Ryan Howard News

Mariano Rivera wasn't needed for seven outs last night. Or even six. He stayed in the bullpen longer and came in later because Joe Girardi wanted Damaso Marte to face the Phillies' two toughest hitters.

Subject: Looking back After the Phils lost, Ryan Howard said the Fightin's had a great season.

Charlie Manuel knows how quickly the window for success can close on a team. Manuel was the Cleveland Indians hitting coach from 1994-99, a span when the team seemed destined to reach great heights with sluggers like Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez and Albert Belle.

A.J. Burnett turns over the ball after failing in Game 5 of the World Series for the New York Yankees.

Over the course of the first four games of the World Series the Yankees have conquered all but one of the Phillies star players.

You're Cole Hamels and you're 25 years old, and that's still green enough to be allowed mistakes in most settings.

Dylan Keenan's gesture in the fifth inning of last night's World Series game said it all.

Refresh my memory. I am supposed to hate the Yankees because ... there is a reason, right? As the Bronx Bombers were closing in on a World Series title this week, I found my world invaded by nouveau Phillies fans.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi called for his closer, Mariano Rivera, with five outs remaining last night.

Phillies' Game 4 facts The assumption seemed to be that had the Phillies gotten through the top of the ninth inning tied Sunday night - Brad Lidge ended up giving up three runs with two outs in the 7-4 loss - they would have won it against the Yankees bullpen in the bottom of the inning.

Shortly before 9 last night, an 18-year-old died of a bullet wound two blocks from his home in the city's Fairhill section, according to police.

If an upcoming MRI exam dictates that Raul Ibanez undergo surgery to repair a torn muscle near his abdomen, it won't be shocking.

ON THURSDAY NIGHT, Fox analyst Tim McCarver gave it to Charlie Manuel on the telecast about a strategic decision in the eighth inning of Game 2 of the World Series, about not starting his baserunners in what ended up being a doubleplay.

Charlie Manuel was heading to the interview room when he spotted a reporter walking alongside.

The look on Sean McKinney's face told you everything you needed to know about what was going on in the top of the ninth inning in last night's World Series Game 6 at Yankee Stadium.

ANDY PETTITTE is like your favorite neighbor. He's there when you need him. He's the guy you want to hang with to watch the big game.

Cole Hamels took the mound with the poise and confidence of a rock star on a blind date.

As Phillies manager Charlie Manuel contemplates how things might have proven different in this year's World Series, he won't concern himself with wondering what might have happened had he opted to bring Cliff Lee back on short rest in Game 4. Despite the fact that the decisive runs weren't scored against Joe Blanton that evening, there will be some ...

Jay-Z might have started Thursday night's game off with a bang, but it wasn't until the eighth inning that Yankee Stadium got a look at the guy who really runs this town.

Let's get this straight. There's only one Mr. October. What Chase Utley has done is tremendous, hitting five home runs in this World Series, but don't even think about putting the Phillies' second baseman in the same class as Reggie Jackson's five home runs for the World Series champion Yankees in 1977.