Fan News

Mr. Lidge & His Unstable Bridge

                If one was creating a children’s book with this title, perhaps the best cover picture would be the following:

Shane Victorino in a cheerleader skirt graced the front page of Tuesday's New York Post with the headline, "Gotham Trembles."

The paper called the Phillies "The Frillies."

The town's other publication (save the New York Times), even picked on the Philly Phanatic, shown above.

New York Daily News writer Joanna Malloy called the Phillies top mascot a “green, pig-nosed monster” in a column today that trashed all things Philadelphia.

Asked last April who were the last two teams I would like to see in the World Series, anybody and everybody who knows me well enough would have said the Yankees vs. the Phillies.

As a lifetime New York Mets fan and college student Red Sox, fan nothing in baseball could be worse than to have these two rivals competing for a world title. For close to 15 years, I hated the Atlanta Braves. They gave me so many ugly nights and subsequent nightmares it’s no wonder I still can’t get enough sleep.

The Philadelphia Phillies have added Brett Myers to the World Series roster while dropping Miguel Cairo to make room reports the Philadelphia Daily News .

Myers, an addition to the bullpen that adds a bit of depth, is likely to lead the way in a set up role affording the Phillies a veteran arm that is capable of shutting down opposing bats.

Looking at the press conference photo of Brad Mills being named the new manager of the Houston Astros and watching Ed Wade and Drayton McLane look like they're playing tug-of-war with Wade's jersey, I see something very fitting.

The Terry Francona disciple and former Boston Red Sox bench coach will wear jersey no. 2 with the Astros.

You know: 2, as in second choice.

Mills was named manager after the 'Stros first choice, Manny Acta, decided to take his act to the Cleveland Indians.

After going through a horrific, injury-plagued 2009 campaign, the New York Mets head in this winter's Hot Stove with many questions and seemingly too few answers.

Everyone's knee-jerk response to solving their issues revolve around signing a couple big ticket free agents and praying for health. It seems like the 2010 version of the Metropolitans will be a playoff contender, but still a cut below a dominant Phillies club.

The New York Yankees are back in the World Series again. With American League pennant No. 40 under their belt, as well as the groanings of Red Sox and Angels fans alike as background noise. The Yankees will play host to the Philadelphia Phillies for Games One and Two in the new Yankee Stadium, trying to win World Championship No. 27.

On the exact day five years ago that the Boston Red Sox won the World Series for the first time in 86 years, their bench coach from that improbable 2004 season left the Red Sox to take over as the manager for the Houston Astros

Mills has spent the last six years as bench coach of the Red Sox, and was generally considered one of the best bench coaches in the game. Red Sox manager Terry Francona knew that it would just be a matter of time until Mills was called upon to take the reigns of another major league franchise.

According to an AP report, the Tampa Bay Rays have re-signed one half of their Double-Gabe right field platoon, welcoming back Gabe Kapler.

The team announced a one-year deal worth $1.05 million earlier today. The 34-year-old Kapler played in 99 games this season for the Rays, sharing time with Gabe Gross in right field, and finished the year batting .239 with eight homers and 32 RBI.