Daily News - Bill Conlin

Bill Conlin: A massacre of baseball's records

THERE IS A SCENE in "The Godfather" where Vito Corleone has just called in the favor owed him by Amerigo Bonasero, the undertaker. He is to use all his powers to make the ambushed Sonny presentable for a traditional "family" viewing. He draws back the sheet covering his son and sobs for the only time in the film.

Bill Conlin: No award for Phillies' Happ, just a stellar season

GENE MAUCH used to say, "Close only counts in dancing and grenades, podnah." Marlins hitting machine Chris Coghlan edged J.A. Happ, Charlie Manuel's Musical Chairs lefthander, by less daylight than you can see in one of those steamy "Dancing With The Stars" tangos. He won 2009 National League Rookie of the Year Award by a point total of 105-94.

Bill Conlin: It's time for DH in the NL

AS AN AFFRONT to the natural order of the universe and the laws of man, the Designated Hitter Rule is up there with the national health-care bill, a legislative dose of castor oil about to be stuffed down our throats, hate it or despise it.

Bill Conlin: All Feliz ever did for Phillies was show up for work every day

WHEN I'M KING of the world . . . The Phillies will give Pedro Feliz a little more respect than being tossed onto the market like a Cash-for-Clunkers auto . . .

Bill Conlin: Phillies face music with noteworthy effort in Game 5

CLIFF LEE had just given up a first-inning run. That's like Tim McGraw starting off "I like It, I Love It" with a belch. It's like a Charlie Manuel sentence without an "At the same time" to bridge conflicting ideas.

Bill Conlin: Ghosts of World Series past haunt Phillies

ELIMINATION. It is the biggest word in baseball's minimalist lexicon. And the baddest. For the runner-up in the most grueling journey in team sports, there truly is no tomorrow. The night you lose for the fourth time in a World Series, there is an exquisitely painful finality. The winners half-drown themselves in champagne, most of it spray

Bill Conlin: Comparing Phillies, Yankees lineups the right way

IN A WORLD SERIES comparison, a Tale of the Tape tradition dating to 1903 has matched the combatants by position.

Bill Conlin: Manuel's champs have it all over Green's

Bill Conlin: Twenty-nine years to the night that Tug McGraw flung both arms skyward in a joyous leap, then turned to await Mike Schmidt's airborne arrival, the 1980 Muleskinner stood on the mound.

Bill Conlin: It takes a while, but Phillies' dramatic rally in ninth pushes Dodgers to the brink

WHAT A DIFFERENCE a night makes, 24 little hours and six fewer runs. But the champagne will be on ice tomorrow night nevertheless with a home clinching in order.

Bill Conlin: A welcome return to Utley's routine

THE NFL has the Wildcat. Not to be outdone, MLB has enlivened the National and American League Championship Series with the Wildthrow.