Better than a snowball's chance: Rockies in 6  —  The Green Monster isn't the only thing monstrous about the modern day Boston Red Sox.  —  The American League champions are in no danger of replacing the Yankees as the unofficial Evil Empire of baseball even if they beat Colorado …

Yankees' Levine Cries Foul on Criticism  —  For most of the past 34 years, George Steinbrenner could be reliably blamed for hiring and firing Yankee managers because you knew he was in charge.  But the end of the Joe Torre era last week shoved the Steinbrenner sons onto a stage they had never …

Mitchell Denies Knowledge of Leak  —  A day after Indians pitcher Paul Byrd's name emerged as a recipient of shipments of human growth hormone, baseball's investigator of performance-enhancing drugs said he played no role in releasing the information.  —  George J. Mitchell …

Some things up in the air  —  Once he gets to Denver, Francona faces decisions  —  The Red Sox will send their ace, Josh Beckett, to the mound tomorrow night at Fenway Park for Game 1 of the World Series, but how the rotation sets up from there remained classified information yesterday as the Sox wrapped up an optional workout.

What Will A-Rod Get?  —  The Yankees have ten days beyond the World Series to sign Alex Rodriguez to an extension, so there is a decent chance that this will get settled very soon.  (I think that the Yankees and A-Rod will part ways, but I will not be surprised if he stays.)

Torre's turnaround  —  Yankees had discussed $4.5M offer for Torre in spring  —  Also in this column:  —  Joe Torre spins a great story.  In fact, he's an even better public speaker and broadcaster than in-game strategist.  Torre's so persuasive, in fact, that after his emotional hour …

Myth Of The Closer  —  The 2007 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies should lay to rest one of the great myths of modern baseball: that a dominant "closer"—a high-priced pitching ace who enters a game in the final inning to nail down a victory—is a must-have for success.

Rockies Place Their Faith in God, and One Another  —  As a Jewish player who attended a Catholic high school and a Lutheran university, Jason Hirsh knows what being a religious minority feels like.  So last December, when he was traded to the Colorado Rockies, Hirsh wondered if what he had heard about his new organization was true.

Mariners add experienced coaches  —  Stottlemyre, Riggleman, Charlton, Rodriguez tabbed  —  The coaching staff Mariners manager John McLaren inherited from Mike Hargrove last July lacked experience.  —  But McLaren's new staff is loaded with Major League service time.

Mailbag: Will Mets be motivated in '08?  —  Beat reporter Marty Noble answers Mets fans' questions … Will the Mets be able to use the disaster of 2007 as a motivating tool in 2008, or will it cause them to play too tight and not as well as they can?  — James M., Jersey City, N.J.

Stressed management is part of the game now  —  Fifteen major league teams have replaced GMs in last two years, including, just last week, the Angels.  Increased pressure, responsibilities are key factors.  —  It wasn't really a titillating revelation, merely Bill Stoneman's way to describe the 24/7 …