Philadelphia Phillies turn tables on Los Angeles Dodgers

October 11, 2008

PHILADELPHIA — There was a time when Nomar Garciaparra was just about the last hitter a pitcher wanted to see at the plate in a big situation. That time wasn't Friday, however.

Recent columns

• Phillies overmatch foe in all facets of game

  October 10, 2008

  There was a time when Nomar Garciaparra was just about the last hitter a pitcher wanted to see at the plate in a big situation. That time wasn't Friday, however.

• Phillies decide to challenge Dodgers' Manny Ramirez

  October 10, 2008

  PHILADELPHIA — After a boys choir had performed and yet another gigantic American flag had been unfurled, after the Phillie Phanatic had raced across the outfield grass on his four-wheeler like a cartoon creature with a death wish, the first batter of the National League Championship Series stepped into the right-handed-batter's box.

• Phillies decide to challenge Dodgers' Ramirez

  October 10, 2008

  After a boys choir had performed and yet another gigantic American flag had been unfurled, after the Phillie Phanatic had raced across the outfield grass on his four-wheeler like a cartoon creature with a death wish, the first batter of the National League Championship Series stepped into the right-handed-batter's box.

• Poor pitching costly to White Sox

  October 6, 2008

  Ozzie Guillen fussed and fumed. He spit between his teeth, barked at the umpire in a voice meant to be heard and waved his arms in disgust.

• Momentum can change quickly in playoffs

  October 5, 2008

  In the 2004 playoffs, the New York Yankees led the Red Sox three games to none. They had a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning in Game 4, but Yankees manager Joe Torre wasn't taking anything for granted. He summoned Mariano Rivera to start the eighth.

• Cubs made it a short series

  October 5, 2008

  LOS ANGELES — It's a loser's lament.

• The best of the best in 2008

  October 4, 2008

  More Tylenol, please.

• White Sox suffering from lack of clutch hits

  October 4, 2008

  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Home runs are baseball's version of junk food.

• Singles not sensational for Sox

  October 3, 2008

  Home runs are baseball's version of junk food.

• Tampa Bay Rays look like playoff veterans

  October 3, 2008

  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — When Walter Payton scored a touchdown, he would make it a point to find the nearest official and hand him the football. He was taught at an early age to act like he had been in the end zone before.

• Rays act like they've been there before

  October 2, 2008

  When Walter Payton scored a touchdown, he would make a point of finding the nearest official and handing him the football. He was taught at an early age to act like he had been in the end zone before.

• Sox GM deals up a winning hand

  October 1, 2008

  Hey, Ken Williams. Can you spare a little mojo?

• Phil Rogers: White Sox pitching plan a hit

  October 1, 2008

  There was no way to see this coming. Just ask the fans standing on the center-field party deck when Jim Thome's blast came down.

• White Sox pitching plan a hit

  October 1, 2008

  There was no way to see this coming. Just ask the fans standing on the center-field party deck when Jim Thome's blast came down.

• Twins are singing a happy tune

  September 28, 2008

  There would be no clinching on Sunday for the Minnesota Twins, but that didn't mean there was no partying.

• Get ready for a wild Sunday

  September 27, 2008

  Ron Gardenhire isn't the kind of guy who gets frazzled, but there was no denying that was his state of mind early Saturday evening.

• Hitters striking out at record rates this year

  September 27, 2008

  Wally Joyner couldn't make it to the finish line. He resigned as San Diego's hitting coach Tuesday, blaming himself for the Padres' disappointing season. But maybe he just couldn't stand watching big-league hitters anymore.

• Minnesota Twins suffer post-sweep blahs

  September 27, 2008

  Chalk this one up to human nature.

• Phil Rogers: Lack of Central titles bothers White Sox GM

  September 26, 2008

  MINNEAPOLIS — So many days in first place … and only one division title?

• Lack of Central titles bothers GM Williams

  September 26, 2008

  So many days in first place … and only one division title?

• Short rest a gamble

  September 25, 2008

  MINNEAPOLIS — Give Mark Buehrle a ton of credit.

• Short rest a gamble

  September 24, 2008

  Give Mark Buehrle a ton of credit.

• Jerry Manuel plays it cool for Mets

  September 24, 2008

  Abandon ship! Abandon ship! Abandon ship!

