The Phillies’ World Series shares were impressive, although not quite a record. The Mets got some money too. Begging the question – why does a second place team that folds like a cheap beach chair get any money at all?

SI’s Tom Verducci thinks Charlie Manuel is the Sportsman of the Year, not just for who he is, but who he represents.

The Hardball Times digs into what makes Jamie Moyer so effective at this stage of his career.

Javier Vasquez is back in the National League East. He really hasn’t been all that great since he left Montreal in 2003, with the exception of his 2007 season, when he went 15-8 with a 3.74 ERA and an adjusted ERA of 127.

The Rocky Mountain News catches up with The Phillies’ own save machine, Brad Lidge, who lives outside of Denver.

On Phillies fans:

Despite building an immense reservoir of good will with Phillies fans, Lidge is under no illusions. He expects they’ll boo him after a bad performance next season, knowing that’s a comes-with-the- territory response in Philadelphia and by no means will he be unhappy about it.

“I wouldn’t want the fans to change just because we won the World Series,” Lidge said. “That’s the reason it’s great to win a World Series in Philadelphia. As (Phillies shortstop) Jimmy Rollins says, they’re not cupcake fans. I mean, you got to earn their respect there.”

The Phillies 2008 Video Yearbook is out, narrated by Mr. Lidge. Great – more Phillies stuff for the Christmas list.