Not even 90 minutes after the Phillies left Citizens Bank Park for the exclamation point to their parade, they cut ties with two players.

The 2009 options on outfielder So Taguchi and reliever Tom Gordon were declined. Both can file for free agency.

As a born and bred Philadelphian, I am speechless.

I was six-years-old in 1983, so I don't remember those Sixers.

I'm pretty certain I'll remember these Phillies.

Time for a much-needed break. See you at the parade.

In his pre/mid-game press conference, Phils manager Charlie Manuel is going to have Ryan Madson take over for Cole Hamels.

Madson has established himself as a dominant setup man in the last month. Since the postseason began, he's 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 10 games.

"Madson will start the game for us," Manuel said of Game 5, which will begin with the Phillies hitting in the bottom of the sixth. "We've got (J.C.) Romero and (Brad) Lidge, (Chad) Durbin and (Scott) Eyre - that's how we play it."

So we're somewhere in hour 38 of this lovely suspended World Series Game 5.
"
When play resumes, will they trot out and wipe the dust off some has-been pop star to sing the National Anthem, or will they move right on to the "buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks?

Will their be an embarrassing amount of empty blue seats? My guess is more than a few hundred fans didn't think to hold onto their ticket stubs the other night (even though - HELLO PEOPLE! - that had big-time memorabilia written all over it).

How about the umpiring crew? Has their collective order of glases/contact lenses arrived yet from Lens Crafters?

So many questions, so much time to ponder....

Oh, right - the game.

When play resumes, this is how it's going to go: Grant Balfour is on the mound for Tampa, with the scored tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 6th.

Cole Hamels is due up for the Phils.

Charlie Manuel will pinch hit for Hamels. When the pinch hitter (Geoff Jenkins seems a good bet as Balfour is a righty) is announced, Joe Maddon will then decide whether he'll counter by bringing in a lefty.

He may stick with Balfour. Why? Lefty-killer Jayson Werth is due up third in the inning.

Of course, Maddon could burn the pen and use a lefty to face Jenkins and Jimmy Rollins, and then bring in a righty to face Werth... but then two more lefties, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, are due up.

On the other side, if Maddon brings in a lefty to counter Jenkins, Manuel could then pull Jenkins back and send a righty up instead (yes, So Taguchi).

Fun stuff, huh?

My guess is Balfour stays in, Maddon takes his chances against Jenkins, who hasn't hit a whole lot recently. He'll save one of his three lefties for Utley-Howard... and then turn to a righty to take on Pat Burrell, Shane Victorino, Pedro Feliz and Carlos Ruiz.

Then again, if Manuel has the inclination that Maddon will leave Balfour in, should be take his chances and send Stairs, and not Jenkins, up to bat?

Mind games. Hey, what else are you going to do with 44 hours to kill?

Here's the official word from MLB:

GAME FIVE OF THE 2008 WORLD SERIES POSTPONED

PHILADELPHIA – Game Five of the 2008 World Series will not resume tonight due to inclement weather. Game Five is now tentatively scheduled to resume on Wednesday evening at 8:37 p.m. (ET), weather permitting.

Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig said: “While obviously we want to finish Game Five as soon as possible, the forecast for today does not allow for us to continue the game this evening. We are closely monitoring tomorrow’s forecast and will continue to monitor the weather on an hourly basis. We will advise fans as soon as we are able to make any final decisions with respect to tomorrow’s schedule.”


-------------------------------

What's not in the above press release: the contingency plan for how the Series will move forward.

Here's what you should expect: if Game 5 can be finished Wednesday and the Rays win, Game 6 will be played Thursday, and, if necessary, Game 7 will be played Friday.

There will be no off-day. When MLB and Fox changed the TV scheduling a few years back of the World Series, they made sure no World Series games would be played on Friday, a historically bad night to draw television ratings. Saturdays aren't much better.

Thursday, on the other hand, is a very popular night for TV viewers. MLB is not nixing a chance to play on Thursday.

If, by some strange circumstance, MLB did decide to use Thursday as a travel day if the Rays win Game 5 Wednesday, here's the bonus for the Phils --- a World Series game played on Saturday would be played on Cole Hamels' regular day.

If Game 7 is on Saturday night, Hamels would start in full rest.

