Inside Pitch

AL MVP winner comes Monday; NL should be a lock

The American League MVP winner will be announced Monday at 2 and it should be an interesting vote, unlike the slam-dunk for Albert Pujols that should be certified when the National League winner is announced Tuesday at 2.

Here's the MLB.com recap of the top AL candidates. My pick would be Joe Mauer of the Twins. Yes, he missed some time early in the season but shouldn't be held against him. He still played 138 games, batted .365 and excelled at the game's most complex position. And his team rallied late to make the playoffs.

If I had an official ballot (I'm not on either committee), I would vote 1-Mauer 2-Mark Teixeira 3-Derek Jeter. In the NL, it would be 1-Pujols 2-Hanley Ramirez 3-Prince Fielder. You can get a look at the National League "race" here.

Make your choices below:

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

poll by twiigs.com

poll by twiigs.com

Alex Ramirez named MVP in Japan

Here's a blast from the past: Former Bisons star Alex Ramirez was named MVP of the Japanese League for the second straight year on Wednesday. Now 35, Ramirez led the Yomiuri Giants to their first Japan Series title by leading the league with a .322 average, 31 homers and 103 RBIs. He has become an icon during his nine-year career in Japan

The 35-year-old Ramirez hit .322 in helping the Yomiuri Giants to their first Japan Series championship since 2002. He had 31 homers and drove in 103 runs in 144 games this season, his ninth in Japan. He's the fastest American in history with 1,500 hits in Japan and he has 287 career home runs

"A-Ram" as he was known here, played in Buffalo from 1997-99 and was a key member of Buffalo's 1998 International League champions . He hit .299 with 34 home runs and 103 RBIs that season to earn the club's most valuable player award. His home run and RBI totals, and his 28-game hitting streak still stand as modern-era records for the Bisons.

Check out Ramirez's official Web site (you can click on the Japanese tab for the Japanese version if you so choose). Here's his year-by-year stats in Japan

Here's a story on Ramirez that ran during the Japan Series.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Vote for the NL Cy Young

I thought Zack Greinke was a fairly obvious choice for AL Cy Young but the NL is no open-and-shut case. It gets announced Thursday at 2 and it's a tough call. You can read MLB.com's summary here. There are a bunch of names in there but I really think it comes down to three: The St. Louis duo of the Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright and San Francisco ace Tim Lincecum.

Linceum (15-7, 2.48 ERA, 261 K) won it last year when he was 18-5 and was brilliant again. Carpenter (17-4, 2.24, 144) once again looked like he did in the 2005-06 range and Wainwright (19-8, 2.63, 212) has established himself as an ace three years after ending the World Series as an untouchable rookie closer.

I really like Carpenter in this one. He was 12-1 from June on and his one-hitter Sept. 7 in Milwaukee was one of the most dominant games I watched all season. He's had an amazing run back from Tommy John surgery and this would definitely be the capper. I don't have an official ballot in this race but mine would read 1-Carpenter 2-Lincecum 3-Wainwright.

Make your pick below.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

poll by twiigs.com

Girardi got this vote

I was one of the 28 voters for this year's American League Manager of the Year award, which was given to Los Angeles' Mike Scioscia today. The Baseball Writers Association of America requests we keep our votes secret until the winner is announced and now I can let the cat out of the bag: I had Joe Girardi first,  Scioscia second and Ron Gardenhire third.

There is certainly a lot of anti-Girardi sentiment along the lines of he's supposed to win big with all that talent. But 103 wins are 103 wins, folks. And A-Rod was gone for 38 games. And the Yankees were struggling along until June but Girardi didn't panic. He mixed in the Brett Gardners of the world and allowed the clubhouse to change with the more light-hearted personalities of Nick Swisher and A.J. Burnett.

Girardi also relaxed his personality as well. Uptight like he was in Florida wasn't going to work in New York. It didn't work well in 2008. His personal evolution was certainly a key factor in the Yankees' run.

Scioscia did a great job in Anaheim, particularly in the wake of Nick Adenhart's death. And he's had an amazing run the last eight years. No problem whatsoever with him winning the award. Gardenhire kept the Twins together until they could finally overtake the Tigers. Another great job with a small-market team that might become even more dangerous with all the revenue from a new ballpark starting next year.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Vote for the managers of the year

Awards continue Wednesday at 2 as the AL and NL Manager of the Year citations are announced. Full disclosure: I was one of the 28 voters for the AL award and the Baseball Writers Association of America has requested we not reveal our ballots until the winner is revealed (we voted for a top-three).

You can see a full discussion of the candidates for the AL award here. Pretty obvious the main candidates are Los Angeles' Mike Scioscia, Minnesota's Ron Gardenhire, New York's Joe Girardi, Texas' Ron Washington, Detroit's Jim Leyland (save for the last week!) and Seattle's Don Wakamatsu. It should be a very interesting vote.

In the NL race, Colorado's Jim Tracy appears to be a clear favorite. But there will certainly be sentiment for Tony La Russa, Bobby Cox, Joe Torre, Charlie Manuel and Fredi Gonzalez. If I were voting, I would tab Tracy-Cox-La Russa 1-2-3 (voting, remember, does not include the postseason).

Vote for your choices below.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington) 

poll by twiigs.com

poll by twiigs.com

It's awards time: Pick the AL Cy Young

Andrew Bailey of the A's and Chris Coghlan of the Marlins were named American and National League rookies of the year, respectively, today by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Hmmm. If I had a vote, I had Detroit's Rick Porcello ahead of Bailey in the AL and the duo of Philly's J.A. Happ and Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen ahead of Coghlan in the NL.

Voting for all awards was done prior to the postseason. Writers generally vote for one category. This year, I was a voter for American League Manager of the Year and it's requested we not reveal our ballots until the award is announced (it will be on Wednesday). So I'll fill you in then.

In the meantime, be sure to keep watch here for polls on the upcoming awards. On Tuesday at 2, the AL Cy Young Award will be announced and that will be interesting.

If I were voting, my ballot would look like this: Zack Greinke (left), CC Sabathia, Mariano Rivera. I'm contradicting myself a little because I would pick Happ over McCutchen on the basis he helped his team,  so I should probably vote for one of the Yankees over a Royal.

 But Greinke's numbers were truly spectacular (MLB-best 2.16 ERA, 242 strikeouts as part of a 16-8 season) and I'm not as concerned about his won-loss record. There are cases to be made for guys like Sabathia, Rivera, Felix Hernandez, Justin Verlander, Scott Feldman and Roy Halladay but I go for Greinke. How about you?

