Opinion

Much has been made of Manny Ramirez' location during the National League Championship Series Game Four rally that essentially killed the Los Angeles Dodgers' 2009 season. The Bums' year didn't officially end until Brad Lidge pulled the curtain on Game Five, but—if any baseball game were ever a formality—the clincher qualified in the wake of the devastation wrought on Monday night.

Given all that rode on Jonathan Broxton preserving the win that evaporated with Jimmy Rollins' scalding line drive, one would think Man-Ram could've troubled himself to stick around in the dugout.

Milton Bradley and his contract didn't work out for the Chicago Cubs. Gee, who didn't see that coming?

The Cubs want to get out from under Bradley's contract, and pick up something useful in return. They have very little payroll flexibility and need a lot of things, including talent (zing).

The best-case scenario for the Bradley saga to end on the north side, while adding a needed piece, exists. Yes, it does, and it exists north of the border.

Vernon Wells.

Philadelphia. The City of Brotherly Love. A fan base classified, though often unfairly, as unruly and vicious.

A blue collar city where its residents work hard and expect the same from its professional sports teams.

You see, that's all Philadelphia fans want from their teams. Leave it all out on the playing field. Give it everything you've got. If you push yourself to the limit and fall short, so be it. You lost honorably.

Los Angeles Angels pitcher John Lackey could be the most sought free agent in MLB’s upcoming offseason and up 4-0 with two outs in the top of the seventh inning in Game Five of the American League Championship Series, Lackey was fired up about being taken out of the game.

Although the Yankees staged a furious rally after Lackey’s exit, the Angels used a determined seventh-inning comeback to slip away with a 7-6 win, sending the series back to New York where rain may be on tap for Saturday’s Game Six.

I'll be up in the early hours of Sunday morning here in England watching the Yankees, hopefully, progress to a World Series date with the Phillies next week with victory in Game Six of the ALCS.

No thanks to the never-say-die Angels taking Game Five at Angel Stadium on Thursday to reduce the deficit to 3-2 in favor of the Yankees.

Maybe it's me.

Maybe I'm missing something. Maybe I didn't watch the same Mets games as other Mets fans this year. Maybe I wasn't watching the same Daniel Murphy that everyone else was this past season. That's the only way I can explain how I seem to be the only Mets fan on the planet that believes Murphy should not be the Mets first baseman in 2010.

Game five of last night’s ALCS game between the Yankees and Angels was fascinating not just because Los Angeles staved off elimination, doing it in comeback fashion late.

Two weeks ago, I begged other Cubs fans to watch John Lackey pitch this October.

After his performance both on the mound and leaving it Thursday night, I again step before Cubs Nation at large and submit that Lackey should be Cubs' GM Jim Hendry's top target in free agency this winter.

It's the clinching game for the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2009 National League Championship Series, and their 2008 ace takes the mound.

With two outs in the first inning, Andre Ethier stands in.

Hamels gets the sign from catcher Carlos Ruiz.

Fastball, away.

Hamels shakes him off.

TBS's cameras zoom in to show Ruiz again, dropping his index finger, pressed against his left leg.

Fastball, away.

Cut back to reveal Hamels, dropping his chin in disgust, sighing, and stepping off the mound.

I had the chance to attend Game 2 of the ALCS this past weekend, in which the Yankees took on the Angels. 

First off, let me say it was the most exciting game I have ever gone to.

Sitting in Section 202 of the bleachers, I had a great view of the game, and an even better scent of all the drunk fans around me.

Better yet was the atmosphere. 

There were many ups and downs to the game. Many fans booed when Joba was taken out, and even more when Damaso Marte was brought in (I booed the loudest). 

But that really didn't matter.