This blog is being suspended.... suspended in disbelief.

No parade today or tomorrow.

No more Cole.

No rain delay when a monsoon took over Citizens Bank Park and the Phillies held a 2-1 lead.

As a lifelong Philadelphian, I've seen my share of title hopes flushed down the toilet in very odd ways - fog bowl, choking incidents, barfing incidents, Mitch Williams incidents.

But what happened Monday night at Citizens Bank Park (which you can read all about in the wonderful stories at delcotimes.com/sports ), was unacceptable.

I was going to post a video of Dr. Evil (I wanted to liken the decision makers here to his collection of "frikkin' idiots.") but my computer is not cooperating.

It, too, is suspended in disbelief I guess.

RAYS

1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. B.J. Upton, CF
4. Carlos Pena, 1B
5. Evan Longoria, 3B
6. Dioner Navarro, C
7. Rocco Baldelli, RF
8. Jason Bartlett, C
9. Scott Kazmir, P


PHILS

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Jayson Werth, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Shane Victorino, CF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Cole Hamels, P

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you're a Phillies fan, today probably feels like Christmas Day. Or at least Christmas eve.

Nothing has happened yet, but there's a lot of anticipation for what everyone believes is going to happen.... tonight.

On that note, there's a song that been in my head all day. In high school and college, the Smashing Pumpkins were all the rage. Since we're almost at Halloween, what better of a band to quote.

Here's one of there songs, "Tonight, Tonight," which has some pretty appropriate lyrics for what's going on in Philly today...


TONIGHT, TONIGHT
by Smashing Pumpkins

Time... is never time at all
You can never ever leave without leaving a piece of youth
And our lives are forever changed
We will never be the same
The more you change the less you feel

Believe... believe in me, believe
Believe that life can change
That you're not stuck in vain
We're not the same, we're different tonight
Tonight, so bright
Tonight.... tonight

And you know you're never sure
But you're sure you could be right,
If you held yourself up to the light
And the embers never fade in your city by the lake
The place where you were born

Believe... believe in me, believe
Believe in the resolute urgency of now
And if you believe there's not a chance tonight
Tonight, so bright
Tonight

Well crucify the insincere tonight
Well make things right, well feel it all tonight, tonight
Well find a way to offer up the night, tonight
The indescribable moments of your life, tonight
The impossible is possible tonight, tonight
Believe in me as I believe in you.... tonight

Brett Myers shared a funny story following Sunday night's 10-2 victory over the Rays, a game that moved the Phillies one win away from a World Championship.

(Funny saying "Phillies" and "World Championship" in the same sentence, huh?)

"I went out to throw a bullpen today," Myers said. "And I heard one of the greatest things I've heard in a long time.

"It's 4:15 in the afternoon. The Eagles are playing across the street. There's 2 minutes left. And I'm hearing Phillies chants. And that's weird. I'm used to hearing Eagles chants all these years (in this park). So to hear that, it gave me chills. It told me, 'These people are ready to go.'"

If the Phillies win tonight, the debate is over.

Philadelphia will be a baseball town. The team that ends 25 years of misery (and it's not a done deal just yet) will rule the city.

I'm not going to say this World Series is over yet, but after Ryan Howard just unloaded on a three-run moonshot to left, my "Phils in 5" prediction looks like a pretty good bet.

It's only the top of the 5th, but it's 5-1 Phils. Other than a solo home run to Carl Crawford, Joe Blanton has looked superb.

A four-run lead with a team that can see the finish line - and a team that has a strong bullpen - would appear to have a good chance of holding up.

If that's the case, the Phils are up 3-1 in the series with Cole Hamels on the mound Monday. The ball in the ace's hands with a chance to clinch a World Championship?

Let's just say this: the way the things at the moment, I wouldn't make any plans for Halloween. A Friday holiday sounds as good as any day for a certain team to have a certain celebration (it starts with a "P") down Broad Street.

Uh oh - Eric Hinske just hit a home run to Camden. 5-2.

As Jimmy Rollins likes to say, nothing comes easy in Philly...

But wait. Joe Blanton - yes, JOE BLANTON - has answered back with a solo shot of his own. Wow.

