NEW YORK - Cardinals manager Tony La Russa finished second yesterday for the National League Manager of the Year Award. 

As expected, Rockies skipper Jim Tracy was a runaway winner after leading Colorado back from the brink to the NL Wild Card.  Tracy took over for the fired Clint Hurdle in late May when the Rockies were 10 games under .500 and led them to a 74-and-42 mark the rest of the way.

Tracy received 29-of-31 first-place votes, while La Russa, who guided St. Louis to a 91-win season and the NL Central title, received the other two.  The Dodgers' Joe Torre was third.

NL Cy Young announced today:

NEW YORK - The Cardinals have a much better chance at a postseason award today as Major League Baseball announces the National League Cy Young winner.

Teammates Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter are considered the top candidates for the honor.  Wainwright led the Senior Circuit with 19 wins while posting a 2. 63 ERA. 

After making just four combined starts in 2007 and 2008, Carpenter came back to post a 17-and-4 mark and a league-best 2.24 ERA. 

Giants pitcher and reigning NL Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum is also in the mix after 15-and-7 with a 2.48 ERA.

Selig:  Tighter playoff schedule coming:

CHICAGO - Baseball plans to cut down on off days during the postseason next year.

Commissioner Bud Selig says he's working on tightening up the 2010 playoff schedule so there will be fewer gaps between games.

Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia criticized the current playoff format after the Yankees and Angels played only eight times in 20 days going into Game 6 of the AL Championship Series.

Selig also says he would continue to discuss instant replay.  It's not expected to be a major topic when owners have a full meeting Thursday morning, despite several highly visible missed calls by umpires during the postseason.