Thursday's first pitch

Leading Off
Phillies fans need to walk a fine line. There's no reason to get arrogant or spoiled.
Don't get the Southpaw wrong, this is the Phillies' new glory days and their fans should enjoy them.
But you've watched Yankees fans from afar and you know how they don't appreciate the chance to just even make the playoffs.
What you don't want to become is also up I95, the new Boston Red Sox fan.
We're not talking about the fans who remember when Carlos Quintana was holding down the fort at first base. We're talking about the new Red Sox fans, who don't understand how a bit of suffering makes the the joy of winning that much more beautiful.
Phillies fans have suffered enough.
They've won the World Series, now they should just enjoy the ride, win or lose.

Regional Roundup
The streaks continue.

• Ryan Howard's initial fist bump after clinching the division was too subdued. Then the realization hit and the Phillies celebrated the way they know how. The sad news is that Jamie Moyer is done for the year. Jimmy Watch: A typical red light performance, 2-for-4, two runs scored, walk. Average up above .250/.297/.425


• The Nationals ended their home schedule in grand fashion, with a walk-off slam.


• Thirteen is just plain ugly.


• Craig Morton looked good for the Pirates Thursday. Real good.

• All the Dodgers needed to clinch the division was beat the Pirates or Padres. Just once. You'd think that would be easy considering both teams have 90 losses.


• October is here and Rocktober is almost here


• The Florida Marlins' Ricky Nolasco looked like a young Doc Gooden Wednesday in knocking off the Atlanta Braves.


• The Tigers could win their first division title in 22 years.


• A season on the brink.


• Ozzie Smith is getting a field named after him


• Are the Florida Marlins planning another fire sale?

• It's not often that you hear about premier players giving the home team a discount. But it sounds like that could happen with Carl Crawford. The Tampa Bay outfielder is one of those guys who fantasy guys drool over, but it's doubtful they understand how important he is to the Rays.
  Crawford's been around for eight seasons and he'll be just 28 next season. However, heading into that season, he'll have averaged more hits per season than Manny Ramirez, more stolen bases than Ichiro and a higher batting average than Chase Utley.

Today in history
1903 -- The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Boston Red Sox, 7-3, in the first World Series game. Jimmy Sebring hit the first series home run. Deacon Phillippe was the winning pitcher and Cy Young the loser.

1932 -- Babe Ruth, as legend has it, called his home run against Chicago's Charlie Root in the fifth inning of Game 3 of the World Series, won by the New York Yankees 7-5 at Wrigley Field. Ruth and Lou Gehrig each hit two homers for the Yankees.

1950 -- The Philadelphia Phillies clinched the NL pennant on Dick Sisler's three-run homer against Don Newcombe in a 4-1 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers on the season's last day.

1961 -- Roger Maris ended a season of personal torment by hitting his 61st home run against Tracy Stallard of the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. The homer eclipsed Babe Ruth's 34-year-old single-season home run record. The Yankees won, 1-0.

The Closer

Welcome to October.
There have been a lot of memories - some good, others bad - from this season, but this weekend brings the 2009 campaign to a close.
Six teams - the Yankees, Cardinals, Angels Red Sox, Dodgers and Phillies - have clinched playoff berths.
The Rockies are one win away; the Tigers two.
The Southpaw is going to make some promises for October.
First, loyal readers, you will get previews for each playoff series.
Second, there will be running diaries, which is better than running diarrheas.
Third, there will be polls.
Fourth, there will be tons of post-season trivia.
And lastly, there will a recap of York and Adams county.residents and their playoff and World Series exploits.
So, congrats on a fine season.