RAYS

1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
2. B.J. Upton, CF
3. Carlos Pena, 1B
4. Evan Longoria, 3B
5. Carl Crawford, LF
6. Dioner Navarro, C
7. Ben Zobrist, RF
8. Jason Bartlett, SS
9. Andy Sonnanstine, P (2-0 with a 3.46 ERA in two postseason starts)



PHILS

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Jayson Werth, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Shane Victorino, CF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Joe Blanton, P (1-0 with a 3.27 ERA in two postseason starts)

The marathon that was Saturday night (Sunday morning) at Citizens Bank Park is over. I think.

But here we are. Back at the bank, 12 hours after arriving home from a long, strange trip at the park for Game 3.

The wild way the game played out - the Phils cough up 4-1 lead, only to rally back to score a run in the ninth without a hit that rolled any further than 40 feet - overshadowed a bigger story. The Phils are in excellent position to capture the franchise's second World Championship this week.

They have a 2-1 series lead, which is a pretty big deal when Cole Hamels is on tap to pitch tomorrow (Monday).

If Joe Blanton gives the Phils a quality start and the bats get hot (they're still 2-for-33 with runners in scoring position), they can go into tomorrow's game with their ace on the mound in a possible World Series-clinching game.

You really would have to like your chances there...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's the scoop from the Daily Times, Sunday edition, with stories that may or may not have made your paper (due to deadline issues/last night's last start):

Carlos Ruiz earns redemption in a wild, marathon night at the ball yard.

Here's a smattering of what the victorious Phils were saying postgame in the wee hours of the morning.

Jamie Moyer waited 22 years for Saturday night, and then delivered for the Phils.

E-Commish: This Bud's a dud.

You want more on the commish? We've got more on the commish's night in South Philly.

One other complaint on the commish's agenda: the Phils aren't happy that a popular pregame tradition has landed on the cutting room floor.

Hey look - it's Albert Pujols. He was at the Bank to collect an award... but it wasn't the NL MVP, which he may have to wrestle Ryan Howard for in another two weeks.

You want pictures? We've got pictures from last night's win.

If you still haven't arrived at the ballpark, don't rush out of the house.

According to a club official, Game 3 of the World Series Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park won't start, at the earliest, until 9:45 p.m.

RAYS

1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
2. B.J. Upton, CF
3. Carlos Pena, 1B
4. Evan Longoria, 3B
5. Carl Crawford, LF
6. Dioner Navarro, C
7. Gabe Gross, RF
8. Jason Bartlett, SS
9. Matt Garza, P


PHILS

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Jayson Werth, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Shane Victorino, CF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Jamie Moyer, P

A couple of notes: the majority of both team's hottest hitters are at the bottom of their respective lineups.

Shane Victorino leads the Phils in World Series batting average, hitting .500; Carlos Ruiz is right on his heels at .400. Jason Bartlett leads Tampa, at .667 while Akinori Iwamura (.429) and Dioner Navarro (.333) aren't far behind.

Rays cleanup hitter and likely A.L. Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria is hitless... as are the two longest-tenured members of the Phillies, Jimmy Rollins and Pat Burrell. Here's a bold pregame prediction: one of those three guys isn't just collecting a hit today, but hitting a home run.




(more pregame blogging in the posts below)

I came across a very interesting story late last night on ESPN.com, something that admittedly, something I didn't realize (along with the rest of the regular beat/Philadelphia writers).

The Phillies weren't very happy that MLB and FOX cut out the long tradition of announcing the entire rosters from both teams before Game 1 of the World Series. Kudos to ESPN.com's Amy Nelson on this story.

I'll try to find out more about this today, and will see if the Phils efforts will pay off in having both teams rosters announced tonight in the first World Series game at Citizens Bank Park.

All I can say is MLB and FOX need to get their respective heads out of their behinds: in their convoluted world, the Backstreet Boys (whose popularity ran out last century) are allowed to sing a 14-minute version of the national anthem, but Jamie Moyer can't hear his name announced before Game 1.

If MLB and FOX are so concerned about "timing," perhaps they should have first pitch at 8:07 and not 8:37.... any baseball fan under the age of 15 simply can't expect to be able to stay up past midnight on a school night.... and, for the love of God, veterans like Jamie Moyer deserve to hear their name over the P.A. system.

