J.A. Happ News

Ruben Amaro Jr. arrived at the annual general managers' meetings late yesterday afternoon and listed his priorities for upgrading his team this off-season. "Third base, bullpen, bench," the Phillies' GM said in the lobby of the O'Hare Hilton, where the meetings run through tomorrow.

The Phillies begin the long process of the offseason as we take a quick look at what is on the horizon for the team, and what could come in the next couple of weeks.

Hey, Philadelphia Flynnie, why the long face? Before we leave the Phillies alone for the winter, let's fix them first.

As the Yankees did two nights earlier when they found themselves in an early hole, the Phillies made a game of it by summoning a brief hint of their offensive firepower, but it was too little, too late.

Joe was slurring his words pretty good. It was the bottom of the seventh Monday night on the main concourse at Citizens Bank Park.

If the Phillies are going to get back to the World Series in 2010, they will need Cole Hamels to pitch like Cole Hamels and quit channeling his inner Tyler Green.

In eight seasons with the Phillies, Brett Myers made three Opening Day starts and closed the game that clinched the 2007 division title.

Each game is captured in analytical detail by Philadelphia Magazinea s 2008 a oeBest Sportswritera Jason Weitzel, along with photos, behind-the-scenes access and exclusive interviews by Michael McNesby, making this 370-page compendium a must-own for all fans.

As they dealt with their present pain and watched the Yankees celebrate a World Series title, the Phillies weren't able to immediately remedy their shattered spirits with thoughts about their bright future.

Yankees designated hitter Hideki Matsui has driven in six runs in Game 6 against the Phillies to tie Bobby Richardson's record for most RBIs in a World Series game.

Even on the verge of elimination, manager Charlie Manuel was sticking with his lineup as is, no change.

Leaving in a few minutes for New York, which, ultimately, is where we figured this crazy journey would end.

Athletics 11. Blue Jays 12. Reds 13. White Sox 14. Brewers 15. Rangers 16. Cubs 17.

At midnight Cole Hamels strolled the length of the Phillies' clubhouse to Charlie Manuel's office.

By Monday, Charlie Manuel probably wasn't having all that much fun at the World Series.

PHILADELPHIA -- It is entirely possible the World Series could come down to a pair of critical decisions for the Philadelphia Phillies regarding their starting rotation -- one that has already been made, and one that is still to come.

The one still to come involves Game 7, if the series lasts that long, and specifically the decision whether to give the ball once again to lefty Cole Hamels -- the Phillies' former ace and current enigma, who fell apart in the middle innings of Game 3 on Saturday night, then raised some eyebrows in the Phillies' clubhouse with his postgame comments.

Rodriguez hit his disputed two-run home run in the to0 of the fourth. At first, it was ruled a double.

It had been three weeks since J.A. Happ's last start. During that span, he had faced only five batters, walking three and recording only two outs.

Nick Swisher flipped over after scoring on a single by Andy Pettitte, the first of three runs for the Yankees as they took the lead in the fifth.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Phillies ended the suspense about the identity of their Game 4 starting pitcher by announcing that right-hander Joe Blanton -- and not ace left-hander Cliff Lee -- will start that game Sunday night against the New York Yankees.

In choosing Blanton over Lee (as well as rookie lefty J.A. Happ, another candidate), the Phillies went the conservative route. Lee has never started on short rest -- as would have been required in a Game 4 start -- in his career, and the Phillies obviously preferred starting him in Monday night's Game 5 on his full four days' rest.