Oct. 29 -- BRRRRR!

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Just got upstairs after the Phillies completed the first pre-sixth-inning batting practice in the history of the World Series, and there's one thing to report:

It's COLD.

Evidently, it's about 40 degrees, but I can assure you, down on the field, it feels even colder. Definitely not good hitting weather. "When you hit the ball, a lot of times, your hands sting," Charlie Manuel said. "People say, 'Well, you've got gloves on.' Well, believe me, if you don't hit the ball on the fat part of the bat, you get a sting from it."

So, to me, the first run scored tonight may be the biggest.

By the way, the Phillies are 4-1 this season in games played in sub-50-degree temps. The Rays are 1-5.

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We continue to hear that Ruben Amaro Jr. will be named the next Phillies GM within the next few days. Of course, none of the Phillies officials will confirm that, but the GM meetings begin Monday and Pat Gillick's three-year contract expires Friday.