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

(Photo: Associated Press)

poll by twiigs.com

Coaching carousel

Back from a post-World Series vacation and keeping an eye on the smoldering hot stove, which will heat up next month at the Winter Meeetings in Indianapolis. Here's some moves in the dugout I found interesting: 

---New Indians manager Manny Acta made three more additions to his staff today, including the hiring of former Bisons pitching coach Scott Radinsky as his new bullpen coach. Acta went with an outsider, Steve Smith, as his third base/infield coach, a post some thought could go to Torey Lovullo. The first base coach slot is still open and Lovullo probably has a chance for that.

---One I missed during the chaos of the Series: The Orioles named Jeff Datz, former Bisons manager and deposed Indians bench coach, as their new bench coach under Dave Tremblay. Here's more from Datz on how the interview process went down.

---Also today: Ex-Met Wally Backman, exiled to independent ball after a misdemeanor assault charge and DUI ended his four-day stint as Diamondbacks manager in 2004, was hired by the Mets to manage Class A Brooklyn in the New York-Penn League

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Elsewhere, have you seen the new national AT&T ad featuring a fictional Bison getting called up? The ad was filmed in Lake Elsinore, Calif., and not at Coca-Cola Field but it prominently features "Buffalo" on the player's jersey and his phone. Why the Bisons? AT&T has long been one of the team's top national partners. Check it out here:

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Closer was a dilemma only Yanks solved

In today's Inside Baseball column, I look at the ridiculous postseason success of ageless Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. He has an 0.99 ERA, fifth all-time in World Series play and second in the last 60 years to Sandy Koufax. While every other team's closer had a major slip-up in the postseason, Rivera was impenetrable again. Had Hideki Matsui not had six RBIs in the clinching game, Rivera almost certainly would have been the World Series MVP.

Rivera was by far the most reliable closer this October/November. But I'm curious to find out, especially from the Yankee fans out there, who you might have trusted the most on other teams? If you don't have Rivera in pinstripes, which closer would you take?

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

poll by twiigs.com

A video look at Yankees' clincher

NEW YORK -- Live from ... gate 19 at JFK Airport! Still in follow-up mode to the Yankees' World Series win. We'll have another story in Friday's paper and be sure to check out Inside Baseball in Sunday's paper for more thoughts on Mariano Rivera vis-a-vis closers in the postseason. As for today, I put together an audio recap after Game Six and, through the magic of digital media producer Joe Popiolkowski, you can view our video slideshow of the Yankees' clinching triumph. You'll hear from Rivera and Jorge Posada in it as well.

By the way, MLB.com is reporting that Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte and Posada, among others, will be on David Letterman's show tonight.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Game 6 final sprays, er, thoughts

NEW YORK -- Yes, the champagne stings if it gets in your eyes. And the whole celebration is one loud, chaotic, raucous circus. But the New York Yankees have waited nine long years to celebrate a World Series title and it was party time in the Bronx early this morning after the 7-3 Game Six win over the Phillies completed the quest for 27. Uncluttering the mind, the notebook and the bubbly stains after this one:

Joe Girardi: His legacy last year was missing the playoffs after Joe Torre had gone for 13 straight years. He has own legacy now. He's right there with Billy Martin as guys who played for a Yankees Series winner and managed one. He was 2 for 3 on pitchers working on three days rest, with Andy Pettitte's work in the clincher proving Girardi right (you have to excuse him for A.J. Burnett, who can drive any manager crazy).

Hideki Matsui: It truly became a World Series as Godzilla (left) completely spooked Philly pitching en route to MVP honors. The Phillies simply couldn't get him out as he went 8 for 13. He'll get plenty of attention on the free agent market this winter and I still say the Yankees let him go and move Johnny Damon to DH/partime OF so prospect Austin Jackson can move in.

Andy Pettitte: Another series clinching game for the all-time leader in postseason wins. If Pettitte can play 2-3 more years and push his victory total into the 250 range, he has to be in Hall of Fame conversations.

Mariano Rivera: He is a Hall of Famer. Period. Had Matsui not gone beserk in the finale, Rivera (holding trophy at left) would have been the MVP. He was the difference. The Yankees had him. The Phillies didn't.

Derek Jeter: Another MVP candidate. He was 11 for 27 and is a career .321 hitter in Series play.

Ryan Howard: Epic fail. Nice job hitting your only home run when your team is down, 7-1. Series record 13 strikeouts.

Pedro Martinez: You can't pitch regularly on 10-15 days rest. You're supposed to go on five. That's what he did Wednesday and he had nothing. It should make teams pay heed to giving him a lot of bucks this winter, including the Phillies.

Yankee domos: Hank and Hal Steinbrenner, Lonn Trost and Randy Levine all made sure to make themselves accessible to the media. Hmmmph. I felt dirty listening. Other than writing the checks (an admittedly important skill), all they're responsible for is making sure the common fan is priced out of a new stadium. GM Brian Cashman gets the credit. I listened in a little on one scrum with Hank and it was at least heartening to hear him giving Cashman and Girardi credit.

Fox: The media was herded on the field during the postgame celebration. What in the world was Chris Rose doing asking the questions? What kind of questions were they? Who the heck is Chris Rose anyway? If we're gonna be here into November, put a real host on the field.

Thanx to all for reading the blog the last 10 days, its most successful run since its inception in 2007. Did all the Yankee fans agree with the choice of Matsui as MVP?. Make your pick below and have your say on the Bronx Bombers in the comment section.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

poll by twiigs.com

Live from the Bronx: Yanks go for the clinch II

NEW YORK -- What more is there to be said? It's the Yankees and Phillies in Game Six. Andy Pettitte vs. Pedro Martinez. The quest for the Bombers' 27th title. The Phillies quest to keep their reign going and get to Game Seven. Sully wants the Yankees to drill Chase Utley. You would think that's coming. Keep it here for your live updates.

Here's the lineups:

Philadelphia: Rollins, ss; Victorino, cf; Utley, 2b; Howard, 1b; Werth, rf; Ibanez, dh; Feliz, 3b; Francisco, lf;  Ruiz, c;

New York: Jeter, ss; Damon, lf; Teixeira, 1b; Rodriguez, 3b; Matsui, dh; Posada, c; Cano, 2b; Swisher, rf; Gardner cf.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Mid-9th: The quest for 27 is complete. Yankees win

Mid-8th (7-3, Yankees): Three outs to go.

