Manny Ramirez made the Dodgers important again  —  He single-handedly made the team a force to be reckoned with.  —  T.J. Simers  —  MANNYWOOD — The Dodgers are finished two weeks ago, Jose Lima still standing as the team's postseason hero over the last 20 years, if it isn't for Manny Ramirez.

Can the Reds be the 2009 Phillies?  —  There are defining moments in every baseball game, usually a defining moment.  —  As for the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday night in the NLCS, it was the first batter of the game.  —  LA pitcher Chad Billingsley slipped two quick strikes past Jimmy Rollins.

Tonight could be end for Varitek  —  Contract expiring; status is in doubt  —  Jason Varitek wouldn't acknowledge it yesterday, but tonight's game at Fenway Park could be the team captain's last in a Red Sox uniform.  Given a contract that expires after this season, and a markedly poor offensive year …

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.

Remembering the '93 Phillies and the early days of rap-rock  —  When Carlos Ruiz squeezed his mitt tight around Nomar Garciaparra's pop fly on Wednesday night, it did more than send the Phillies to their first World Series in 15 years.  It also marked the official start of what will be …

Bring Me The Head Of Mr. Met  —  Imagine taking your kids to Disneyland, and watching in horror as someone runs up and yanks the head off of Donald Duck.  Mets fans were traumatized in a similar fashion last night, as Fox News inadvertently broadcast the live decapitation of Mr. Met …

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.

Ned Colletti will return as Dodgers' general manager  —  After NLCS loss, Frank McCourt says Colletti will be back next season, the final season on his contract.  —  Ned Colletti will return as the Dodgers' general manager next season, club owner Frank McCourt said Wednesday.

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.

Expos All-Time 40-Man Roster Revealed  —  Posted in Random commentary with tags At least I got to see Tommy Greene throw a no-no in fro, Curt Schilling, Derrick Gould, I really wanted Andy McGaffigan to make the cut if only, Joe Posnanski, Montreal Expos, Seamheads.com on 15 October 2008 by Jonah

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.

Mike Francesa vs. The Mets  —  First Mad Dog, then Craig Carton, now Mike Francesa has declared war on the New York Mets.  If you missed today's show Mike basically threw down the gauntlet against the team in Flushing.  I am really not sure why Mike has it out for this team.

The true meaning of B.J. Upton  —  Be real: Evan Longoria, regardless of what happens to the Rays, is the new face and future of baseball.  He's everything the game needs, everything it's supposed to be about.  David Wright should be ticked.  —  Sitting 15 to 20 feet away from him in the dugout during …