Wake-up call: Rafael Furcal, Dick Vitale, Sarah Palin

First things first: Rafael Furcal did not have his best game last night. A couple of bad throws, particularly the one that sailed over James Loney's head. Without that, Chase Utley's home run would not have been the tying home run. And don't forget that Manny Ramirez's shot would have been a home run except for that incredibly high (20 feet?) part of that wall. Even Manny (pictured here hitting that ball) thought it was gone. That ball went 410 feet and was still moving. Phillies fans need to remember, though, that these is not your Dodgers of the last 15 years. This is a Dodgers team that can beat you. Game 2 is today at 1:30 on KTTV Channel 11.

Cole, Cole, Cole: One word to Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels: Not every SoCal baseball fan arrives late and leaves early, as you implied. At Dodger Stadium this season most fans get there on time and stay till the end. Manny Ramirez may be the reason, true. He is worth getting stuck in a traffic jam. But young Cole, coming from sleepy San Diego, maybe forgets what it's like to be in downtown traffic in a real metropolis.

Rays-ing the bar: Someone needs to tell Joe Biden, it's not the Devil Rays anymore. It's in today's Morning Briefing. It's just Rays now, Joe. No devil. And I still think that is partly why this team is where it is. Tonight's game with the Red Sox is the one most baseball fans will stop what they're doing to watch. Except for Cubs fans, who are still moping.

Rays II: Warning. Warning. Dick Vitale, the irascible, can't-stop-talking Dick Vitale will throw out the first pitch in Game 2. The ESPN college basketball analyst lives in Sarasota and is a longtime season-ticket holder. I love Vitale and hope he is practicing his throws. In tonight's game, 11 original season-ticket holders have been invited to throw out the first pitch. And two of them are women: Bette Ra Ivey and Beth Di Roma. Game 1 is tonight at 5:30 on TBS.

Boxed Duck: How many penalties can the Ducks have in one game? It felt like infinity last night as one player after another went into the penalty box during a short stretch in the second period. Just look at the game summary under penalties. Ducks, Ducks Ducks, etc. You can't win games if you have players sitting in the box. The only one that was accidental was the high stick by Scott Niedermayer during that awful stretch. He wasn't even looking to his right, where his stick found the face of a San Jose player.

Last, not least: Will Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin be on "Saturday Night Live," the show where Tina Fey hilariously poked fun at the governor from Alaska? That has been the speculation all week. Fox News reports this morning that it's a done deal, quoting Cindy Adams of the New York Post. She says it will be the Oct. 25 show. Dan Patrick, on his 570 AM show this morning, said he thinks she should be asked one crucial question: Should there be fights in hockey. And I agree with Dan that her answer would be yes.

-- Debbie Goffa

Top photo: Manny Ramirez follows through on what turned out to be not a home run but a double to center. Credit: Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times

Bottom photo: In an exhibition game last Sunday, the Ducks' George Parros, left, and Vancouver Canuck Darcy Hordichuk do what they do so well. Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press / Associated Press

Comments

[Cindy]

The Ducks play the style of their soon-to-be former GM Brian Burke so it is no wonder they take so many penalties. As for fighting, I wish it was not part of the sport but would the media cover the NHL any better if it was removed? There will ALWAYS be an excuse from the media as to why the NHL gets reduced coverage compared to the other major sports.

[Billy]

What the heck happened last night and what was Torre thinking when he left Casey Blake (.274, 0-4)and Blake Dewitt (.266, 0-3) in the ninth inning to face Lidge? You've got to be kidding me when you have Nomar and Kent on their asses watching them make weak pop outs and start off this series in a very anti-climatic way to this disappointing game. A legendary manager makes a very forgettable move, or lack thereof... Somebody please explain this to me.