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 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 …

BOWA COULD RETURN AS YANKS' THIRD BASE COACH  —  BOSTON - Larry Bowa is the leading candidate to replace Yankees third base coach Bobby Meacham.  —  The Yankees are willing to wait until after the Dodgers' season ends to see if Bowa, who was the Yankees' third base coach in 2006 and 2007 …

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

A Look Into FOX's Worst Nightmare, A Rays-Phils World Series  —  If you asked me before the Playoffs started, who I'd like to see in the World Series, I honestly would have said the Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies.  Not because of any affiliation or anything …

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.