The 2011 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers kicks off tonight at 7 PM ET, but why watch it when MLB 11 The Show already knows who’s going to win — The Texas Rangers.

The award winning baseball sim gave credit to the red birds for sticking around for a six hard fought games (including a surprising game 3 win in Texas), but in the end, the Rangers couldn’t be denied for a second year in a row.

Check out the whole video over at the PlayStation Blog, and speaking for all Milwaukee Brewers fans — go get ‘em Rangers.

Fox won the night with the World Series, which averaged a 4.7 demo rating. However, that’s down more than 20% from last year’s Game 1 between the Yankees and the Phillies.

Undercovers ratings were downright terrible; but NBC has nothing else to put there, because all of its ratings are terrible. How far will the once proud network fall?

ABC saw across the board improvement for its comedy block, while Modern Family hit a season high, with a 5.1 demo rating, the highest rated program of the night. The Whole Truth, recently canceled, averaged a very weak 1.2 rating.

8 pm

World Series (8-11): 4.7 demo, 15 million viewers

Survivor: Nicaragua: 3.4 demo, 11.6 million viewers

The Middle: 2.8 demo, 9.4 million viewers

Undercovers: 1.3 demo, 5.4 million viewers

8:30 pm

Better with You: 2.5 demo, 7.8 million viewers

9 pm

Modern Family: 5.1 demo, 13 million viewers

Criminal Minds: 3.4 demo, 14 million viewers

Law and Order: SVU (Repeat): 1.3 demo, 4.8 million viewers

9:30 pm

Cougar Town: 3.3 demo, 8.3 million viewers

10 pm

The Defenders: 2.2 demo, 9.8 million viewers

Law and Order: LA (Repeat): 1.2 demo, 4.5 million viewers

The Whole Truth: 1.2 demo, 4.6 million viewers

We can expect premieres of “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” at 9 p.m. on TBS and “Flowers Uncut” at 10 p.m. on TLC. SyFy has the season finale of “Destination Truth” at 10 tonight.

Those will all get lost in the shadow of Game 6 of the World Series at 8 p.m. on FOX where the Yankees will hope to close it out against the Phillies.

In other news, CBS ordered five more episodes of “Accidentally on Purpose,” giving it an 18-episode season run so far. The show averages 8 million viewers per episode.

In an effort to draw viewers to “Lopez Tonight,” TBS announced that both TNT and truTV will simulcast the episode, which will feature guest stars Ellen DeGeneres, Eva Longoria-Parker and Kobe Bryant. Afterward, “Lopez Tonight” will air Monday through Thursday at 11 on TBS.

It was announced recently that Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will serve as dual hosts for the 82nd Academy Awards in March. That should be a treat. Martin hosted the 73rd and 75th ceremonies previously.

The FX comedy “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” will enter syndication on at least 23 local affiliates beginning in Fall 2011. The list includes local Boston affiliate WLVI-TV, CW-56.

Kathy Griffin will host the latest new dancing reality show, “Let’s Dance,” where celebs will reenact famous dance routines. This one premieres November 23 after the “Dancing with the Stars” performance finale.

Finally today, A&E will launch a documentary series about Kirstie Alley and her continuing struggles with her weight and live as a single mom. No title or air date yet.

Phillies left-handed setup man J.C. Romero will be suspended 50 games in 2009 for taking an over-the-counter supplement that contained a banned substance. An arbitrator ruled that he was “negligent” in not knowing what was in the supplement. However, MLB and Romero agree that he did not take any performance-enhancing drugs.

“One thing I’m going to say, I’m a man and I’m accountable for my actions,” the Phillies reliever said in an attempt to tell his side to the media before MLB makes an announcement on Tuesday. “If I’m guilty of something, you know what? I will face it. But I’m not guilty, and I’m not letting people that don’t really know me judge me over something and accuse me of something that I didn’t do.”

Romero was a brilliant setup man for the Phils and very important to their championship run. He stands to lose $1.25 million in the suspension.

