Game 5 rained out
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Monday's Game 5 of the National League Championship Series between the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals has been postponed due to rain.
The game will be made up on Tuesday starting at 8:19 p.m. EDT with the starting pitchers expected to remain the same. Tom Glavine is scheduled to start for the Mets, Jeff Weaver for St. Louis.
The series is tied 2-2.
This is the second postponement in the series. Game 2 was pushed back one day because of rain in New York. That eliminated the traditional travel day as the series shifted sites. This rain out will also eliminate a travel day with Game 6 taking place in New York on Wednesday.
Chicago Cubs hire Lou Piniella as manager
CHICAGO, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- The Chicago Cubs have reached a 3-year deal with former Yankees Manager Lou Piniella worth at least $4 million a year, the Chicago Sun-Times said.
Piniella, 63, will replace Dusty Baker who guided the Cubs within five outs of a World Series in 2003 but watched the injury-riddled team fall back into the basement of the National League Central Division with a 66-96 record last season.
Piniella was expected to be introduced as the Cubs manager at a Tuesday news conference, the newspaper said. Piniella reportedly topped General Manager Jim Hendry's candidate's list, which included former Florida Marlins Manager Joe Girardi, San Diego Padres Manager Bruce Bochy and Cubs broadcaster Bob Brenly, who was the Arizona manager when the Diamondbacks won the World Series in 2001.
"I think we'll be ready to announce something in the next couple of days," Hendry said Sunday night.
Piniella, 63, won the 1990 World Series in his first year as manager of the Cincinnati Reds and won American League manager of the year honors in 1995 and 2001 with the Seattle Mariners. He managed the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 2003-05. He has a 1,519-1,420 overall managerial record.
Shaun Alexander out a couple more weeks
KIRKLAND, Wash, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Seattle Seahawks running back and reigning league MVP Shaun Alexander is expected to be out at least a couple more weeks due to a broken left foot.
"I met with him today. He's feeling great and is really chomping at the bit to come back," Seattle Coach Mike Holmgren said. "He thinks he could practice. It is healing up, it's right on schedule, but we're going to be safe about it. It will probably be a week to week thing."
Alexander will likely be out for this coming Sunday's home game versus Minnesota and the Oct. 29 contest at Kansas City.
Alexander suffered the injury during a 42-30 win over the New York Giants on Sept. 24. He has rushed 65 times for 187 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Alexander, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, set an NFL record with 28 touchdowns during the 2005 regular season.
Jets running back out two more weeks
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., Oct. 16 (UPI) -- The New York Jets said Monday running back Curtis Martin will be on the physically unable to perform list for the next two weeks due to a knee injury.
The Jets host the Detroit Lions Sunday, then head to Cleveland to take on the Browns on Oct. 29. The following week is a bye, and would offer Martin an extra week to continue to rehabilitate his right knee.
Martin, 33, had arthroscopic surgery on that knee back in December and has not seen action yet this season. After consulting with team doctors, it was decided the best course of action would be to hold Martin out until at least the bye week.
Martin has broken nearly every team rushing record since joining the Jets in 1998, including yards (10,302), touchdowns (58) and 100-yard games (43).
Fla. International increases football penalties
MIAMI, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Florida International University and the University of Miami have increased the punishment for 19 players involved in Saturday night's football brawl.
The Sun Belt Conference had suspended 18 FIU players for one game, which would be the Panthers' meeting with Alabama on Oct. 28.
New FIU Director of Athletics Pete Garcia and Coach Don Strock have elevated punishments for each. FIU dismissed defensive backs Marshall McDuffie Jr. and Chris Smith from the team.
Sixteen of the 18 will serve indefinite suspensions beginning immediately. Those who are suspended will be constantly monitored for behavior both in and out of the classroom, and their reinstatements to the football team will be evaluated on an individual basis.
Miami sophomore safety Anthony Reddick's one-game suspension has been upgraded to indefinite. Reddick was singled out due to misuse of his helmet. Other Hurricanes involved in the melee face additional discipline as well.
