Lidge and the Phillies close out Rays, earn World Series title  —  PHILADELPHIA — Save the jokes, the taunts and all those insults about the losingest team in sports.  —  The Philadelphia Phillies just won themselves a World Series.  —  If that sounds strange, it was strange.

Herzog has an idea for weather issue  —  PHILADELPHIA — If you thought this baseball season has lasted too long into wintry weather — Wednesday's resumption of World Series Game 5 was the second-latest by date in history — this is nothing compared to what the potential is for next year.

Colletti has full plate for offseason  —  Dodgers GM holds in-depth organizational meeting  —  LOS ANGELES — While the Phillies celebrate their championship, the Dodgers are back to the drawing board trying to win one.  —  General manager Ned Colletti held an all-encompassing organizational meeting …

Brewers set to throw $100 million at CC  —  Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005.  He appears weekly on the FSN Baseball Report and MLB on FOX.

Source: Marlins near trade with KC  —  Florida would receive Nunez in exchange for Jacobs  —  MIAMI — With the World Series now completed, the hot stove season is set to get under way.  —  Already, there is some activity.  —  According to a league source, the Marlins are close to trading …

Floyd may call it quits  —  PHILADELPHIA - Cliff Floyd may have worn a major-league uniform for the final time in a 16-year big-league career.  Floyd, who turns 36 this winter, tore the labrum in his right shoulder diving back into second base during Game 2 of the World Series and eventually …

In appreciation of Bud Selig … Here are two stories about Allan H.  (Bud) Selig, one that you probably know, one that you may not.  The funny thing is that they're really the same story, even if they happened about 60 years apart.  —  The first story goes back to the late 1940s …

The Big Chase  —  Rain or shine, the Philadelphia Phillies are the 2008 World Series champions.  Congratulations go out to all of the players, coaches, staff, Charlie Manuel, Pat Gillick, ownership, and the City of Brotherly Love.  —  As a Long Beach native, I am extremely happy for Chase Utley.

Benny Looper declines opportunity to remain with club  —  SEATTLE — Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik announced today that Benny Looper has declined an opportunity to remain with the Mariners.

Don't expect Yankees to meet Teixeira's price  —  This promises to be a fascinating baseball offseason, with huge dollars being committed to huge names.  The free-agency battle that seems to be exciting industry folks the most is not that for the stud starting pitcher CC Sabathia, nor for the wonder that is Manny Ramirez.

Phillies' Myers puts past behind him, on and off the field  —  PHILADELPHIA — Brett Myers still hears the taunts from the stands.  He gets the obscene letters.  —  “I know there are people out there that think I'm a jerk.  There are people out there who think I'm a wife-beater.