Inside Pitch

The Cy swap is on

The deal we all knew about finally become official late Wednesday afternoon: Roy Halladay (left) is headed from Toronto to Philadelphia and Cliff Lee is headed to Seattle. What a whopper that is.

There are a lot of ways to look at this one. The Blue Jays had to make a deal with Halladay because he wasn't staying after next year. The Phillies must have felt likewise with Lee, who will be a free agent following the 2010 season. The Mariners feel Lee can help them make a quick strike in the AL West with a 1-2 punch of Felix Hernandez and Lee, and aren't worrying about 2011 just yet.

If everyone stays healthy, the Phillies are a heavy favorite to become the first NL team to go to three straight World Series since the Cardinals did it in the early 1940s. The Mariners quickly ascend to the top of the AL West, especially now that John Lackey has bolted the Angels for Boston.

And as for our poor friends in Toronto? That playoff drought that's 16 years old will certainly hit 17. And probably 18 and 19. Major rebuild job there and the Jays may, in fact, slip behind the Orioles into the AL East cellar. They have to hope their prospect haul matches what the Indians got for Bartolo Colon in 2002, a group that included Lee and helped the Tribe get with a game of the World Series in 2007.

Here's plenty of views on the deals:

In the Seattle Times, Steve Kelley says the Mariners are relevant again. Probably for the first time since their 116-win season in 2001.

In the Toronto Star, Richard Griffin says the Jays owed Halladay this opportunity. As for the prospect haul, only time will tell.

In the Philadelphia Inquirer, Bob Ford says the Phillies were being fiscally prudent but wonders if it will backfire on them not keeping Lee to try to make a run in 2010 with both aces in their rotation. John Gonzalez wonders about the same thing, saying it's strange to feel so greedy now that the Phillies have lots of money and a full ballpark and can act like a true big-market team.

And here's a cheap plug alert: I'll have plenty more thoughts on this deal and lots of other movement this month in a special edition of Inside Baseball coming in Sunday's paper.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Photo: Halladay meets the media Wednesday in Citizens Bank Park/Getty Images

Mets' free agent runs would help Herd

The Mets closed the Winter Meetings on Thursday by offering free-agent contracts to outfielder Jason Bay and catcher Bengie Molina. The scuttlebutt is that Molina is likely to sign with New York but the Bay offer is likely to be the first volley in a drawn-out process. If you're a Bisons fan, you want the Mets to score in these talks. Throw Bay and Molina into the Amazins' lineup along with the return of last year's injured stars, and you're certain to get your top prospects to stay in Buffalo for much of the season.

A full year of Fernando Martinez and Nick Evans (the July version, not the April version). A full year of mega prospects from Double-A in catcher Josh Thole and 1B Ike Davis. With the big-league lineup stocked, the Mets can let the prospects develop and not rush them to the big leagues. They had little choice with F-Mart last year because of all their injuries but he's still only 21. He should still be in Triple-A most of the year.

The Mets were quiet during the meetings and rumors that the Madoff scandal continuing to hamper the Wilpon family's checkbook were pretty rampant. We'll see how it goes the next few weeks. The folks steering the SS Bison are hoping for lots of deals to be locked up so it doesn't run aground again in 2010.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Mets busy in Rule V Triple-A draft

Another good sign the Mets are being more active on behalf of the Bisons: They selected four players Thursday in the Triple-A portion of the Rule V draft that capped the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis. Each one costs $12,000; the Triple-A phase allows you to select players who were in Class A or Double-A last year.

Maybe they'll turn into something for Buffalo, maybe they'll turn into nothing. But it should be noted the Mets were the only big-league parent to make four choices in the Triple-A phase.

The rundown of the choices, with links to show you career stats:

John Lujan (RHP-Chicago White Sox): He's 6-1, 200 pounds, 24 years old. Was 3-5, 4.45 last year in 37 games at Double-A Birmingham, all in relief. Was 3-2, 3.43 in 50 relief outings at Birmingham in 2008. 

