Tuesday's first pitch

Leading Off
Mike Scioscia's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are going to the playoffs for the sixth straight season.
He's managed the team since the start of the decade and his work has been nothing short of spectacular. He's guided an evolving cast to the playoffs seven times, a winning record in every season but 2001 and 2003 and a World Series victory in 2002.
Only the Yankees have been to the playoffs more often this decade.
So let's give this team the credit it's due and congratulate them on another fine season.

Regional Roundup
How bad was it for the region? The Pirates were the only team with a "W," yet they looked like amatures as the game came to a close.

• The Phillies need to panic. For more on that, check out The Closer. Jimmy Watch: 1-for-3, walk, run scored, Magic Number: 3


• Dave Trembly might not survive the week because of The Weak.


• Ross Detwiler finally got the win he deserved.


• The Pirates won in a big way Monday, but their manager still managed to screw it up.

• What will the Twins do now that Monday's game was rained out? It means Joe Mauer will not likely catch both games against Detroit as the team tries to make up ground.


• Speaking of the Tigers, has it really been 25 years?


• Alex Rodriguez continues to talk to the kiddies.


• Atlanta is closing in on the Rockies ... and Phillies.


• The Red Sox had a chance to clinch. And missed.

• Do early clinchers have October success. Ted Kieth examines.

Today in history
1954 -- Willie Mays made his famous over-the-shoulder catch of Vic Wertz's long drive to center field and pinch-hitter Dusty Rhodes homered off Bob Lemon in the 10th inning to lead the New York Giants to a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians in Game 1 of the World Series. Editor's note: Wertz was a York native. For more on him and other York residents who made it to the big time, check out York Town Square.

1963 -- Stan Musial ended his career by going 2-for-3 as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 3-2 in 14 innings at Busch Stadium.

1963 -- John Paciorek of the Houston Colt .45s, in his only major league appearance, went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and four runs scored against the New York Mets. A back injury ended his baseball career the next season.

The Closer
Push the panic button. With both hands. And lean on it. Use your shoulders.
It's no longer time for the World Champs to up their game. It's too late for that.
At this point, they have to concentrate on getting to the playoffs.
The problem is that Brad Lidge isn't the only problem.
Cliff Lee, Joe Blanton and Cole Hamels got hit hard in their last outings.
Chase Utley is batting .222 in September and his on-base percentage dropped almost 100 points for the month.
Raul Ibanez is batting .235 in his last 14 games with just three runs batted in.
And Carlos Ruiz is clearly not 100 percent.
So if the Phillies don't amp up their game they might not even make the post season.