“If people are intimidated because Major League [Baseball] is a big organization, so be it,” Romero said. “But they are not going to make an example of me thinking that I’m just a [dumb] Puerto Rican. It’s not going to happen. It’s not the way I’m built.

“For me to keep my mouth shut? That’s not the right thing to do. If they want to bump me out of the game, so be it. What am I going to do, just sit back and take it? When I know in my heart I’m innocent? That doesn’t fly well with me and it doesn’t fly well in my house, either.”

Hopefully, Phillies fans enjoyed their World Series victory, because they will have to start their run to repeat without three valuable pieces to the puzzle. Chase Utley will be out several months following hip surgery, and Pat Burrell signed with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Phillies/Mets rivalry just got better. As if the two teams didn’t hate each other enough, Phillies’ World Series MVP pitcher/God Cole Hamels went on WFAN NY radio on Wednesday and labeled the New York Mets “choke artists.”

Why was he doing an interview with NY sports radio? He was pimping the Phillies World Series DVD that just came out. Mets fans must have been thrilled.

To be fair, people are taking bits and pieces out of context to make it seem worse than it really was. Did he refer to the Mets as choke artists? Yes. Was that term used in the question that was posed to him? Yes again. Should he have stirred the pot? Absolutely not. I am of the firm belief that no good comes from comments like this.

However, it does seem that the more you look into it, the more the Mets royally piss the rest of the league off. They are known as show boaters who go over the top with on-field celebrations. This is a big reason why Phillies players don’t hesitate to take shots at them when all logic says they should just shut up. In other words, the Mets irritate the Phillies and other teams to the point where they just want the world to know how much they hate them.

Hamels even made a reference to his teammate Shane Victorino, who tends to behave like the Mets do as far as celebration.

“I’m hoping I don’t hurt too many people right here with this,” Hamels said. ” … When Jose Reyes hits home runs, he points his finger up like he won the game. And he might have hit in only in the first inning or the third inning. Well, when Shane did it, he did the same exact thing. So we were [saying], ‘Hey, Shane, this doesn’t win the game. We still have a lot of game to play. Ya know, why are you trying to be like Jose Reyes?’

“And so that was kind of where it came from. … Even though you hit the big home run, you don’t need to pimp it. You just need to run around the bases and just kind of get the game started.”

Hamels was then asked by hosts Evan Roberts and Joe Benigno if he thinks the Mets are “choke artists.”

“Last year and this year, I think we did believe that,” said Hamels. “Three years ago, we didn’t, because they smoked everybody. I really thought that was the year they were going to the World Series. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.

“That’s kind of what we believe. … I think we’re always going to believe it ’til they prove us wrong.”

The hosts stopped him and asked him to repeat whether or not he thought the Mets were choke artists.

“Yeah,” he replied. “For the past two years, they’ve been choke artists.”

What do you get when a small-market team plays the Philadelphia Phillies in October? You guessed it, the worst-rated, least-watched World Series of all-time.

In the past ten years, the five best-rated World Series are 1999 (16.0), 2004 (15.8), 2001 (15.7), 1998 (14.1), and 2003 (12.8). Other than 2004 which featured the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals, there is common denominator (or dominator?)…The New York Yankees.

Baseball just doesn’t spark the interest to the general public like it used to. Maybe the horrible TV schedule has something to do about it?

The 2008 World Series drew an 8.4 rating.

Philadelphia was ready to celebrate their first championship in 25 years on Monday night. The table was set with their ace on the mound and a 3-1 series lead. Then the winds and rains came, suspending not only the game, but a party and celebration only the Philadelphia faithful could host. The snow and sleet arrived on Tuesday giving the fans more time to ponder the curse of William Penn as the game was suspended for one more day. However, a town usually filled with negativity never lost their confidence in their Phillies who were about to bring them what they so desperately needed…to be called winners.