End-7th (7-3, Yankees): I'd say the Phillies' last chance just passed. With two on and two out, Damaso Marte got Utley on a check-swing third strike (dubious appeal call by Brian Gorman at third). So Mariano has a four-run lead to work with and six outs to go. I'd say you can book this one. Check that: Marte will stay in to face Howard, then it will be "Enter Sandman"

End-6th (7-3, Yankees): Pettitte has walked five and his free pass to Utley was damaging because Howard followed with a two-run homer just over the wall in left. One out later, Ibanez doubled and Pettitte was lifted for Joba Chamberlain, who I would imagine would work through the seventh with Mariano in the eighth and ninth. Pettitte got a roaring ovation and doffed his cap to the crowd as he left. Joba got Feliz on a grounder to end the inning.

End-5th (7-1, Yankees): You can start engraving that championship trophy and start chiseling Matsui's MVP trophy as the Yankees are in control. Jeter leads off with a double, goes to third on a Hairston sacrifice and scored on Teixiera's single to right-center, just his third hit of the series. A-Rod walked and Matsui drove another one off the wall in deep right-center for a two-run double. That six RBIs, tying Bobby Richardson's 1960 record for a WS game set against the Pirates. A 3-for-3 night and an 8-for-12 series with 8 RBIs. The place is buzzing. This is the night.

Mid-5th (4-1, Yankees): Pettitte is through five on three days rest after getting Rollins to ground into a double play, the Phillies' 2nd of the night. The Yankees are six outs away from Mariano, who would almost certainly pitch two innings tonight to protect a lead. Pedro is out and Chad Durbin comes in.

End-4th (4-1, Yankees): Pettitte issed a pair of two-out walks before getting Feliz on a full-count pitch by grounding to third. After the inning, the normally mild-mannered Pettitte started yelling at plate umpire Joe West on the way out of the dugout and Joe Girardi had to intervene. Rarely see that from Pettitte but West's zone has been tight tonight. Pedro rebounded from the third with a 1-2-3 fourth. Pitch counts: Pettitte 62-31, Pedro 77-46.

End-3rd (4-1, Yankees): Pedro was one pitch away from getting out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam but Matsui got him again for a two-run single to push the lead to three. A key to the inning was when Victorino misread Jeter's one-out liner and let the ball fall in front of him for a single that got things going. Damon walked and Pedro hit Teixeira with the first pitch. It looked like a big momentum swing was in the offing when Pedro got A-Rod to take a called third strike on a pitch that appeared outside.

Matsui fouled back the first pitch, then roped the second just foul down the line in right. He didn't miss the third, a high fastball on the outside edge that he drove to left-center. So Matsui is now 7-11 in the series with three homers and 6 RBIs. Damon apparently pulled a calf muscle scoring on the single and has been replaced in left by Jerry Hairston. He was 6 for 10 in the last three games. That could be a big loss for the Yanks. Pedro at 62 pitches through three. Phils had lefty J.A. Happ warming. Should he have faced Matsui instread of Pedro?

Mid-3rd: (2-1, Yankees): The Phillies cut the deficit in half as Ruiz triples halfway off the wall in deep left-center (Gardner played it into a triple by allowing the ball to bounce by him), and Rollins followed with a sacrifice fly to right. Ruiz had just four triples in his career in more than 1,100 at-bats and only one this year. Huge to not let Pettitte go 1-2-3 after the Matsui HR.

End-2nd (2-0, Yankees): Matsui did the damage with a two-out home run into the second deck in right that followed a four-pitch walk to A-Rod. It came on a full-count pitch and capped an at-bat when he roped two long fouls to right. After taking the 2-2 pitch just inside, Matsui teed off on an 89-mph fastball (right) for his second homer of the series off Pedro, who doesn't have much. You wonder how long they keep him in this game. Matsui is now 6 for 10 with three HRs in this series; has to get some MVP consideration if the Yankees win although I'm assuming it goes to Rivera if there's a save (and it doesn't go to Utley).

End-1st (0-0): The first pitch, a ball from Pettitte to Rollins, was at 7:58 p.m. and the gametime temperature is a brisk 47 degrees. Trust me, that seems like an optimistic reading. Pettitte gave up an infield single to Victorino but got out of the inning by getting Utley on a double play. No, Sully, Pettitte didn't dust Utley. Pedro ignored the "Who's Your Daddy?" chants to post a 1-2-3 inning, including a strikeouts of Damon on a 75-mph changeup. Teixeira flied deep to right to fall to 2 for 20 in the series. Lots of junk by Pedro; nothing over 85 mph.

Lineups are in: Swisher, Victorino get the call

NEW YORK -- Both teams' lineups are now in for Game Six and the main questions are answered: Shane Victorino's finger is good enough for him to start in CF for the Phillies and the Yankees will start Nick Swisher in RF against Pedro Martinez. Swisher is 2 for 12 in the series and batting just .136 in the postseason; Hairston is batting .367 lifetime against Pedro and got the start in Game Two.

"Swish has been our every day right fielder and we thought it was just important that he sit down for a day," manager Joe Girardi said during his pregame briefing. "His at-bats have been very good since we sat him down. We don't always look at how many hits you get. We look at the at-bats and see if he's hit the ball hard and squaring up against pitches."

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said Victorino has already taken some swings in the batting cage and joked that his CF was "gonna get four or five hits, steal five bases."

The Yankees' lineup: Jeter, ss; Damon, lf; Teixeira, 1b; Rodriguez, 3b; Matsui, dh; Posada, c; Cano, 2b; Swisher, rf; Gardner cf.

The Phillies' lineup: Rollins, ss; Victorino, cf; Utley, 2b; Howard, 1b; Werth, rf; Ibanez, dh; Feliz, 3b; Francisco, lf;  Ruiz, c;

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Pedro in diaper -- yes, diaper -- on cover of today's NY Post

NEW YORK -- Just when you think you've seen it all from the New York Post comes today's cover.  Check it out.

You may remember last week that Shane Victorino, a native of Hawaii, was photoshopped on  to the front page wearing a grass skirt and was none too pleased during Media Day prior to Game One when a Post photographer wanted to get him to hold up a shot of the cover.

Today's gem is Game Six starter Pedro Martinez in a diaper because he's about to get whupped by his daddy, the Yankees.  In the one uncomfortable moment during his hilarious press conference yesterday, Martinez was asked about all the Who's Your Daddy taunts in Yankee Stadium and said he was moving on from the question because the subject was too old for him.