• Cubs might cut a pitcher for playoffs

  September 23, 2008

  NEW YORK—With no need for five starting pitchers, Cubs manager Lou Piniella is strongly considering extending his bench in the playoffs.

• Brew Crew can help Cubs

  September 20, 2008

  Now that the Cubs have blown away the Brewers, they need to root for them.

• Like teammates, Ramirez has tough night, a rarity in fine rookie season

  September 19, 2008

  NEW YORK—Ground balls don't come easier than this one. But Alexei Ramirez couldn't keep his caboose down on the two-out tapper from Alex Rodriguez, raising up and letting the ball go right between his legs.

• Like teammates, Ramirez has tough night, a rarity in fine rookie season

  September 19, 2008

  NEW YORK—Ground balls don't come easier than this one. But Alexei Ramirez couldn't keep his caboose down on the two-out tapper from Alex Rodriguez, raising up and letting the ball go right between his legs.

• Despite off-night, Alexei Ramirez a Rookie of the Year frontrunner

  September 18, 2008

  Ground balls don't come easier than this one. But Alexei Ramirez couldn't keep his caboose down on the two-out tapper from Alex Rodriguez, raising up and letting the ball go right between his legs.

• Orlando Cabrera worth keeping around

  September 18, 2008

  NEW YORK—Ken Williams isn't about to get ahead of himself.

• Finally, this could be Santo's year

  September 17, 2008

  Ron Santo and his legion of fans in Cub Nation might finally have some overdue good news to celebrate in December.

• Don't stop short in praising Jeter

  September 17, 2008

  NEW YORK—Some things are almost too much to hope for.

• Desperate measures in Milwaukee

  September 16, 2008

  Managerial changes after Labor Day usually mean only one thing: a surrender of the current season, with an eye toward the future.

• Ozzie Guillen struggling with bullpen

  September 16, 2008

  NEW YORK — Tony La Russa, out of uniform in a red plaid shirt and without a baseball cap atop his head, sat in the expensive seats near the White Sox's dugout.

• Guillen struggling with bullpen

  September 15, 2008

  Tony La Russa, out of uniform in a red plaid shirt and without a baseball cap atop his head, sat in the expensive seats near the White Sox's dugout.

• Desperate measures in Milwaukee

  September 15, 2008

  Managerial changes after Labor Day usually mean only one thing: a surrender of the current season, with an eye toward the future.

• Astros winning with pitching

  September 13, 2008

  Quick. Name two pitchers who follow Roy Oswalt in the Houston Astros' rotation.

• Rich Harden not quite what he was

  September 12, 2008

  ST. LOUIS—When the Cubs were discussing a trade for Rich Harden, first internally and then with the Oakland Athletics, Jim Hendry leaned heavily on the counsel of his top scout, Gary Hughes.

• Harden not quite what he was

  September 12, 2008

  When the Cubs were discussing a trade for Rich Harden, first internally and then with the Oakland Athletics, Jim Hendry leaned heavily on the counsel of his top scout, Gary Hughes.

• Astros' stormy situation avoidable

  September 11, 2008

  ST. LOUIS — Black cats are one thing. Hurricanes, especially Category 4 hurricanes, are another altogether.

• MLB needs to step in, prevent Cubs from heading into hurricane

  September 11, 2008

  Black cats are one thing. Hurricanes, especially Category 4 hurricanes, are another altogether.

• Lou Piniella rips into Cubs

  September 10, 2008

  ST. LOUIS—Oh, snap.

• One spot left for White Sox, Twins

  September 6, 2008

  Uh-oh.

• Don't worry, Cubs fans: Playoffs are secure

  September 5, 2008

  Here's the unfortunate state of affairs for the Cubs' fearful fans: It's going to be a long, long September.

• Don't worry, Cubs fans: Playoffs are secure

  September 5, 2008

  Here's the unfortunate state of affairs for the Cubs' fearful fans: It's going to be a long, long September.

• Guillen pushing right buttons for White Sox

  September 1, 2008

  It wasn't quite Orlando Hernandez vs. Johnny Damon, but Bobby Jenks vs. Dustin Pedroia was intriguing enough for one Sunday afternoon, especially since the White Sox were one swing of the bat away from the wrong kind of turning point.

