Padres second baseman David Eckstein works on error-free season

Assuming it lasts through the weekend, the most amazing achievement of the season will be David Eckstein’s error-free season. The Padres second baseman had played 110 games without an error and had only two in 241 games the last two seasons … Since becoming the Royals closer in August 2007, Joakim Soria has a better save percentage than Mariano Rivera. The Royals may one day deal him, but they’d have to be blown away to do that this winter … Major league clubs are preparing for a bidding war over Yu Darvish, the stylish kid pitcher from Japan. The Yankees, Mets, Braves, Rangers, Rays and Mariners are among the teams keeping tabs. Don’t count out a run from the Tigers, either, as they have tons of money to spend … The Pirates insist they’ll have plenty of money to sign the first overall pick next season. That shouldn’t be as hard as the last couple of years because there are no Stephen Strasburgs and Bryce Harpers in the class of 2011 … This is a big day for Brandon Wood. Barring a fast finish, he could join Ray Oyler as only the second player since 1920 to hit below .150 while getting 200-plus at-bats … Arizona’s Mark Reynolds has almost no chance to avoid his own ignominious distinction — becoming the first player with at least one hit to have more strikeouts than his batting average. He entered the weekend hitting .198 with 215 strikeouts … Buck Showalter’s return to the big leagues means that Ron Gardenhire no longer leads active managers with most games without a World Series appearance … Frank Francisco’s back injury has left Texas scrambling to determine bullpen roles. Mark Lowe, who was injured when the Rangers got him from Seattle in the Cliff Lee trade, could play a significant role. Texas has 11 losses in games it led after six innings, more than any of the other AL playoff teams … White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn is on the GM short list for the Mets … Happy trails, Nancy Faust. The White Sox’s organist steps aside after 41 seasons at the keys.

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