I'm glancing out from my couch at a very wet backyard, and the rain looks as persistent as Tampa Bay's offense against Boston. It doesn't stop.

But according to the good folks at weather.com, we're in luck -- sometime between 6 and 7 p.m. tonight, a couple hours before the first pitch, this wet stuff is supposed to stop.

Thus, the Phils will host the first World Series game in Philadelphia tonight since Oct 21, 1993, when Curt Schilling fired a five-hit, complete-game shutout against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 5.

Schilling is at home, likely hosting a radio talk show or blogging on 38pitches.com

The Phils will rely on another accomplished vet tonight - Jamie Moyer.

If I collected a dollar each time I've heard someone - fans, talk show hosts, media members - say "Jamie Moyer is finished" or "Jamie Moyer can't pitch again in this postseason," I'd be a VERY rich man.

Like rich enough to quit the glamorous life of getting two hours of sleep to board a 7 am plane in order to make a afternoon workout in another city.

But, honestly, I don't get it. I understand Philadelphians are fickle, but they're usually not forgetful.

Jamie Moyer did win 16 games this year and sport a sub-4.00 ERA, right? You can't possibly argue that, other than Cole Hamels, no starting pitcher on this team has been more consistent.

It was just three weeks ago that he tossed a gem to help the Phils clinch the NL East title, right?

But no.... let's all bury Jamie Moyer for one shaky-but-not-terrible outing in Milwaukee and one shellacking against a Dodgers team that has historically owned him.

Call me crazy, but I'll stick with the guy who has kept baffling hitters in his 2 1/2 years with the Phils, who has extended a possible Hall of Fame-worthy career into his mid 40s (Moyer turns 46 in less than a month).

Jamie Moyer has waited his whole life, and 22 baseball seasons, for a night like tonight. If the rains stays away - and it should, or I will flood weather.com with hate email - the old man will come through to keep the Phils in the game.

Of course, they should probably score some runs - maybe a hit with a runner in scoring position - if they hope to take a 2-1 series lead.

It's really a wonder how the Phillies are going back home tied 1-1 in the 2008 World Series.

Well, maybe not. Cole Hamels was brilliant in Game 1 and Chase Utley hit a timely home run.

After two games, the Phils are a dreadful 1-for-28 with runners in scoring position.

They tied a World Series record by going 0-for-13 in Game 1. The Phils upped that number to 0-for-19 before Shane Victorino beat out an infield single with a runner on second.

But that play didn't generate a run and the slump continued. At the end of a long, unproductive night at Tropicana Field (a house of horrors for the Phils offense), Charlie Manuel's team finished a putrid 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

"I myself had two golden opportunities… and I didn’t come up with at least putting the ball in play,” Greg Dobbs said. “That to me, for myself personally, is unacceptable.”

“We’ve done this before, we know we can work our way out of it,” Jimmy Rollins said. “It’s just a matter of one guy getting a hit and then it will roll down hill from there.”

Perhaps a change of venue - the next three games will be played at the cozy confines of Citizens Bank Park - will wake up the Phils bats.

PHILS

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Jayson Werth, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Shane Victorino, CF
7. Greg Dobbs, DH
8. Pedro Feliz, 3B
9. Carlos Ruiz, C

Brett Myers is pitching.

RAYS

1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
2. B.J. Upton, CF
3. Carlos Pena, 1B
4. Evan Longoria, 3B
5. Carl Crawford, LF
6. Cliff Floyd, DH
7. Dioner Navarro, C
8. Rocco Baldelli, RF
9. Jason Bartlett, SS


James Shields is pitching

As you probably saw (and suffered through), the Backstreet Boys sang the National Anthem before Game 1 of the World Series at Tropicana Field.

(We'll spare you posting a photo of that unfortunate incident.)

The Los Lonely Boys are singing in Tampa today.


The Phillies announced their National Anthem rotation this afternoon. Taylor Swift in Game 3. I'd say the Phillies won this competition.

(The entire press release is below.)




