History lesson  —  The narrative of a playoff baseball series is severe, see-sawing tensions like a serial novel.  The Red Sox won Game 1 of the American League Championship Series - the Rays were too young and too scared; Josh Beckett and Jon Lester loomed; the series was over.

Breaking news: Meacham fired  —  The Yankees have decided not to renew the contract of 3B coach Bobby Meacham.  Brian Cashman just handed down word via media relations director Jason Zillo.  —  Cashman is in a meeting with his pro scouts at the moment.  The hope is to speak to him later.

Hamels shows confidence  —  LOS ANGELES - At first, I thought maybe I hadn't heard him right.  But as Cole Hamels kept jabbering and puffing out his chest, I realized that I had heard him correctly.  At which point I wondered if, before the interview, he had taken some pulls of moonshine from a secret hip flask.

Cancer takes ‘nice, humble’ ex-Cubs pitcher  —  Former major league pitcher Kevin Foster, who fulfilled a lifelong dream by playing for the Cubs, died Saturday at the age of 39.  —  The former Evanston High star died in an Oklahoma City hospital after a six-month bout with renal cell carcinoma, his brother, Mark Foster, said.

MEMO TO BOMBERS: GO GET PHILS' GILLICK!  —  LOS ANGELES - One of the most persistent rumors that circulated among baseball officials during the season was that Pat Gillick was going to move from Philadelphia GM to Mariner president and recruit Brian Cashman to be Seattle's GM.

Hoffman to be offered contract soon  —  Padres want closer back; Giles' option likely to be exercised  —  SAN DIEGO — The Padres will make a formal contract offer to closer Trevor Hoffman this week, general manager Kevin Towers said.  —  Hoffman, who turned 41 on Monday …

Valuing A.J. Burnett  —  There have been some recent rumblings about A.J. Burnett opting out of the two years remaining on his current deal in order to pursue free agency. … I think he would be wise to accept the Jays' offer.  I have Burnett valued at about $52 million over the next for years …

Mailbag: Will Morales return as starter?  —  Beat reporter Thomas Harding answers Rox fans' questions  —  Do you think Franklin Morales will return for the 2009 season as a starter after basically spending all of the 2008 season away from the Majors working on his control issues?

Mailbag: Who can file for free agency?  —  Beat reporter Carrie Muskat answers Cubs fans' questions … I noticed that Ryan Dempster is eligible to become a free agent this offseason.  Are the Cubs going to re-sign him?  Who else is eligible for free agency?  — Steve K., Wheaton, Ill.

Offseason Outlook: New York Mets  —  Next up in our Offseason Outlook series, the Mets.  Their likely 2009 commitments:  —  C - Brian Schneider - $4.9MM  —  C - Ramon Castro - $2.5MM  —  1B - Carlos Delgado - $12MM  —  2B - Luis Castillo - $6MM  —  SS - Jose Reyes - $5.75MM

A peek at David Price  —  After carving up the Southeastern Conference, David Price was the No. 1 overall selection by the Rays in 2007.  Price didn't sign until the deadline, so he didn't pitch in the minors until this year.  Price started out at high Single-A ball in the Florida State League …

Final Elias Rankings - American League Relief Pitchers … Kyle Farnsworth appears to be short of Type B Status.  To add insult to injury, he ends up behind the likes of Gary Glover.  Naturally, Casey Fossum was also well short of Type B. Among the free agents, who should the Tigers look at?

Pujols has surgery on right elbow  —  Slugger expected to be ready for Spring Training after rehab  —  Albert Pujols underwent surgery on his troublesome right elbow on Monday, but it was not the long-feared “Tommy John” reconstructive surgery on the joint.