Not too old for the Post I guess.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

No weather issues for Game 6

NEW YORK -- It's a bright, sunny day in the big city. There's only a 10 percent chance of rain with temperatures in the mid-40s expected tonight as Andy Pettitte and Pedro Martinez meet in Game Six of the World Series. You can check out the hour-by-hour forecast here.

Things look quite a bit more iffy if there's a Game Seven tomorrow. Looking at that current hour-by-hour as of 11 a.m. today, the temps may only be in the high 30s and the chance of rain hits 50 percent by 9 p.m. Uh-oh.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Pearls from Pedro

NEW YORK -- Pedro Martinez was a big hit with the media last week on the day before his Game Two start, when he spent 20 minutes on a variety of topics. Among them was really his first in-depth discussion of the infamous 2003 ALCS brawl with Yankees coach Don Zimmer. There were some light moments for sure, but there was some pretty heavy stuff as well during which Martinez showed some great introspection.

Nothing heavy about Martinez on the podium today at Yankee Stadium on the day prior to Game Six. Smiling, chatty, boisterous. He had a crowded room full of international media cracking up and in the palm of his hand -- speaking in both English and Spanish. Some samples:

On whether Boston fans are rooting for him: "It wouldn't surprise me at all. I know they don't like the Yankees to win -- even in the Nintendo games. Knowing that, I am proud of Boston. I consider myself a Bostonian as well."

On getting the chance to pitch Game Six just two months after coming back to the game: "If you consider the fact that two months back I was sitting at home not doing anything, none of you were thinking of me whatsoever. None of you were asking questions and today I am here, probably pitching one of the biggest games ever in the World Series with two great teams with a whole bunch of legendary players. I don't have enough words to describe how excited I am to be here. This is a great gift, a great blessing.

On the matchup with Andy Pettitte: "Just to see two old goats out there doing the best they can and having fun with it."

On whether he'll be remembered long after his career is over: "I'm pretty sure my name will be mentioned. I don't know in which way. Maybe after I die. Because normally when you die, people tend to actually give you props about the good things but that's after you die. I'm hoping to get it before I die. You die and then you hear everybody say, 'Oh, there goes one of the best players ever.' You're going to give me props, just give them to me right now."

When the questions and answers in Spanish were over, Martinez got up and shook hands with manager Charlie Manuel, who was entering the room for his own session.

Turning back to the assembled media with that devilish grin, Martinez told his skipper loud enough for everyone in the room to hear, "I knocked 'em dead. They all stayed."

The place howled. And he was right. About as close as I've ever seen to a group of reporters applauding a World Series press conference.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

AP Photo: Martinez meets the media Tuesday.

On the scene in the Bronx

NEW YORK -- We're back at Yankee Stadium (thank you, Amtrak) for the workout day prior to Game Six of the World Series. But we don't expect many Yankees here at all and the Phillies have canceled their workout. The Yankees' clubhouse will open any minute and we should hear from Joe Girardi and Andy Pettitte within the hour. Charlie Manuel and Pedro Martinez will be at the podium from 5:15-5:45.

There are a few fans outside hunkering down by the ticket windows hoping for a chance at a view of Game Six. They have a long night ahead; the windows don't open with whatever tickets MLB might have left until 9 a.m. tomorrow!

Keep it here for any news and nuggets.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Game 5 observations

PHILADELPHIA -- I'll be on Amtrak's Northeast Regional headed back for New York Tuesday morning because the Yankees couldn't figure out Cliff Lee enough and Chase Utley at all in the Phillies' 8-6 win Monday night. There's a reason why these guys are defending champs. They're a pretty resilient group. Lesser teams would have crumbled after what happened in the ninth inning Sunday.

Here's what's cluttering my mind after Game Five:

Chase Utley: Let's see. He's channeling his inner Chuck Howley, Ron Hextall, J.S. Giguere as in guys from losing teams to win playoff MVP. I still think the Yankees are going to win this thing but you wonder if Utley gets the MVP over Derek Jeter or Mariano Rivera even in defeat. If he hits another home run to break Reggie Jackson's Series record, he'll almost have to get it, right?

Cliff Lee: If the Phillies win it in seven and Lee pitches in relief, it will be Lee and Utley just like it was Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling in 2001 for Arizona.

Andy Pettitte: Lot of pressure on him in Game 6 on short rest. Remember 2001? He lost Game Six at Arizona, 15-2. Sorry, Yankee fans. Just saying.

A-Rod: He's been clutch and he's heating up. Two hits and three RBIs in Game Five. He's got 16 RBIs for the postseason, setting the franchise record

Mark Teixeira: Not clutch. He's 2 for 19. He hasn't hit all postseason. Good thing he's got a gold glove at first or you might Nick Swisher him and pull him for a game.

A.J. Burnett: Ouch. I know he was great in Game Two but he's failed to close the last two postseason series. Boo to him.

Ryan Howard: Tied Willie Wilson's series record with 12 Ks. He's killing the Phils. Will he do anything before this thing ends?

FOX: Buck and McCarver not driving you folks crazy? Not getting the number of gripe emails I normally do in October. The domos have to be thrilled to finally get a Game Six. First time since 2003.

Cheesesteak heads: Philly fans made sure the Bank was way-way-way louder than the new House for the Rich. Give it up to the red-clad towel wavers. And the best memory of this entire series so far was seeing everyone in the house singing along with the late Harry Kalas' campy version of "High Hopes" after the final out, as a montage of the beloved announcer's career played on the scoreboard. This place has seen a lot of losing teams over the years but it's a great baseball town.

Talk to you tomorrow -- later today actually -- from workout day in the Bronx.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Photo: Associated Press

Live from the Bank: Yanks go for the clinch

PHILADELPHIA -- It's been nine years, since a clear and chilly night like this one in Citizens Bank Park, since the New York Yankees have won the World Series. That's not long if you're a Cubs fan or you've been a Red Sox fan most of your life. But in the Bronx, it's an eternity.

On that night in 2000 at now-bulldozed Shea Stadium, Mariano Rivera got Mike Piazza on a fly ball to Bernie Williams for the final out as the Yankees celebrated their fourth title in five years and the 26th in their long history by completing a five-game victory over the Mets.

They haven't won one since. But No. 27 could come tonight in Game Five against the defending champion Phillies. It's A.J. Burnett on short rest against Philly ace Cliff Lee. Are the Phillies mentally cooked after last night's ninth-inning collapse? We'll see. First pitch is at 7:57.