8:37 pm finally arrived on Wednesday. Rally towels that were used in the past to wipe away tears of frustration were about to be used for a different purpose…to wipe away tears of joy. So, what happened Wednesday night?

Jason Werth’s blooping single found a way to avoid Akinori Iwamura’s glove.

The fog was lifted at Soldier Field and Keith Jackson didn’t drop that pass in the end zone.

Eric Lindros kept his head up and avoided Scott Stevens’ concussion-giving hit.

Robert Horry’s last-minute three-pointer in Game 3 of the 2001 NBA Finals fell short.

Chase Utley didn’t throw to first, but nailed Jason Bartlett at home.

L.J. Smith held onto the ball while being tackled by Randall Gay in Super Bowl XXXIX.

The doctors didn’t find a small blood clot on Kimmo Timonen’s foot and a deflected puck didn’t find Braydon Coburn’s eye.

Eric Snow and Aaron Mckie didn’t have to play on broken ankles during the 2001 NBA Finals.

Ben Zobrist’s line drive found Jason Werth’s glove.

Brian Westbrook played in the 2003 NFC Championship game.

Alexander Perezhogin missed on a devastating hit that could have ended Keith Primeau’s career.

This was announced, “with the 8th pick in the 1998 NBA draft the Philadelphia 76ers select Paul Pierce from Kansas University.”

Blaine Bishop, despite losing a step, tackled Joe Jurevicius.

And the Phillies won the World Series…that’s what happened.

For one night everything that could have gone well…did, and anything that could have gone wrong…did not. For one night the past was forgotten. For one night the sports history of a city was re-written.

The Philadelphia Phillies are world champions and a city that supports their teams through thick and thin will be able to have the celebration they deserve. With the pressure off, and the Phillies to thank, don’t be surprised if the parade on Friday is followed by many more.

After 25 years, Philadelphia has finally won a championship as the Phillies took down the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 in the completion of Game 5.

The Phillies win the 2008 World Series four games to one and if anyone thinks I’m going to sit behind this computer to type out a bunch of articles this evening you are a nut job.

Cole Hamel wins MVP and Brad Lidge remained perfect as he struck out Eric Hinske to seal the deal.

What else do you need right now? Everyone played hard and never gave up and they just went out there and knew they could win and…blah, blah, blah.

I do my best to be a responsible, non-biased journalist. I really do Tonight? Screw that, I’m heading out to celebrate!

Monday night’s rain suspension of Game 5 was an absolute debacle. The Phillies and Rays were playing in absolutely horrific conditions for the better part of three innings before the game was finally called off after the Rays tied it at 2-2 in the top of the 6th.

Coincidence? Or was MLB absolutely shivering at the thought of having a World Series won on a rain-shortened game? We all know it’s the latter.

The game should have been stopped long before the sixth inning. Like…say…how about when a Gold Glove shortstop can’t handle a routine pop up because the wind is throwing the ball around the infield and rain is stabbing his corneas as he looks up and tries to locate the ball? Would that have been a good time to call the game?

But it is what it is. Philly, once again, can’t catch a break in any sport. Call it bad luck, call it unnecessary whining. With Hamels on the mound at home and a 3-1 lead, the city was ready to celebrate. But no, instead, they get a Wednesday night game to try to finish off the final three and half innings.

I’ve broken down several reasons why the Phillies will win this series, and several why the won’t. Let’s take a look:

Why they will win:

-The Phillies have four at-bats to the Rays’ three on Wednesday night. The game starts tied 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth.

-The Phillies bullpen has been filthy this season, and matches up better against the pen of the Rays.

-The Phillies have been finding ways to win and have proved to be the better team.

-Regardless of their production in Game 5, Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria have been a waste of space for the Rays.

-With the extra day gained by the Game 5 suspension, the Phillies could have Cole Hamels ready on full rest for Game 7 if need be.

-Philadelphia is due.

Why they won’t:

-Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria are too good to be this bad in the World Series. Game 5 could be proof that they’ve put their games back together and are ready to light it up.