MUSICAL PERFORMERS SET FOR GAMES THREE AND FOUR OF 2008 WORLD SERIES
Taylor Swift, Patti LaBelle and Military Personnel to Perform at Citizens Bank Park
Tim McGraw to Deliver Game Three Ball with Member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Multi-platinum country artist Taylor Swift will perform the U.S. National Anthem prior to Game Three of the 2008 World Series at Citizens Bank Park. Two-time Grammy award winning R&B and soul singer/songwriter Patti LaBelle will perform the U.S. National Anthem prior to Game Four of the 2008 World Series. Military personnel from the Philadelphia area will perform God Bless America in the seventh inning of both Games.
A local member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the official charity of Major League Baseball, will deliver the first game ball to the mound at Games Three and Four. At Game Three, the Boys & Girls Club member will be accompanied to the mound by Grammy award winning artist, Tim McGraw. McGraw was invited by the Phillies and Major League Baseball as a symbolic gesture to honor his late father, Tug McGraw. Tug pitched the Phillies to a World Series win in 1980 and was the last pitcher to close a World Series win for the team. Pennsylvania native Taylor Swift first sang the National Anthem for a professional sports event at the age of 10 for her hometown team, the Reading Phillies. She made her debut on the Billboard country charts with her debut single “Tim McGraw” which peaked at #6 on the charts in 2006. Following “Tim McGraw” were “Teardrops on My Guitar,” “Our Song,” “Picture to Burn” and “Should’ve Said No,” all of which were top hits on the Billboard’s country and pop charts. Her self-titled debut album, “Taylor Swift,” sold over 3 million copies as she became the first female solo artist in country music to write or co-write every song on a platinum-selling debut CD. On November 11, 2008, Taylor will release her sophomore studio album “Fearless”.
A native of Philadelphia, Patti LaBelle has had a career in contemporary music that has spanned over 40 years. She has released 30 albums which have produced 35 singles on the American R&B Top 100 Chart with 26 reaching the Top 40 and 12 reaching Top 10. Two of her singles, “Lady Marmalade” and “On My Own”, a duet with Michael McDonald, became #1 singles on the American Hot 100 Singles chart. Her most recent album, “The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle,” debuted at #1 on the Top Gospel Albums chart. In
addition to being a successful singer, LaBelle is also an author with four best-sellers, actress, activist and entrepreneur with her own brand of clothing, jewelry, perfume and makeup.
The 2008 World Series will be televised nationally by FOX Sports and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International in 13 languages to 229 countries and territories around the world. ESPN Radio and XM Satellite Radio will provide national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage and MLB Radio will provide exclusive play-by-play coverage of the game on the Internet.

While logging on to ESPN.com to find some stats, I came across this story - which could be a boon to the Phils chances of collecting their first World Championship since 1980.

Why?

A rain-out Saturday would mean Cole Hamels would pitch in Game 4, not Game 5. The earlier you can send Hamels back out there, the better your odds are for winning a game.

So imagine this scenario: the Phils split the next two games, tonight and Sunday. Hamels, who will pitch Monday on four days' rest either way, could put the Phils up 3-1 if Game 4 is Monday.

Then Brett Myers is handed the ball in Philly, where he thrives off the home crowd. And you have to imagine the home crowd will be buzzing just a tad in anticipation of a World Championship-clinching victory, right?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD

Hamels added another chapter to a memorable playoff run Wednesday night.

He wasn't dominant, but he utilized his crazy-good changeup in unison with his sneaky-fast heater to keep Tampa off balance in Game 1. Hamels got beat a few times - Crawford's HR, Iwamura's double and even Upton's smash (which Feliz stabbed for a double play) - but the 24-year-old left-hander made a 3-0 lead stand up.

Hamels has four wins in four postseason starts, moving him one victory away from trying the all-time record for wins in a postseason.

But Game 1 is history. Honestly, they had to win Game 1 if they hope to win the series.

Consequently, Tampa has to win Game 2. The matchup: James Shields (9-2 with a 2.59 ERA at Tropicana Field this year) vs. Brett Myers (3-8 with a 6.21 ERA away from Citizens Bank Park).

Those numbers would appear to favor the Rays. But don't doubt Myers' thirst to up the Phils series lead to 2-0 before the arrive in Philadelphia early Friday morning.

The headache-inducing cowbells could motivate Myers to pick up where Hamels left off and silence the Rays. Meanwhile, Ryan Howard hasn't homered yet in the postseason, and as good as "Big Game" James Shields has been, he's not bulletproof.