I'd say it might be time to get this series over with. You're taunting the weather Gods going into November like this. And it's going to be cold in the Bronx this week (there's even rumors of snow showers). Heck, the Sabres are starting their annaul Salvation Army holiday kettle drive at Wednesday's game against the Islanders in HSBC Arena. Yes, that's for Christmas.

Here's tonight's lineups:

New York: Jeter, ss; Damon, lf; Teixeira, 1b; Rodriguez, 3b; Swisher, rf; Cano, 2b; Gardner, cf; Molina, c; Burnett, p

Notes: Jeter leads all hitters by going 7 for 17 (.412). Teixeira is 1 for 14 and A-Rod is 2-14 but the three combined hits are two home runs and A-Rod's GW 2B last night. Swisher (2-9) and Cano (2-15) are also struggling. The Yankees are batting just .235

Philadelphia: Rollins, ss; Victorino, cf; Utley, 2b; Howard, 1b; Werth, rf; Ibanez, lf; Feliz, 3b; Ruiz, c; Lee, p.

Notes: Howard is 3 for 17 with 10 strikeouts, two shy of the Series record of 12 set by Kansas City's Willie Wilson against the Phils in 1980. Utley is 4 for 15 -- 4 for 6 with three HRs and a double against CC Sabathia and 0 for 9 against everybody else. Rollins and Victorino are both 3 for 16 and Ibanez is just 3 for 16. The Phils are batting just .220.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

It's over: Phils hold on, 8-6, as Ryan Madson -- not Brad Lidge -- gets a shaky save. Madson got a big double play ball from Jeter to ease the tension. He finally fanned Teixeira with Damon at first for the final out.

Mid-8th: (Phillies, 8-5): The Yankees knock out Lee on A-Rod's two-run double and a Cano sac fly. But the bottom of the order is up in the ninth. Phillies need to prevent the lineup from turning again.

Bot-7th: (Phillies, 8-2): Lot of fireworks in the sky and gonging of the giant Liberty Bell. First, Utley  took Phil Coke deep for a solo shot. That's his fifth of the series tying Reggie Jackson's all-time record set in 1977. Thought Utley had a bad hip? Sure hasn't played like it. Ibanez drove one deep to the second deck in right to knock Coke from the game.

End-5th (Phillies, 6-2): Damon's fielder's choice grounder in the 5th scored another run but not much else happening. Lee has given up three hits through five. David Robertson pitched two scoreless innings for New York and Alfredo Aceves went in the fifth, thanks in large part to a great catch of a Werth bomb to center by Gardner. Werth rounded the bases thinking the ball was out after Gardner crashed into the wall. Um, dude, the guy caught it. Grab some bench.

End-3rd (Phillies, 6-1): Looking more and more like I'll be fulfilling that Amtrak reservation I have tomorrow morning for Penn Station in New York. Three more runs have knocked Burnett from the box and put the Phillies in command. Burnett didn't get an out in this inning so Girardi had to give him a quick hook (left) and replace him with David Robertson. He walked Utley and Howard and gave up RBI singles to Werth and Ibanez before mercifully getting pulled. Ruiz's fielder's choice grounder scored the other run. Burnett's final line: 2+ IP, 4H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 53 pitches-28 strikes. Ugly. He could have closed Game Five of the ALCS in Anaheim too but gave up a four-run first.

End-2nd (Phillies, 3-1): Order restored against the bottom of the orders. Lee puts down the Yankees' 7-8-9 men while Burnett puts down the Phils around a walk to Rollins.

End-1st (Phillies, 3-1): Huge start for the Bombers against Lee. The pitch from Lee to Jeter was taken low for a ball at exactly 8 p.m. The temperature is 50 degrees. With one out, Damon blooped a single to left-center and he chugged around the bases on A-Rod's two-out double into the right-field corner. A-Rod pulled his GW double last night to left, and went the other way on this pitch. His 16th postseason RBI, breaking the Yankees' franchise record. Swisher walked to put two men on but Cano lined to left for the final out.

Love the opening montage on the big board in left and the video boards on the RF wall. It's the famous "Rocky" workout scene as he runs through the streets of South Philly, spliced with live shots of fans in the stands waving their towels. Fires the place up. But will it fire up this Phillies offense?

Score one for Rocky. The Phillies erupted for three runs before Burnett even got an out to take the lead and quickly get the crowd back into the game. Rollins singled, Victorino was hit on the finger while trying to bunt and Utley pounded the first pitch he saw, a 94-mph fastball, deep over the wall in right to drive in Rollins and Victorino (right). The three-run bomb was Utley's fourth of the series. Guess he finally figured out a Yankee pitcher other than Sabathia.

The entire inning took 27 minutes. Burnett threw 23 pitches (14 strikes) while Lee was at 20-9 and didn't throw a first-pitch strike to any of the six men he faced.

(Photos: Associated Press)

Update: Pena on Yankees' roster for Melky

PHILADELPHIA -- Joe Girardi has confirmed Brett Gardner will start in center field tonight batting seventh and Jose Molina will catch A.J. Burnett and bat eight. Melky Cabrera is expected to be out for the rest of the series with what's rumored to be a hamstring tear although Girardi called it a strain.

"We're in the process of talking with Major League Baseball," Girardi said. "Something will be determined later. That's about all I'm able to share at this point. But he's very limited."

6 p.m. update: MLB has approved the Yankees' substitution of IF Ramiro Pena on the roster for Cabrera. Hmmm. Kind of bizarre. Maybe a pinch-runner? In which extra-inning game would Pena play for any of the Yankees' infielders? Anyway.

Pretty light back end of the lineup tonight against Cliff Lee: Nick Swisher (2 for 9), Robinson Cano (2 for 15), Gardner, Molina and Burnett.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington

Big boo-boo for Philly Inquirer

PHILADELPHIA -- Don't normally like to disparage fellow members of our industry, but it hasn't been a good weekend for the newspapers in the city of Brotherly Love. Good luck finding copies of the Inquirer or the Daily News, especially if you're staying by the airport like I am. A lot of gas stations don't even carry them, with three telling me today to find a street box. Found two Daily News street boxes that took my quarters but wouldn't give me a paper (they did return the quarters at least).

The writing and photography have been pedestrian at best and the Inquirer has completely sold its soul with a large ad from top to bottom covering a third of its sports front for Comcast's coverage of the Phillies. That looks absolutely ridiculous and they should be embarrassed.

Things got even worse for the city's old gray lady today. The Inquirer ran a three-quarter page ad on the back of its front section for Macy's --- trumpeting the sale of back-to-back World Series champion merchandise.

