Phils reach first World Series since '93  —  NLCS MVP Hamels guides Phillies over Dodgers in clincher  —  LOS ANGELES — Using a perfect Hollywood script without a surprise ending, the Phillies captured the National League pennant Wednesday night with a 5-1 win over the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

Yankees have created a monster in Rays  —  Congratulations, Dr. FrankenSteinbrenner.  Your monster is alive, and coming to kill you.  —  That monster, of course, is the Tampa Bay Rays, who not long ago were baseball's gift to the Yankees, 18 gimmes a year, but now have developed into the Yankees' worst nightmare.

Yankees poised for offseason shopping spree  —  Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez is seeking a four-year deal worth $100 million, but if he keeps swinging like this, he says to go ahead and make it a six-year deal.  —  CC Sabathia carried the Milwaukee Brewers on his back and says he'd gladly return …

Sources: Agent says Pettitte wants to throw for Yanks in '09 … As the New York Yankees began a round of scouting meetings this week to discuss the future of the team, they know that veteran left-hander Andy Pettitte intends to pitch in 2009, and his intention is to pitch for them.

Tom Tresh dead at 71  —  Tom Tresh, who burst onto the big-league scene in 1962 and won Rookie of the Year honors as a fill-in shortstop for the Yankees after Tony Kubek was called into military service, died Wednesday at his home in Venice, Fla., of a heart attack.  He was 71.

Clemens content staying on sidelines  —  Right-hander not working with Astros, mum on legal woes  —  HOUSTON — Roger Clemens said Wednesday that reports claiming he was upset at not being included in the farewell ceremony at Yankee Stadium couldn't be further from the truth.

TBS exec: FrankTV ads ‘good at entertaining and engaging’  —  Why the heck would TBS run so many FrankTV ads during the postseason?  —  Jeff Gregor, the chief marketing officer for TBS and TNT, has obviously been asked the question more than once.  Before I could even spit it out of my mouth, he asked a question of his own.

Tribune may alter Cubs deal  —  In bid to advance sale, company could keep more than 5% stake  —  Tribune Co. is considering retaining a larger ownership stake in the Chicago Cubs, said sources involved in the deal, as the company explores options to sell the team amid the nation's worst financial conditions in decades.

Brewers have big business at hand  —  Team has plenty of major decisions to make this offseason  —  MILWAUKEE — So much for savoring the trip to the postseason.  For the Brewers, it was back to work quickly at Miller Park just days after they were bounced from the National League Division Series …

Obama ad to delay start of World Series Game 6  —  NEW YORK — Barack Obama will delay the World Series by a few minutes, according to The Hollywood Reporter.  —  Major League Baseball has agreed to move the World Series Game 6 start time by about 15 minutes to accommodate a half-hour Obama ad buy on Fox on Oct. 29.

Sox upbeat  —  The Red Sox came off the field after an optional workout a short while ago, their final act as a team before tomorrow's essential Game 5 at Fenway Park.  Terry Francona and starter Daisuke Matsuzaka met with media, neither saying anything that would make headlines.