J.C. Romero News

Mike Koplove is coming home. Koplove, a South Philadelphia native and former University of Delaware reliever, is on the verge of signing a minor league contract with the Phillies.

The Phillies have reached an agreement with Mike Koplove, a Philadelphia native and free-agent righthander, on a minor-league contract, a team source said.

I can't imagine too many of you have awoken from your tryptophan-induced slumbers, but let's get down to business here on Black Friday.

The character actors have grabbed the lead. The faces in baseball's crowd shots have broken above the title.

The three-year, $12 million contract the Yankees gave to Damaso Marte breaks down this way: $3.75 million in 2009, $4 million in 2010, $4 million in 2011 and $4 million option for 2012 with a $250,000 buyout.

J.C. Romero can name each position player for the New York Mets' 1986 world championship team and, of course, the members of its pitching staff.

UPDATE: The Phillie have announced the hiring of former Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo to fill a yet-to-be determined coaching position.

The Yankees have made their first move of the winter, re-signing Damaso Marte to a three-year, $12 million deal.

Journal Register News Service PHILADELPHIA - When the Phillies broke camp in Clearwater, Fla.

Another member of Charlie Manuel's coaching staff is gone, and this time it was an unwanted departure.

The Rays then threatened to take the lead, but a smart defensive play by second baseman Utley stopped the rally.

Ryan Malavolta is going national...the Philadelphia sports desk finally emerges! It's not often that reader emails are good enough to make the cut in this column, but there was no way I could let this gem go.

THE YEAR was 1996, and William Carey College had a pretty good baseball team. Late in the season, the Crusaders traveled across town to play three games against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles.

There's nothing wrong with lunch at the Deptford Mall, then spending the afternoon and evening with family, playing the card game Phase 10.

It was a strange tale, this latest Philadelphia story, but all that matters really is it ends in a title.

J.C. Romero gets out of the 8th inning before the Phillies take the World Series title.

Lefty J.C. Romero got B.J. Upton to ground into a first-pitch, 6-4-3 double play with Carl Crawford on first.

SEVEN arrived last night, cold but dry. Game 5 1/2 of the World Series had been postponed hours earlier.

Game 5 is all on the bullpens. Starters and will watch the end of Game 5 from the bench whenever that happens.

Jamie Moyer waited 45 years and 22 major league seasons to make his first World Series start.