Talk about a major oops. They've already issued an apology. How nice of them. Hey guys, instead of plastering huge ads everywhere -- even wrong ones -- how about making sure people can actually find papers when there's a major event in your town?

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

No more Melky way for Yankees

PHILADELPHIA -- The word last night was that Melky Cabrera had a hamstring injury that might be serious and the word this morning starting to leak out of New York City outlets is that it's a full tear. Brett Gardner is almost certainly going to start Game Five tonight and the Yankees may replace Cabrera. The candidates would either be outfielder Freddy Guzman, infielder Ramiro Pena or third catcher Francisco Cervelli.

Let's see if the Yankees go for Cervelli because Jose Molina will start behind the plate tonight with A.J. Burnett pitching. As soon as Burnett comes out -- and they would have to pinch-hit for him early if they're behind -- the Yankees could put Jorge Posada back in and still have a backup catcher.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Game Four observations

PHILADELPHIA -- Trying to make sense of the Yankees' amazing ninth inning Sunday night is difficult. It all happened so fast. From two outs and nobody on to three runs in and a stranglehold on the World Series. In real time, it might have been five minutes tops. Here's some thoughts on the aftermath:

Johnny Damon: It's likely this is his final tour with the Yankees. If they win this series, the folks in the Big Apple will never forget his mad dash from first to third in the ninth inning (left) About as heads up a play as we've seen ever, let alone in the ninth inning of a tied Series game. What's better in Series lore? Maybe Enos Slaughter scoring from first on a single to win Game Seven in 1946 for the Cardinals over the Red Sox. Somebody give me another example.

A-Rod: No more postseason jokes. Five years of torture are about to be wiped out. If you were in the ballpark Sunday, you knew he was getting a hit off Lidge in the ninth. The feeling was palpbale. When the ball rocketed into left field, his teammates pounced off the bench on to the dirt in front of the dugout. A-Rod pounded his hands together at second base (right) and pointed at them in celebration.

CC Sabathia: Warrior. Threw 107 pitches on three days rest. He'll be good for 110 if he's needed in Game Seven.

Joba Chamberlain: Got two strikeouts on 97-mph gas, then got taken deep on a 95-mph heater by Pedro Feliz. Has pitched great the last two days. Still, there's not much confidence in that bullpen other than Mariano Rivera.

Ryan Howard: Dude is destined to break the Series strikeout record and when he finally scores a run, he misses the plate? And nobody notices?

Brad Lidge: So much for his revival. Had worked 12 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings. Mistake not covering third, mistake pitches to four straight hitters after two out.

The umpires: Terrible strike zone by Mike Everitt. Both teams hated it. He didn't do enough to stop all of the catchers' trips to the mound either and missed Howard not touching home.

The Phillies: They self-destructed in the late innings a lot this year. They won 93 games even though Lidge blew 11 saves. But this was a killer. One out away from having a chance to get a run that would tie the series, they self destruct. Now they're toast. It's just a matter of whether the Yankees finish them off Monday night or need to go back to the Bronx. No way they win three straight. No way.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Photos: Associated Press

Live from the Bank: Yanks-Phillies IV

PHILADELPHIA -- It's a crisp but clear 49-degree night in Citizens Bank Park as the Yankees look to take total command of the World Series with CC Sabathia on the mound against Joe Blanton. That's a mismatch on paper. We'll see. The lineups:

New York: Jeter, ss; Damon, lf; Teixeira, 1b; Rodriguez, 3b; Posada, c; Cano, 2b; Swisher, rf; Cabrera, cf; Sabathia, p

Philadelphia: Rollins, ss; Victorino, cf; Utley, 2b; Howard, 1b; Werth, rf; Ibanez, lf; Feliz, 3b; Ruiz, c; Blanton, p.

---Mike Harrington

Yanks win, 7-4: What a ninth. Two outs and nobody on. All the momentum in the Phillies' favor. Damon singles, steals second -- and steals third when no one covers because the shift is on. Teixeira is hit by a pitch. A-Rod doubles home Damon. Posada singles home A-Rod and Teixeira. Wow. Three runs. Mariano in. Ballgame. One win to go.

Bot-8th (4-4 Yankees): It looked like another great inning by Chamberlain would get the Yankees three Rivera outs away from a 3-1 lead. Chamberalin struck out Werth and Ibanez on 97-mph heat and was 3-2 on Feliz before the Phillies third baseman pounded a 95-mph pitch over the wall in left to tie the game. Wow. Yankees can't trust anyone out of the pen but Marte and Rivera? Trouble.

End-7th (4-3 Yankees): Sabathia got the first two outs but they were hard-hit balls. Then Utley took him deep to right for the third time in this series to cut the lead to a run. Marte in to face Howard and induces a fly to left (maybe Girardi should have had him in for Utley?). Probably see Joba in the eighth. Still, a great job by Sabathia. 107 pitches, 67 strikes. Utley, by the way, is 4 for 6 with three homers and a double off Sabathia in this series; he's 0 for 9 off everybody else. Bizarre.

End-6th (4-2 Yankees): I kid you not. Blame Howard's pop-up. It just started raining. A quick drizzle thankfully. Blanton stranded a Swisher walk in the 6th and old friend Ben Francisco, subject of today's Inside Baseball column, pinch-hit for him (line drive to center to end the inning). Brett Gardner is in center for the Yankees; looked like Cabrera has a tight hamstring from the top of the inning. Sabathia at 95 pitches through six. No one warming. Wonder if its CC through seven, then Joba or Marte, then Mariano.

End-5th (4-2, Yankees): Big inning for Sabathia as Rollins leads off with a single and Victorino follows with a walk but the Phillies don't score. Utley and Howard pop up, the latter a moon shot that was so high it should have brought more rain. Werth strikes out to end the threat. Sabathia is at 88 pitches.

Mid-5th (4-2, Yankees): Blanton had retired 11 in a row before the Yankees touched him for two runs to take the lead. Swisher opened the inning with a walk and Cabrera reached on an infield single up the middle when Utley couldn't flip to second. After Sabathia struck out trying to bunt, RBI singles by Jeter and Damon scored the runs. Teixeira and A-Rod ended the inning with fly balls. They're 1 for 13 and 1 for 12 in the series, respectively. Jeter, meanwhile, is 7 for 16. Through 3 1/2 games, there's your MVP.

