The Myth of the Small-Market Series  —  Even when the current World Series match-up of Giants versus Rangers was just a possibility, I began to hear chatter to the effect of “Bud Selig and Fox are going to hate having two small-market clubs in the World Series.”

Amaro says Phils want Werth and can re-sign him  —  Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. knew as soon as he sat down for his season-ending news conference where the initial questions were headed.  “Shoot, ask whatever Werth questions.”  —  Amaro said the Phillies want Jayson Werth …

Ryan Howard, A-Rod and Carlos Beltran  —  The Phillies and Yankees were each eliminated from the post season this past weekend, each game ending with a called strike-three looking, bats on shoulders, and breaking balls breaking. … ~ Mike Vaccaro, New York Post

Yankees need uptight Girardi to lighten up  —  Tweet  —  Joe Girardi and the Yankees have no place else to turn, so they will return to each other.  —  Sometime in the next week, I suspect, Girardi will re-up for something in the neighborhood of three years at $10 million.  —  What alternative does Girardi have?

Pat Burrell, revived with San Francisco Giants, doesn't want to address time spent with Tampa Bay Rays  —  Friends and teammates say the Giants' Pat Burrell, who started in leftfield in all 10 playoff games, never was cut out to be a DH.  —  PHILADELPHIA — Maybe for Pat Burrell this is best …

Black buddies with Jays' skip  —  PHILADELPHIA - John Farrell is following in Buddy Black's footsteps.  —  He's just taking longer strides to get to the same destination: Big-league manager.  —  The Blue Jays offered Farrell a contract Friday to replace outgoing manager Cito Gaston.

Laird Returns To AFL  —  Yankees farmhand adds corner outfield to positions list  —  PHOENIX—Yankees prospect Brandon Laird followed a strong 2009 Arizona Fall League stint with an MVP season with Double-A Trenton of the Eastern League in 2010.  The righthanded hitting corner infielder hit .291/.355/.523 …

Damaso Marte out until all-star break  —  In a shocking upset, a player has arrived on locker clean-out day.  —  That player was one of the least likely to be here: Left-handed reliever Damaso Marte who just walked in with his left arm in a sling.  I have to assume that means he had the surgery …

Expect Yankees to splash cash on Jeter  —  Aging Bronx Bombers' captain is a money player in more ways than one … ARLINGTON, Texas — Up front, understand that Derek Jeter's winning percentage at the negotiating table is far better than his winning percentage on the field.

Daughter of former Mets coach Eddie Yost suing team after security guard's radio falls on her  —  One-time Mets coach Eddie Yost's daughter is suing the team after she got plunked by a security guard's radio that fell from from an upper deck.  —  Alexis Yost Fougere, 45 …

Ten things I didn't know about managers in the postseason  —  Well, it's the postseason (obviously).  That can mean only one thing: time to come out with postseason-related columns.  Let's have a postseason one about managers.  This is, after all, a subject near to my heart given that I wrote …

(2 of 2)  —  Harold Pointer told The Tennessean on Friday that Britt punched him in the face during the fight, causing an injury that needed four stitches.  Pointer's attorney, William Stover, said Metro police interviewed his client over the weekend.  —  “The police are going to talk …