Shields allowed 24 home runs in the regular season - only 10 American League pitchers gave up more.

So here we are.... it took a while, I just had a viewing for my computer, which apparently couldn't make it through the whole season (it IS a long season).

But after an awkward moving-on period, I've got a brand-spanking new machine just in time for Game 1. Like three hours before game-time, just-in-time.

Chris Coste is your DH. Here are the lineups.


PHILS

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Jayson Werth, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Shane Victorino, CF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Chris Coste, DH
9. Carlos Ruiz, C

Cole Hamels is pitching, of course.


RAYS

1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
2. B.J. Upton, CF
3. Carlos Pena, 1B
4. Evan Longoria, 3B
5. Carl Crawford, LF
6. Willy Aybar, DH
7. Dioner Navarro, C
8. Ben Zobrist, RF
9. Jason Bartlett, SS

Scott Kazmir is pitching.

Okay, time to take a deep breath. About two hours and 50 minutes to go as I type this. A shot out to Staples and the kindly cab driver, Norm, who did a fine job getting me to and from the Trop and Staples.

A lot's been written about this field. Here's the view from the pressbox as they piece it together for tomorrow night.

I forgot how easy it is to take a pic with my phone and email it to myself.



(It ain't Wrigley.... or CPB... or pretty)

Oh, that's right - the Mets traded Scott Kazmir, selected two picks before Cole Hamels in the 2002 draft, for Victor Zambrano. Can a Mets fan actually watch Game 1 of the World Series? Doubtful.

As expected, Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon tabbed Kazmir to start Game 1 of the World Series opposite Cole Hamels, a battle of lefties. Kaz and Cole, both high school pitchers when they were drafted by the Mets and Phillies, have kept tabs on each other.


"We've actually been compared by Baseball America and a couple of other things I was reading as I came up through the minors," said Kazmir, who went 12-8 with a 3.49 ERA this season and led the American League in with 239 strikeouts in '07. "Seems like we were pretty much in every single league going through the ranks.

"I got to see quite a bit of him and kind of follow his career a little bit, just because of another left-hander any you just see what he's doing and see what's working for him, maybe you can use to your own game. And I've seen a lot of him. He's a great pitcher."

Said Hamels:

"We were always compared... through that, you get to know a guy, not on a personal level, but on a level of respect," Hamels said. "He's a tremendous pitcher... he's a good guy and he has a competitive spirit that is one of the best.

"Being able to pitch against him will be a great opportunity, because being compared at such at early age and finally being able to compete against each other at this sort of stage makes things a little bit better."

Since we know how much Philadelphians like the underdog mentality, we wasted little time passing along this little nugget -- the Tampa Bay Rays, who had the worst record in baseball last season, are the favorites to win the World Series.

We don't condone gambling, but here's the latest from Vegas.

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One more quick observation before getting back to working on the World Series preview edition (which will appear in Wednesday's paper):

David Price could be a difference-maker in this series.

I'm sure you watched him man-handle the Red Sox in the last two innings of last night's ALCS Game 7. That was no fluke -- Price wasn't the No.1 overall pick in the 2007 draft for no reason.

He throws consistently in the mid-90s (he was hitting 95 and 96 last night pretty regularly). And he's left-handed.

This is not good news if he continues to come out of the bullpen to face the likes of Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.

Phils skipper Charlie Manuel said the team's rotation will remain the same for the World Series as it has been throughout the playoffs:

Game 1: Cole Hamels

Game 2: Brett Myers

Game 3: Jamie Moyer

Game 4: Joe Blanton



Also, the Phillies will need a DH for the first two games (to be played at either AL Park - Fenway or Tropicana). You can scratch one guy off the possible DH list, though:

"Not at all," Manuel said when asked if Ryan Howard, who has made 20 errors, was a possibility to take the DH spot. "He's playing first base."

Back when the Phillies hired him a year ago, they probably had no idea he would become this valuable of a commodity for October baseball.

Don't get me wrong - they hire professional scouts to do their jobs for a reason, but the team has to be extremely pleased with the happy coincidence that is having Chuck LaMar on their side.