End-4th (2-2): We'll keep doing our best to provides some observations. But the Internet connections, normally reliable here, are quite spotty to say the least. So no promises. The Phillies have tied the game on Feliz's two-out single that scored Howard, who singled and stole second. Howard came barrling in on Posada and the ball got away. A word on Damon: Two brutal plays in left field tonight. Bad angle on Victorino's double and he then took a camera-friendly pratfall (left), and a short hop on the Feliz hit. He's a DH at best at this point and his free agent worth is dropping based on the last six weeks or so. (Postgame second-thought: Who said Damon's value is dropping? Scott Boras will make sure to milk plenty of money out of Damon's double steal in the ninth, won't he?)

End-3rd (2-1, Yanks): All quiet after the tension-filled first. Both teams went down in order in the second and third. Blanton has retired eight straight since drilling A-Rod. Sabathia has retired seven straight since the intentional walk to Werth.

End-1st (2-1, Yanks): After some Internet trouble, we're up and running and it was a doozy of an inning. Both teams have been warned after Alex Rodriguez took Joe Blanton's first pitch in the back -- the third time he's been plunked in two days. A-Rod wasn't happy about (nor should he have been) and he was talking to both Ryan Howard at first and umpire Joe West when he got to second. It seemed clearly intentional and the entire Yankee bench popped to the top step when A-Rod got hit. Joe Girardi wasn't happy because now Sabathia can't really work inside. Hate warnings. Blanton basically got a free shot. Maybe A-Rod should have just shut up and taken his base and let CC do his dirty work.

The Yankees scored when Jeter led off with an infield single that Utley couldn't corral, Damon doubled him to third, Teixeira followed with an RBI groundout and, after the hit batsman, Posada lined a sacrifice fly to left. The Phillies got back-to-back doubles from Victorino and Utley but Howard struck out (for the 10th time in the series) and, after an intentional walk to Werth, Ibanez fanned to end the inning.

(Photos: Associated Press)

Harry the K a Philly legend

PHILADELPHIA -- So much was made during the ALCS about the Angels' quest for a title in honor of late pitcher Nick Adenhart, killed in April by a drunk driver. The Phillies have a similar quest going in honor of beloved late broadcaster Harry Kalas, who collapsed and died of a heart attack in the press box April 13 in Washington. He was 73.

The players have a black "HK" patch on their jerseys. There's a tribute to Kalas on the outfield fence -- and the players jogged all the way out there and poured champagne on the sign after they clinched the NL East title. Videos play on the scoreboard with Kalas' famous calls, including Brad Lidge's Series-clinching strikeout last year.

Kalas' trademark "It's Outta Here!" bellows through the stadium after home runs. The folksy version of "High Hopes" that he sang during last year's Series championship celebration plays on the board after each Phillies win. Kalas' trademark powder blue blazer and white loafers hang in the team's dugout during games.

Kalas' spirit is everywhere on the press box level of Citizens Bank Park. There is glass display from his career (right), including artifacts such as his headphones, scorecard and media guides from his last game. The television booth has been named after him and there's a framed, signed shirt honoring him for winning the 2002 Ford Frick Award for broadcast excellence.

Kalas had that great baritone so familiar nationally as the longtime voice of NFL Films. He's widely known in Philly for greeting any fan who said hello to him. There's stories of folks asking him to record messages on answering machines and ring tones on their cell phone.

During last year's World Series, I hopped on the elevator here to go to the clubhouse with about five other people. One of them was Kalas. He looked at all of our media badges to see where we were from and greeted us all. Even asked me what in the world was going on with the Bills (imagine what he'd say this year). It was pretty cool at the time to bumpt into one of the game's true legends behind the microphone. When I heard he had passed away, I reflected on that brief chance meeting. I'll always remember it.

---Mike Harrington

Sunday Series chatter

PHILADELPHIA -- Believe it or not, I'm heading to Citizens Bank Park for Game Four of the World Series at about 2:15 today. Yes, I know first pitch isn't until 8:20 but it behooves me to get there before the 70,000 fans next door for the Eagles-Giants game at Lincoln Financial Field spill out into the streets!

Last night's rain-delayed 8-5 win gave the Yankees a 2-1 lead in the series. The final out was made at 12:42 a.m. and we got a story in as many papers as possible as soon as the game ended, something that I'm sure very few East Coast papers outside of New York and Philly were able to do. But be sure to read my Web-only recap of the game, including quotes from both clubhouses.

CC Sabathia goes back to work tonight on three days rest, looking to put the Yankees in complete control of the series.

Today's Inside Baseball column includes a chat with Phillies outfielder Ben Francisco, the former Bisons batting champion who was the other guy in the Cliff Lee trade.

More later when I cash in through the media gate at the Bank.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Game 3 observations

PHILADELPHIA -- A big comeback produces an 8-5 win and a 2-1 Series lead for the Yankees. Now CC Sabathia is coming back Sunday against Joe Blanton. Even on three days rest, I call that one advantage, Bombers. Be sure to see our Web-only version of the game story, with comments from the clubhouses.

More thoughts from Game Three:

Cole Hamels: Guess 2008 was a fluke? How do you explain it? He's not mentally tough when things go against him and his pitches are flat. What a dilemma for Charlie Manuel. No way you can trust this guy to go in Game Seven. Especially being down, the Phillies need Cliff Lee to match up with Sabathia today and in Seven.

Andy Pettitte: He's mentally tough. He made sure a three-run deficit didn't get bigger. He even got a key hit. The all-time leader in postseason wins. Yeah, there's three rounds so stats are skewed. But we've been doing it 15 years now this way. The stats mean something.

Alex Rodriguez and Nick Swisher: Welcome to the World Series. Especially in A-Rod's case, the Phillies are in trouble if he heats up.

Ryan Howard: He's been a diaster so far. Nine strikeouts. Howard and Chase Utley were 0 for 8 with five Ks in this one as the Yankees continue to neutralize the left-handed bats in the Phillies lineup.

Joe Girardi: Used Hideki Matsui in a good spot and got a pinch home run. But did he really need to use Mariano Rivera in the ninth? Phil Hughes gave up a solo home run and there was still a three-run lead and one out. Wonder if that will hurt Rivera the next two nights.

Philly fans: Citizens Bank Park was electric. Much louder than the new Yankee Stadium. We'll see about the next two days.

The umpires: They got it right on replay. A-Rod's ball hit the camera for a home run. But we do we even have RF umpires if they can't see that ball? What else are they out there for?