Marshall Hubbard (1B-Seattle): 6-2, 215, 26. He's played the last three years at Double-A West Tennessee, averaging 14 homers and 67 RBIs in those seasons. Numbers were .271-14-70 last season.

Rolando Valdez (RHP-San Diego): 6-1, 191, 23. Was 1-0, 5.01 in 17 relief outings at Double-A San Antonio. Struck out 28 and walked 12 in 32 1/3 innings.

Orlando Lara (LHP-San Diego): 5-10, 185, 24. Has pitched last two years for Mexico City Reds in both starting and relief roles. Went 5-3, 5.03 in 2009 in 18 outings (seven starts)

In the major-league phase, Chuck Lofgren was selected off the Cleveland roster by Milwaukee. Lofgren, a six-year Tribe farmhand who pitched one game for the Bisons in 2007, must be kept in the big leagues by the Brewers or offered back to the Tribe.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Pettitte coming back to Yankees

Here's a no-brainer coming out of the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis: The Yankees and Andy Pettitte have agreed on a one-year, $11.75M deal. Makes sense for all involved. The guy can still pitch. He wants to pitch, especially since he said during the World Series how cool it is for his kids to be more involved with him now that they're older. The Yankees want to have him and he showed how clutch he still is in the postseason. Good move all around.

---Mike Harrington

Mets sign IL slugger Hessman

Here's an interesting signing coming out of Mets camp at the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis: The Daily News is reporting that the Amazins' have signed veteran slugger Mike Hessman to a minor-league deal, which would likely ticket him as a starter for the Bisons in 2010. Hessman, 31, is the active home run leader in the minor leagues with 311 in his career and has been a notorious Bisons killer over the last few years, particularly in Coca-Cola Field. He can play first and third base.

By my quick calculations, Hessman has homered 14 times against Buffalo since 2002. He homered five times in a four-game series here with Richmond in 2002 and hit a first-inning grand slam to spark the Braves to an 11-4 win over the Herd in Game One of the 2004 Governors' Cup finals. Hessman was the 2007 IL MVP at Toledo, where he has become the Mud Hens' all-time home run leader. He hit just .217 there last year with 23 homers and 77 RBIs while striking out 171 times in 466 at-bats.

According to the Daily News, Hessman will earn $90,000 in Triple-A (a good-sized deal) and  $425,000 at the major-league level. He may leave for Japan by April 5 for a compensation to the Mets of $50,000. Or, $100,000 after that date.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Where will Doc make house calls?

The Winter Meetings start Monday in Indianapolis and I have a rundown of some things to look for in Sunday's Inside Baseball column. Easily the biggest story is what the Blue Jays are going to do with Roy Halladay. The longtime ace has told the team he will not waive his no-trade clause during the season. So they either trade him now or he plays it out in 2010 and becomes a free agent after next year, with Toronto only getting draft picks. New Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos thus has to act.

Does he trade Halladay in the division, as the Yankees and Red Sox seem to be lining up to one-up each other? Or does he look elsewhere? You make the call.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

poll by twiigs.com

Attention Bills fans: Girardi tutoring Sanchez

After a wild few months, Joe Girardi has some time on his hands now. How did the Yankees manager spend part of Tuesday? Tutoring Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez how to slide! Check out the story from the New York Daily News. Pretty interesting idea by Rex Ryan to get someone from the Yankees to help out.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

In and out of the Tribe chain

Here's what I think is the latest scorecard of Buffalo-connected managers/coaches going in and out of the Indians organization:

Eric Wedge -- fired in Cleveland, passed over for Mets bench coach (Dave Jauss hired)

Carl Willis -- fired in Cleveland, hired as Seattle's minor-league pitching coordinator