LaMar, the Phillies World Series "Insider," worked as the Tampa Bay Rays general manager for the franchise's first 10 seasons. Many of the players who are currently battling the Red Sox were drafted and developed under LaMar's watch.

In anticipation of a possible Phils-Rays World Series, I caught up with LaMar before the Phils final game in L.A. LaMar has been in Boston all week, scouting the ALCS.

Here's the story on the Phillies "Insider" from Thursday's Daily Times sports section.

Since I was up at 4:15 a.m. and then spend half the day on a plane, I didn't plan on doing any blogging today. (Need to recharge the batteries/sleep).

But I came across this excellent photo taken by Jed Jacobsohn of Getty Images.

The last time Jimmy Rollins led off the game with a home run, we were in Milwaukee for Game 4 of the National League Division Series. The Phils advaced to the NLCS later that day.

Rollins led off tonight's game at Dodger Stadium with a home run. With Cole Hamels on the mound, we all know how this one is going to end.

Honorary National League president Bill Giles will be handing the league championship trophy to the Phillies in another 90 minutes or so.

The Phillies, for just the sixth time in the 126 years of the franchise's existence, are headed to the World Series (barring a disastrous finish, although again, with Hamels on the mound and a 4-0 lead in the 5th, you have to like their chances).

As for that parade I was talking about... the Phillies' charter flight back home is expected to touch ground at Philadelphia International between 6 and 7 a.m. So if you're into stayin' up all night getting rowdy and greeting the team, there's a little heads-up from yours truly.

The Dodgers are in must-win mode. Here is the lineup they're trotting out tonight against Cole Hamels:

1. Rafael Furcal, SS
2. Andre Ethier, RF
3. Manny Ramirez, LF
4. Russell Martin, C
5. James Loney, 1B
6. Casey Blake, 3B
7. Matt Kemp, CF
8. Blake DeWitt, 2B
9. Chad Billingsley, P


Here's the Phils lineup:

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Jayson Werth, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Shane Victorino, CF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Cole Hamels, P

Since they'd like to close this thing out before heading back home tonight, I wouldn't be surprised if the Phils completely stay away from Ramirez. He's hitting .500 (11-for-22) this postseason with three home runs, two doubles and nine RBIs.

While the Dodgers haven't played great this series, Manny has certainly been Manny - one of the best all-time playoff performers - and the Phils simply can't let him beat them tonight and give L.A any life.

The Phillies can collect their first National League pennant since Mitch Williams struck out Bill Pecota on Oct. 13, 1993 when they take on the Dodgers in L.A. tonight.

Cole Hamels is the man on the spot, and appears to be raring to go.

"Going out there in the big game, you want to be that guy that can dictate it.
And I think if you have the mind-set and the talent to do so, then you should be able to go out there and have success," Hamels said. "And I think that's something I have the confidence that I can go out there and do it. I know I have the talent to do it.

"It's just a matter of time and getting that opportunity to do it.
I've had the opportunity this year and I've been able to not only come through but hopefully put us into more situations where I can do it again, and again, and again."

The first again starts in seven hours. If he wins tonight, Hamels will likely find himself back on the mound in the Phillies next game, too - Game 1 of the World Series a week from tonight.

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Over in the ALCS, Tampa Bay has outscored Boston 87-4 in the last three games. Okay, not quite... but the Rays have been rolling over the Red Sox and that series, too, looks just about finished.

And don't be too quick to assume the Rays are a better matchup than the Sox for the Phils in the Series. Tampa has won 13 of their 24 games against the Sox this year, and beat them for the AL East title.

Boston's World Series titles are in the past - the Rays are obviously the better team right now.

Phillies fans can't erase their last World Series memory.

It may have been 15 years ago, but the home run from that certain Toronto slugger off that wild Philadelphia closer still hurts like it happened yesterday.

Well here's a healthy heaping of good news: Phils faithful are going to have an opportunity to cloud their brains with new memories of a Philadelphia Fall Classic.

Shane "The October Homerin' Hawaiian" Victorino continued his playoff magic with a game-tying, bullpen-reaching home run and Matt Stairs alugged a titanic blast later in a four-run eighth inning that delivered the Phils a 7-5 win and moved the losingest franchise in the history of the sport one win away from their first World Series appearance in 15 years.