---Mike Harrington

Live from the Bank (finally): Yankees-Phillies III

PHILADELPHIA -- After waiting around in Citizens Bank Park like it was, oh, 2008 against the Rays, we're finally ready for Game Three of the World Series between the Phillies and Yankees. The tarp is off, Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt has thrown the ceremonial first pitch and the rain is still falling lightly but we're not expected to have any weather trouble the rest of the night.

Here's the lineups:

New York: Jeter, ss; Damon, lf; Teixeira, 1b; Rodriguez, 3b; Posada, c; Cano, 2b; Swisher, rf; Cabrera, cf; Pettitte, p

Philadelphia: Rollins, ss; Victorino, cf; Utley, 2b; Howard, 1b; Werth, rf; Ibanez, lf; Feliz, 3b; Ruiz, c; Hamels, p

Yankees win: Tough night on the blog as print duties and Internet trouble hurt us at the end. The final was 8-5 and we'll have more thoughts soon

Mid-7th: Posada makes it 7-4 with a two-out RBI single off ex-Bison Chad Durbin. The Yankees had just four runs in the first 21 innings in this series. They have seven in the last four.

Bot-6th (6-4, Yankees): Swisher takes Haap deep for his first longball of the postseason. That's a double and homer in back-to-back innings for the Yankees' right field. Until those at-bats, he was 4 for 36 with one extra-base hit the entire postseason. What a sport. Werth leads off the bottom of the inning with a bomb to the upper deck in left for his second of the game. MLB.com notes that Pettitte had allowed two HRs in 66 World Series innings before tonight. And now Werth has two off

Top-5th (5-3, Yankees): A pair of unlikely sources help the Yankees tie the game. Swisher, in a 1-for-18 slump, doubled into the left field corner. One out later, Pettitte, of all people, looped the first pitch to center on a Hamels curveball for a broken-bat single to tie the game. Jeter followed with another looper to center that Victorino couldn't corral and Damon roped a two-out, two-run double to right to put the Yankees ahead.

For three innings, we saw the Hamels of '08. For two innings, we've seen the Hamels of '09. Last Yankee pitcher with a World Series RBI: Jim Bouton in Game Six, 1964 against the Cardinals.

End-4th (3-2, Philly): A-Rod arrives. His first Series hit, and the Yankees' first of the night is a two-run homer to right. It first looked like a double but was correctly overturned on replay because it struck a TV camera just over the railing. A-Rod's 6th of the postseason, tying Bernie Williams' club record in 1996. It's also the team's 17th of the postseason, breaking the franchise record set three times. Pettitte has gone hitless in the third and fourth in a good recover. A-Rod, by the way, has been brutal other than the home run. He ole'd Rollins' single in the first and made a throwing error in the fourth.

End-3rd (3-0, Philly): A 1-2-3 inning leaves the Yankees hitless through three and batting just .194 for the series. They're 14 for 72 with 24 strikeouts and just two walks. Wow.

End-2nd (3-0, Philly): Hamels has thrown two hitless innings while Pettitte found big trouble in the bottom of the inning. Werth led off with a home run to left on a full count and a bases-loaded walk to Rollins and sacrifice fly by Victorino also scored runs. Great bunt single by Hamels in the inning as well. Pettitte is missing with everything and needed 51 pitches to get through two innings. Dude didn't get the memo we started 80 minutes late. Yeesh.

End-1st (0-0): Hamels' first pitch, a strike to Jeter, came at 9:17 p.m. That's a delay of 1 hour, 20 minutes. We waited 1:31 to start Game Three here against the Rays last year. At least it's 70 degrees. Hamels pitched a 1-2-3 inning in 13 pitches. Pettitte, meanwhile, gave up a hit and stolen base to Rollins but got the next three batters (Utley and Howard on strikes) to leave him at second. The fans are loud -- much louder than at the corporate-filled new Yankee Stadium. They're all clad in red and waving their white towels for a pretty cool effect. They chanted "You took ster-oids" at Pettitte. Can't wait to see what they do to A-Rod.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Series bulletin: Tarp time

PHILADELPHIA -- It just started pouring at Citizens Bank Park and the tarp has been put on the infield. It's not supposed to be a night filled with prolonged rain. We'll see. Stinks. We get a 70-degree day on Halloween in the Northeast but we get rain too.

So if -- if -- we get a rainout tonight, that would almost certainly scuttle the Yankees' plans to use CC Sabathia on short rest in Game 4. MLB would likely just scrap Tuesday's travel day and Games 3-7 could be played over 5 days in a row.

7:57 p.m. update: Our starting time has come and gone. The rain is a little lighter but the tarp is still on the field and starting pitchers have yet to begin their warmups. Looks like the earliest we get this going is 8:45ish.

8:30 p.m. update: The tarp was on the field and it wasn't raining. But it was no Halloween trick: The folks here apparently knew it was coming. Because now it is pouring again. The stands were packed and people have scattered. Ugh.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Yankees rotation likely just three men

PHILADELPHIA -- Joe Girardi just announced CC Sabathia will pitch Sunday in Game Four on three days rest. He then said he was leaving open "the possibility" that A.J. Burnett would do likewise in Game Five and Sabathia would come back again in Game Seven. Andy Pettitte is slated for Game Six.

It's a three-man rotation. Period. If this goes seven games, it's going to be Sabathia-Burnett-Pettitte-Sabathia-Burnett-Pettitte-Sabathia. Book it. Do you want one of those guys or do you want Chad Gaudin out there?

You can go through all the explanations you want but Girardi summed it up best when he said, "This is the World Series. There is no baseball after the World Series for four or five months. There's plenty of time to rest."

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Weather watching

PHILADELPHIA -- It's a warm and windy day here at Citizens Bank Park -- haven't seen 70 degrees at the World Series since '05 in Houston and don't even think it got that warm in Tampa. The problem: It's dark. It's been raining some. It might rain some more. We can't catch a break.

My shot (left) shows you the clouds behind the rear of the scoreboard. It's one of the iconic views outside, with the  Phanatic picture and the plaza statue of Steve Carlton.

Anyway, Game Three is on time for a 7:57 start. Assuming we play, be sure to watch the wind situation. As we were standing outside the ballpark waiting in a bag search line, two large steel batting cages set up for a kids display on a closed street maybe 50 yards away were completely toppled by the wind (no one was hurt). So this could be interesting.

We'll hear from Joe Girardi in the 5 p.m. range to see what was decided about Hideki Matsui. As of yesterday, the word was no decision on CC Sabathia pitching Game 4 until after Game 3. But let's be honest. CC or Chad Gaudin? CC is pitching. Especially now that the Phillies aren't going with Cliff Lee.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)