Cool-hand Hamels joins elite company with Game 1 win  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Phillies talk about how calm Cole Hamels is.  They talk about how relaxed he is, even on the days he pitches.  —  “Cole never changes,” Scott Eyre said Wednesday night.  —  And this month …

Boras states his case for keeping Varitek  —  The Red Sox and Jason Varitek have not initiated contract discussions, which is not unusual this soon after the season, said Scott Boras, the agent who represents the catcher.  —  Boras did not offer any specific figures Varitek is aiming for …

Padres like what they see in Braves pitching prospect Hanson  —  When Braves pitching prospect Tommy Hanson fired high-speed fastballs in an Arizona Fall League game recently, the Padres were all eyes.  —  General Manager Kevin Towers has said young pitching likely will be the starting point …

YANKS' PLANS MAY INCLUDE CAMERON  —  ST. PETERSBURG - General manager Brian Cashman refused to confirm or deny that Mike Cameron is high on the Yankees' list of free-agent signings if the veteran outfielder becomes a free agent.  —  According to an industry source, the Yankees are waiting …

Tampa Bay Shortstop Jason Bartlett Steals Millions of Free Tacos  —  Taco Bell(R)'s “Steal A Base, Steal A Taco” World Series(R) Offer Sealed in 5th Inning During Game 1 of 2008 World Series(R)  —  Hey America, are you ready for some free tacos?  Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett stole free tacos …

Rays' Matt Garza billboard for Tigers' new pitching coach  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In the bedlam that welcomed the pennant to Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay pitcher Matt Garza stood on a platform near second base and displayed the object he'd just received, the one that proclaimed …

Strawberry cautions Chamberlain: Don't be like me  —  Darryl Strawberry has a message for Joba Chamberlain: Stop now.  Don't be like me.  —  Shortly after learning about Chamberlain's alleged DUI early Saturday morning, Strawberry said he called Yankees executive Ray Negron and asked him to pass along some words to Chamberlain.

Madden: Met hate helped Phils  —  ST. PETERSBURG - It took a half-dozen under-the-radar player moves by Pat Gillick to produce the first Phillies World Series team since 1993, and the Phillie GM characteristically passes off most of the credit to his scouts and assistants.

Trade front  —  Talked with a veteran scout this week about the Marlins' cache of potential trade targets.  The scout, who has been in contact with his team's upper management about the trade market, did not sound overly impressed with what the Marlins might have to offer.  —  Some of the scout's thoughts:

Tatis named Comeback Player  —  This is kind of wordy, but in official terms, Fernando Tatis received the 2008 Players Choice Award for Comeback Player of the National League.  I know that's a bit elaborate, but it's how the award is described on the release.  The voting is done by balloting of all MLB players.

Momentum?  Shmomentum!  —  Background  —  Joe Sheehan was allowing the possibility that chemistry exists (it does, so no reason to pretend it doesn't) and that he may have found it.  Did he?  Chemistry and momentum are two of those things that people will point to after something good has happened …

Dodgers eyeing shorter Manny offer … ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Dodgers appear willing to meet or come close to superstar free agent Manny Ramirez's annual salary target but are strongly disinclined from acceding to his wish for a deal of five or six years, people familiar with the club's thinking tell SI.com.

Cards unlikely to deal for Peavy  —  Before ownership removed the “interim” before his title last Halloween, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak had picked up the club option for 2008 on closer Jason Isringhausen, re-signed reliever Russ Springer to a one-year extension and negotiated …