Rangers exec thinks Phillies are role-model franchise  —  NEW YORK - Chuck Greenberg, managing partner and chief executive officer of the Texas Rangers, says the Phillies are one of the teams he hopes his franchise can emulate.  —  Greenberg's group, Rangers Baseball Express …

Phillies show signs of panic in Game 4 loss  —  SAN FRANCISCO - The chinks in these impermeable Philadelphia Phillies keep emerging, and the latest Wednesday night revealed an ugly truth: Not only are the Phillies one game away from extinction by the San Francisco Giants, they are turning into an awfully panicky bunch.

There's a fourth finalist for the Blue Jays' job: Brian Butterfield  —  According to an industry source, Blue Jays' third base coach Brian Butterfield is one of the four finalists for the Toronto managerial opening.  Butterfield, 52, a native of Maine who still lives in the state …

Bryce Harper's first Arizona Fall League hit, a near-miss  —  And there it is in video form: Bryce Harper's first professional hit in the Arizona Fall League last night — almost a grand slam — a two-run, ground rule double.  —  Sounds like the guy holding the video camera got a little excited - almost a double-rainbow moment!

Rangers' manager sits on hands (again)  —  I know I said I would lay off Ron Washington.  —  Really, though?  —  Washington's decision to start Matt Treanor in Game 5 was ... questionable, at best.  But we might at least understand the rationale: Treanor began serving as C.J. Wilson's personal catcher …

I want Hahn, but Mets need Sandy  —  I want the Mets to hire White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn, because he's highly regarded, he's young and progressive, he understands and uses new media and advanced statistics, and he'd likely bring a basket of new ideas to a stagnant team.

D-Backs to tab Montgomery as scouting director  —  The Diamondbacks are expected to name Ray Montgomery their new scouting director, with an announcement likely to come early next week.  —  Montgomery, 41, has spent the past eight seasons in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.

Where did the hitters go in October?  — The playoffs have followed the regular season trend back to pitching dominance.  Not that aces haven't done this in past postseasons, it's just that their supremacy this year stands out.  —  Roy Halladay's no-hitter, Tim Lincecum's 14 strikeouts …

Hillman likely to become Dodgers' bench coach  —  Former skipper would provide experience behind Mattingly  —  LOS ANGELES — Former Kansas City Royals manager Trey Hillman has emerged as the front-runner to be bench coach on Dodgers rookie manager Don Mattingly's staff, according to baseball sources.