* Much-maligned Charlie Manuel has become only the sixth manager to take the Phillies to the World Series. He joins Jim Fregosi (1993), Paul Owens (1983), Dallas Green (1980), Eddie Sawyer (1950) and Pat Moran (1915).
* The Phillies will play either Boston or Tampa Bay. The Red Sox have the reputation that comes with two world championships in the last 4 years. But they're not 100 percent healthy. People have been waiting for the Rays to fold all year, and they haven't yet. They project as the tougher opponent.
* Shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who started play last night batting only .118 in the NLCS, fell behind Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley, 0-2, in the first, worked the count full and then drilled a home run into the rightfield pavilion to get the offense started.
* Rollins stole second with one out in the third inning, making it safely by sliding to the back of the bag, while second baseman Blake DeWitt took the throw in front of the base. That turned out to be a key mistake when Jayson Werth followed by striking out. If Rollins had been gunned down, the inning would have been over. Instead, the next four Phillies reached base, knocking Los Angeles starter Chad Billingsley out of the game, and adding two more runs.
* Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal made three errors in the fifth inning, which helped account for two extra Phillies runs. So while the Phillies won comfortably, four of their five runs can be traced at least indirectly to Los Angeles mistakes.