-If the Rays finish the Phils off in Game 5, they go back to Tampa with James Shields and Matt Garza on the mound.

-David Price could give the big lefties (Utley, Howard) fits on Wednesday night and shut the Phils’ main engine down. Going back to Tampa means anything goes.

-The Rays are too good to go out 4-1 in the World Series.

-The Phillies bullpen is due for a meltdown.

And finally…

-Monday night was their night. By not locking down the win (through no fault of their own necessarily), they have opened the door and given a young, energetic Rays team life and faith that they can win. The Rays will play with a renewed confidence that will only build as they claw back into the Series.

Now you know what it feels like to be a fan.

It occurs to me, even at the quarter-life age of 24, that this year’s group of college freshmen were largely born in nineteen-ninety — to say nothing of you high schoolers.

That means that 2003 seems like a million years ago. That means you weren’t born in 1986.

With the success of the Red Sox, Patriots and now the Celtics in our Generation Y and Z lifetimes, we’ve not only become spoiled, we’ve become inundated with this new expectation that Boston has to win every year.

Don’t forget that the Celtics were a joke throughout most of our formative years. The Patriots were a bigger joke. Most living fans waited their entire lifetimes for the Red Sox to win a World Series.

We’ll lament together and hold hands at the bonfire of our baseball season going up in flames and — gasp — we might cheer for the Phillies on Wednesday. But don’t feel too bad about this loss. It sucks. It blows. Screw Tampa Bay and its fan base that stood strong at three fans last year. All that jazz. But don’t feel too bad.

In 1986 and 2003 we felt bad. We felt demoralized. All our hopes were crushed. Dreams were gone. The sun refused to shine in Boston for weeks after game 6 in 1986 and then Aaron-bleeping-Boone’s homer in 2003 opened up all kinds of wounds.

Some of you younger fans may feel that way tonight. I don’t. I think a lot of our parents will agree. Sure, it’s too bad we lost, but we lost to a better team. We lost to a group of straggly young rejects and journeymen who got together and formed something special. That’s how the Sox won in 2004, and we have nothing to be ashamed about by losing to the Rays.

With this new winning tradition comes a sad yet sure realization: sometimes we don’t.

I had a chance to preview MLB Production’s official 2007 World Series Film narrated by superstar and devout Sox fan Matt Damon.

I never, ever get enough of watching the Red Sox win. After living for years under the shadow of my entire Yankee-loving family, I’ve acquired a library of books, posters and DVD’s from all things 2004 and 2007.

The 90 minute special premiere in high-def on the MOJO HD channel January 10, and here’s how they sum it all up:

The film captures all the drama as the Red Sox overcame a three game to one deficit versus the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS to secure a berth in the World Series. They then faced the red hot Colorado Rockies who had won 21 of their last 22 games and became the second team ever to win their first seven games in a postseason. With original game broadcast footage plusoff-the-field candid moments with players and coaches inside the dugout and the clubhouse, viewers can relive Boston’s amazing four game sweep for their second World Series championship in the last four years, including their exuberant clubhouse celebration.

The film includes Dustin Pedroia’s lead off home run and the back-to-back-to-back home runs of Youkilis, Ortiz and Ramirez — first time in World Series history. They also highlight J.D. Drew’s breakout grand slam, Jacoby Ellsbury’s emergence as a star-calibur player, and Mike Lowell’s MVP performance.

I really liked that they also included scenes from the victory parade, which I was front-row for.

The 2007 team was something special, like the 2004 team, they came back from the brink in the ALCS. Then they outright swept the World Series. They just wanted it more, and they have a nation of fans behind them.

You also have to give MLB Productions credit for telling the story of the 2007 Colorado Rockies also. They were basically out of it, but they seemed to win every game in the last month of the season to somehow make the playoffs — 13 wins in 14 games and a win in a one-game playoff against the San Diego Padres that took 13 innings, where they were down two runs in the top of the 13th, against the all-time saves leader, only to come back and win. Then they swept Philadelphia; then they swept Arizona. They easily could have been the story of the year.

