Oct. 15 -- ANGEL IN THE OUTFIELD?

BY SCOTT LAUBER

LOS ANGELES -- As you know, Charlie Manuel's mother, June, died last Friday morning. And, as planned, Charlie is flying straight from L.A. to his native Buena Vista, Va., for a viewing Thursday and the funeral Friday. But, in Charlie's final conversation with his mother last week, she guaranteed that the Phillies would reach the World Series.

"The last time I talked to her, she said, 'Pray for me,'" Manuel said. "Then, she said, 'Charles Jr., you're going to win these games, and you're going to go to the World Series.' That's the last thing she said to me."

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Bill Giles finally presented the trophy named for his father to the Phillies, and within the game story, we examine the total team effort to beat the Dodgers. Within the notebook, it was a special day, in many ways, for Geoff Jenkins.

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Pat Burrell watched a lot of the postgame merriment from a spot in the corner of the clubhouse. He was trying to take the whole thing in. Cole Hamels was named NLCS MVP. With so many homegrown players on the roster, Mike Arbuckle and Steve Noworyta feel like proud parents.

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As Martin Frank writes, there was no luck involved in winning the NL pennant. As Kevin Roberts writes, the Phillies always had faith in themselves. Rookie catcher Lou Marson and batting-practice pitcher Ali Modami have the best seat in the house for the postseason.

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Here's a photo gallery from Game 5.

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Your World Series game schedule (all times TBA):
Game 1: Wednesday, Oct. 22 at Tampa/Boston
Game 2: Thursday, Oct. 23 at Tampa/Boston
Game 3: Saturday, Oct. 25 at Philly
Game 4: Sunday, Oct. 26 at Philly
Game 5: Monday, Oct. 27 at Philly
Game 6: Wednesday, Oct. 29 at Tampa/Boston
Game 7: Thursday, Oct. 30 at Tampa/Boston

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I'll be flying for most of the day Thursday, but while I'm on the way home, I'd like to hear from you. Years from now, how will you remember the NLCS? Would you rather see the Phils play the Rays or Sox? Was Hamels a good choice for NLCS MVP? Fire away.