• WHITE SOX'S OZZIE GUILLEN PUSHING RIGHT BUTTONS

  September 1, 2008

  BOSTON — It wasn't quite Orlando Hernandez vs. Johnny Damon, but Bobby Jenks vs. Dustin Pedroia was intriguing enough for one Sunday afternoon, especially since the White Sox were one swing of the bat away from the wrong kind of turning point.

• Red Sox rookie pitching in

  August 31, 2008

  Some dreams do come true.

• A magical night in Fenway

  August 31, 2008

  BOSTON — Some dreams do come true.

• Red Sox being Red Sox, even minus Manny

  August 30, 2008

  They're wounded. They're weary. They're Manny-free. Yet the Boston Red Sox are still the reigning champions, and they aren't going to go down without a fight.

• Dodgers' playoff prospects grow dimmer

  August 30, 2008

  Baseball is a reactionary business, which is why so many teams are clinging so hard to the chance to run down a playoff spot in September.

• Sox are Cubs' worst nightmare

  August 28, 2008

  Beware the sneak attack.

• White Sox are Cubs' worst nightmare

  August 28, 2008

  Beware the sneak attack.

• Sox are Cubs' worst nightmare

  August 28, 2008

  Beware the sneak attack.

• Homer? D'oh!

  August 27, 2008

  Here's an idea for an office pool: Which umpire will be the first to have a home run call overturned by instant replay?

• Limited replay begins for Major League Baseball

  August 26, 2008

  Here's an idea for an office pool: Which umpire will be the first to have a home run call overturned by instant replay?

• New look in AL playoffs

  August 23, 2008

  They have won six of the last 13 World Series. They have combined for 20 postseason appearances since 1995 and always rank among baseball's biggest spenders.

• Rays are for real

  August 22, 2008

  That's the wrong question. Stop asking it.

• Rays are for real

  August 22, 2008

  That's the wrong question. Stop asking it.

• Expect Cubs, White Sox to seal playoff bids

  August 17, 2008

  Three of the six division races are about as tight as they can get entering the last six weeks of the season. A fourth finds the Tampa Bay Rays, of all teams, trying to hold off the Boston Red Sox.

• Winning division is not child's play

  August 11, 2008

  You can win a division title with inexperienced pitching.

• Playoff pressure mounts on both sides of Chicago

  August 10, 2008

  Suffocating.

• Rays learn, but tests loom

  August 10, 2008

  Joe Maddon helped Mike Scioscia become the best manager in the big leagues. But Maddon, the longtime Angels organization man, is having an even bigger impact on the American League this season than Scioscia, whose team has the best record in baseball.

• Red Sox, Cardinals both come to Chicago

  August 8, 2008

  Will Ferrell, among others, says it is. So do the standings at the moment, which find the Cubs with the best record in the National League and the White Sox leading the American League Central.

• Manny Ramirez a big boost for Dodgers

  August 2, 2008

  How happy is Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt to have Manny Ramirez in left field?

• A Yankee's pride

  July 28, 2008

  Some weekends are better than others when you are the New York Yankees' general manager. This was one of the good ones for Brian Cashman.

• Kuhn a bad choice for Hall of Fame

  July 27, 2008

  Bowie Kuhn in the Hall of Fame?

• A's become an easy sell

  July 20, 2008

  In or out? Buyer or seller?

• Simply a star searcher

  July 15, 2008

  Eight isn't enough for Aramis Ramirez. He believes the Cubs' All-Star roster extends beyond the players who will be introduced with their National League teammates on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.

• Getting run of the House

  July 14, 2008

  Chris Getz had himself quite a day.

• Cubs' return to playoffs under construction

  February 13, 2008

  It was a cold January night, and the Cubs' starting shortstop had something to do.

• White Sox try for turnaround in '08

  February 13, 2008

  Nine players.

• White Sox Triple-A skipper Shines razor-sharp

  July 5, 2006

  Evaluating?

• Examination of bats proves little

  June 5, 2003

  About halfway through ESPN's two-hour, "Say It Ain't So-sa," special, the broker who owns the authenticated bat that Sammy Sosa used to hit his 498th career home run, did something remarkable. He and another man held the ends of the bat while a third man used a hand saw to slice through the barrel.

• No need for Sosa to cheat

  June 4, 2003

  Talk about overkill.