Living in Boston, I’ve had a chance to see some amazing sports moments over the last five years — football, baseball, hopefully basketball this year. This film is another chance to take an closeup look at the team and the story.

The 2007 World Series Film will re-air January 23 at 9:30 p.m.

Unsung hero.

Workhorse.

Veteran.

In 1991 Mike Timlin, 41, broke out with the Toronto Blue Jays. He appeared in 63 games and finished the year with a 3.16 ERA. He bounced around — Seattle, Toronto, Seattle, Baltimore, St. Louis, Philadelphia, back to St. Louis. He was perfect in four World Series games between 1992-93 with the Blue Jays, allowing no runs and only two hits.

He came to Boston in 2003. In the heart-breaking American League Championship Series against the Yankees, Timlin was perfect. He appeared in five games, allowing no runs on one hit before Aaron Boone flopped a homer to left field off Tim Wakefield in the dreaded 7th game.

He appeared in 76 games for the 2004 Red Sox — five more games in the comeback effort against the Yankees in the ALCS and three games in the first World Series victory in 86 years. The tall Texan was there to break the curse of the Bambino.

This year, he was perfect in three ALCS appearances, allowing just one hit and no runs. Tonight it was Mike Timlin, who manager Terry Francona turned to to hold the lead in the clinching game of the World Series while the powerful and determined Rockies threatened in the late innings.

And hold that lead he did.

Congratulations are due to the MVP of the series, Mike Lowell for his amazing performance.

To Josh Beckett for his seamless starts throughout the post season.

To Jon Lester, who beat cancer and a stacked Colorado Rockies roster in game four.

To Jonathan Papelbon, for four saves in the post season, each of which went over an inning and stretched his arm beyond normal closer-role limits.

To Curt Schilling, who is the best post season starting pitcher ever.

To Jason Varitek, the captain who held the team together.

To Dustin Pedroia, who will be the 2007 American League rookie of the year.

To Jacoby Ellsbury, who may be the 2008 American League rookie of the year. (He didn’t have enough at-bats this year to be considered a true rookie)

To Coco Crisp, who accepted his defensive role for the good of the team.

To Manny Ramirez, who should always be Manny being Manny.

To Kevin Youkilis, who hit .388 in the postseason this year.

To J.D. Drew, the most criticized player on the team, for busting out with a grand slam in game six of the ALCS and showing us his true potential.

To David Ortiz, who is a good first baseman.

To Bobby Kielty, who never could have imagined, after the Oakland Athletics cut him this year, that he would hit the game-winning home run in the World Series in a few months.

To Julio Lugo, for never giving up.

To Doug Mirabelli, Erik Hinske and Alex Cora for being there.

To Manny Delcarmen, Javier Lopez and Erik Gagne for being ready in the bullpen.

To Daisuke Matsuzaka, for being worth every penny.

To Kyle Snyder, for staying ready and taking Tim Wakefield’s place on the roster when he realized he couldn’t pitch.

To Tim Wakefield, for putting the team first at all times.

But most of all, I thank Mike Timlin — not only for his pitching, but because he took the bullpen relievers and turned them into the next great American band. He was the ringleader behind the clanking and chiming in the outfield that created a motivational tune from the workhorse bullpen, started by the head horse, Mike Timlin.

Fellow baseball veteran, Tim Wakefield was being interviewed by the NESN television network during the celebrations early this morning when Timlin butted in and took the microphone.

“I just wanna say one thing. This guy right here, this win is for this man right here,” he said, Champagne dripping down his shirt, “because he was not on the roster and he showed so much heart by saying ‘I can’t be on the roster and it was good for the team.’ This is what kind of person is standing right here. I love this guy. I’m proud of this guy. It’s the hardest thing to do to take yourself out of the game for someone else, but he did it and I’m proud of him.”

Wakefield had to wipe away tears before his next interview.