Jeff Datz -- fired in Cleveland, hired as Baltimore's bench coach

Joel Skinner -- fired in Cleveland, passed over to become Tribe's Triple-A manager at Columbus (Double-A Akron manager Mike Sarbaugh promoted Tuesday)

Torey Lovullo -- passed over for Tribe manager (Manny Acta hired), hired as Boston's Triple-A manager at Pawtucket

Scott Radinsky -- promoted from Triple-A Columbus pitching coach to Cleveland bullpen coach

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Lovullo moves to Boston organization

   Former Buffalo Bisons' manager Torey Lovullo, who has managed for Cleveland's farm system, for the past eight seasons, has jumped to the Boston Red Sox organization. He will manage the team in Pawtucket next season.

   Lovullo once played for Red Sox manager Terry Francona when they were together with the Phillies in 1999, and has worked with Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell when they were both in the Cleveland chain.

--- Budd Bailey

Good call II by Mets on Collins

I'm going to give the Mets props twice in the same day? I must be going soft -- or the Metsies, for once, are using their heads. Bringing ex-Bisons manager Terry Collins on board as field coordinator, a move announced Tuesday night, is a terrific choice on several fronts. Collins has field coordinator/farm director experience with the Dodgers. He knows talent. He's organized. He's passionate. And he's an outside voice who can come in and give the Mets a new view in the wake of the Tony Bernazard fiasco.

Two more angles you shouldn't discount:

---Jerry Manuel's replacement: What if the Mets start poorly next year? There really are no choices on the current staff to replace Manuel. For all the talk about beloved '86 Met Wally Backman, he was just hired to manage the Class A Brooklyn team in the New York-Penn League. Foolish to think the Mets would shoot him to the big leagues. But Collins is now in house with six years under his belt with Houston and Anaheim and two more in Japan. Hmmmm.

---The Buffalo factor: Collins, of course, is revered in Buffalo. Especially by ownership and the front office. I've talked to him a few times in the years since he left and he talks about his time here wistfully. It's widely known he was going to be Bob Rich's choice as manager if the Herd had gotten a 1993 NL expansion team. You would think he would make sure the Bisons are taken care of the right way (Memo to the Mets: A full roster is a requirement every night in Triple-A).

Now that J.P. Ricciardi is gone in Toronto, an affiliation with the Blue Jays in 2011 is certainly plausible if the Mets flame out here next year. Collins can help bridge the gap between the folks at Citi Field and the folks at Coca-Cola Field. Somehow, I doubt he'd sit by idly if the Triple-A team in his system was 2-17.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Good call by Mets to retain Herd staff

Maybe you're surprised that I'm OK with today's announcement by the Mets that manager Ken Oberkfell and pitching coach Ricky Bones will be back to try it again with the Bisons in 2010 after directing that 56-87 trainwreck last summer. But I said in September that they should be given another chance and I'm glad the Mets agreed with that call.

There was no question about Bones. He did a terrific job as the team ERA was under 4.00 for most of the season, a remarkable figure given the team's record. Jonathon Niese and Nelson Figueroa had great Triple-A seasons and were solid options for the big-league rotation and the Herd staff's ERA was just 2.86 in July.

What about Oberkfell? There were times during the team's 2-17 start when I wondered if he was about to be sacrificed in a quick-fix by the Mets. Instead, overmatched hitting coach Luis Natera got a much-deserved whacking. I want to see how Oberkfell does with a real team, not the sadsack bunch thrust in his face by deposed and despised minor-league poobah Tony Bernazard. The players respected him and he definitely did better in the second half with a more veteran team.

Here's hoping the Mets move faster on the minor-league free agent front than they did last winter. Barring injuries (no sure bet in this organization I realize), Oberkfell should have Fernando Martinez and Nick Evans for full seasons. And other hot prospects like C Josh Thole and 1B Ike Davis should be impact players here as well.

One memo to the Mets: See about trying hitting coach Jack Voigt at third base. There were nights when Oberkfell was a disaster there.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

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

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

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