LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers pitcher Josh Beckett, facing surgery for a torn labrum in his left hip that caused him to miss most of the last three months of the season, has retired at 34, ending a 14-year career that included two World Series championships.
He threw a no-hitter in May, but landed on the disabled list for the third time in early August with a left hip impingement after being on the DL in July for the same injury. He was 6-6 with a 2.88 ERA in 20 starts, including the no-hitter May 25 at Philadelphia.
Beckett's first time on the DL was in March, when he had a bruised right thumb.
He announced his decision to retire in St. Louis after the Dodgers were eliminated in the National League Division Series on Tuesday night, according to MLB.com.
Beckett will undergo hip surgery in May.
He missed most of last season after having surgery to remove a rib near his neck to alleviate thoracic outlet syndrome.
Beckett had a career record of 138-106 and a 3.88 ERA. He won the World Series with the Marlins in 2003 and Red Sox in 2007 (see full story).
MLB
Rockies: O'Dowd resigns as GM
DENVER -- New Colorado Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich is a Harvard graduate who looks at baseball from more of an analytical angle.
He was promoted from within the organization after a fourth consecutive losing season and counts as his protege longtime GM Dan O'Dowd, who resigned Wednesday after a mostly unsuccessful tenure.
A fresh start or more of the same? That was debate around the Mile High City soon after the Rockies announced their decision.
O'Dowd's wasn't exactly a rousing success, with his time at Coors Field reading like this: 15 years, four winning seasons, two postseason appearances, including a four-game World Series loss to Boston in 2007.
He wasn't the only team executive to resign Wednesday. Senior vice president Bill Geivett followed him out the front office door.
Bridich understands the skepticism from fans, given his ties to O'Dowd. He insisted this won't be more of the same.
"Four straight years of losing baseball? If you ask anybody in this organization, it's unacceptable and it's tiring," said Bridich, who was promoted from senior director of player development. "It's certainly not what people want and expect inside and outside the organization" (see full story).
Cardinals: Homegrown talent is key
ST. LOUIS -- Changing cast, same old hit show for the St. Louis Cardinals.
In the NL Championship Series for the fourth straight year, the Cardinals used just five players from their 2011 World Series champions in the just-completed four-game Division Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Sixteen players carried over from the roster in last year's World Series loss to Boston.
"We wanted to make sure we could do this internally and have the depth to be successful and build from within," general manager John Mozeliak said Tuesday night amid the ruckus of yet another champagne spraying celebration. "You're seeing that pay off now."
Fifteen of the 25 players active against the Dodgers were Cardinals' amateur draft picks, the most among the 10 playoff teams. Along with the savings of carrying so much youth, there's camaraderie, too, with players who came up together.
"We've got something special going on right now," said leadoff man Matt Carpenter, a 13th-round selection in 2009. "Guys expect to win. It's just real fun."
The 23-year-old Shelby Miller made his first career postseason start in the clincher. He's been a part of three postseason teams.
"Day in and day out, they tell us not to take it for granted," Miller said. "This thing never gets old" (see full story).