While they are still one win away - don't plan your World Series parties just yet - how can you not feel pretty good about their chances?

They have three cracks at finishing off the Dodgers and their best opportunity comes first. Following a random day off Tuesday, the Phils will send Cole Hamels and his 1.20 ERA to the hill for Game 5.

My prediction was Phils in 6. Can I change it to Phils in 5?

On a day when the Phils did a lot of things to help hand the game to the Dodgers, they still prevailed. I'm no sports psychologist, but I'm guessing this loss cuts a deep wound in the home team's clubhouse.

Joe Blanton lost a lead in the fifth.

Chad Durbin served up a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning. In the same inning, Ryan Howard collected error No.20 on the season to plate another Dodgers run.

But the Phils played powerball against a tough L.A. pen, capped by late-season pickup Matt Stairs hitting the first home run Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton has allowed since May.

The fellas on press row have just been handed a memo. It reads: "MEDIA ADVISORY: DODGERS WORKOUT TOMORROW CANCELLED; PHILLIES WORKOUT TIMING TO REMAIN THE SAME."

That's right, the Dodgers have already called it a season.

If the all-important momentum stays with Cole Hamels and the Phils in two days, L.A. can cancel their trip to Philadelphia, too and clean out their lockers before the weekend.

According to manager Charlie Manuel, the Phils are getting their wallets hit for Sunday night's third inning, bench-clearing shoutfest with the Dodgers.


-First base coach Davey Lopes - fined a $1,000.

-Center fielder Shane Victorino - fined $2,500.

-Reliever J.C. Romero - fined $1,000.

"I haven't heard their thoughts about fining those guys, or what they did to get fined that," Manuel said. "I guess when they looked at the films and replays and things, they took into consideration who was doing the talking and that sort of thing. I guess some of them had to be restrained and things like that."

The Phillies didn't have any suspensions. Still, Manuel is not sure the punishment fit the crime. (Here's the AP story on all the fines -- the Dodgers didn't go unpunished, either.)

"I thought it was pretty tough. That's coming down pretty hard for what happened," Manuel said. "I think it is making a little more out of it than what it was. That's what I think."

Well, at least we've got a series.

Which Phillies fans and Phillies beat writers alike would probably be happier with a sweep, for different reasons (a day off every now and then would be nice, people).

But the Phils weren't going to oblige. Jamie Moyer simply can't beat the Dodgers.

After yielding six runs in 1 1/3 innings, Moyer's lifetime ERA against Los Angeles swelled to 5.95.

The Phils better hope they can win this series in five or six games, otherwise they're going to face a dilemma: do they pitch Jamie Moyer in Game 7?

I think they would. Here's one tidbit from manager Charlie Manuel's postgame press conference on Moyer:

"He's been consistent all year long for us. He's won 17 games and he's one of the reasons why we're playing here."

The Phils also may want to avoid getting to a Game 6 though, too. Since the Dodgers are going with a three-man rotation (as I mentioned here in the blog before the series started), Hiroki Kuroda would make his next start in Game 6.

I wouldn't feel too confident in the Phillies chances with Kuroda on the mound. While Moyer was roughed up, Kuroda silenced the visiting team's bats, setting the tone for the game by retiring 13 in a row from the second to the seventh inning.

In three starts this year against the Phils, Kuroda is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA. Kuroda has held the Phillies to a .141 batting average (9-for-64) with four extra base hits (no home runs).

All of this (avoiding Games 6 and 7) obviously puts a premium on winning the next two games. The Phils would have to like their chances in Game 5, when Cole Hamels and his 1.20 playoff ERA take the hill.

With that logic, the most important game comes tonight, when Joe Blanton takes the hill opposite Dodgers ace Derek Lowe.

My apologies for going out on a limb and having faith in Moyer to avoid another clunker.

Moyer got clunked. His final line was demon-ish. 2 IP, 6 R, 6H, 6 ER.

But I did say the Phils would win this thing in six games. Don't fret yet, Phils fans - although Moyer would be your Game 7 starter, Cole Hamels and Brett Myers are more than capable of winning two more games before that would become necessary.

Here are the lineups for tonight's Game 3:

PHILLIES

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Shane Victorino, CF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF