McCarver outspoken about L.A.'s dread man  —  Be sure of this much: When Manny Ramirez walks to the plate for the first time tomorrow night for the Dodgers, Fox analyst and former Phillie Tim McCarver won't pull his punches.  Never has, never will.  —  “It's extraordinary …

Cubs exercise 2009 club option for right-handed pitcher Rich Harden  —  CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs today announced the team has exercised the 2009 club contract option for right-handed pitcher Rich Harden.  —  Harden, who turns 27 on November 30, combined to go 10-2 with a 2.07 ERA …

Mull it over, Skip: Rotation yet to be set  —  Francona debating who would be best to take ball in Game 1  —  BOSTON — Though this is the third time Terry Francona has been to the American League Championship Series in his five years as manager of the Red Sox, it's the first time he's …

Examining baseball's final four (cont.)  —  Philadelphia Phillies  —  This Phillies team has major stars, including the last two MVPs in Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard, and starting pitcher Cole Hamels, whose changeup has been devastating.  But the thing that stands out about these players …

Yanks decide against a Stadium swan song  —  Yankee Stadium is officially closed for business.  —  A Nov. 9 concert was proposed as a final farewell for the House That Ruth Built, but the Yankees, fearing a less-than-memorable lineup, have bagged the celebration.

Cubs pipe smasher(s?) should confess  —  If Cubs did break Dodger Stadium water pipe, it's time to fess up  —  You never want to add insult to injury.  But sometimes it happens.  —  Especially when you're defeated, angry, confused, impotent and — above all — embarrassed.

Dodgers, Phillies linked in NLCS lore  —  For first time in four meetings, clubs to play in best-of-seven  —  It was 1977 and the Dodgers had a chance to close out their best-of-five National League Championship Series against the Phillies on the artificial turf at old Veterans Stadium …

The 2008 Red Sox As Bond Villains  —  From Gary Shelton of The St. Pete Times (via Deadspin): … I know what you're thinking.  And faster than you can say “Muppet Part One, Muppet Part Two,” I'm on it....  In fact, I've got the entire Sox 25-man playoff roster, the manager and three bonus Sox.

Shapiro: We'll be ‘relentless’ shoppers  —  In addition to ‘pen, infield help, GM would like top-flight starter  —  CLEVELAND — Plenty has been written to describe the Indians’ 2008 season.  —  In his annual postseason session with reporters, general manager Mark Shapiro did his best to describe it in a single statement.

Mariners to begin GM interviews  —  The Mariners, jump-starting the process of hiring a general manager, will interview five candidates this week, according to industry sources...  The Mariners, jump-starting the process of hiring a general manager, will interview five candidates this week, according to industry sources.

RENTAL CAR TROUBLE FOR BURRESS  —  The Giants shouldn't feel bad.  They weren't alone in having a hard time getting in touch with Plaxico Burress.  —  He also has dodged calls from Khoury Alternative Claims Management, a San Antonio-based third-party administrator trying to catch …

How the economy is affecting sports fans … If you're a typical sports fan — you know, the kind who worries about gas prices, tuition and the trade deadline — New York's new stadiums might look as if they belong behind a boutique window.  —  In the Bronx looms the skeleton of Yankee Stadium 2.0 …

Paul Sullivan's Cubs mailbag  —  After another disappointing ending, the Tribune's Cubs reporter files his last batch of answers to reader questions and heads into the offseason  —  Ask Paul returns from his post-collapse funk to present Cubs fans with his nine-step plan for recovery.

Union may play role in where Sabathia goes  —  CC Sabathia told reporters this past week that his experience with the Brewers opened up his world.  That no longer was he married to the idea of using his impending free agency to relocate his job near his West Coast home.