CHICAGO—The new owner of the Chicago Cubs didn’t wait long to make a promise: Tom Ricketts says the Cubs are going to win the World Series. Of course, the Cubs haven’t won it all since 1908 and haven’t even been to the series since 1945. But Ricketts and other family members were upbeat as they were introduced at a news conference yesterday at Wrigley Field.

The World Series was slated to start last night. On paper, the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies offer a compelling match-up. Both teams have pitching and hitting—and stars. The Yankees are loved by many, hated by more. Despite decades of futility, the Phillies never achieved the cult status enjoyed by the Red Sox and the Cubs, teams either jinxed or cursed or, more likely, year in and year out simply not good enough. The Phillies won their first World Series in 1980 (and waited 28 years for their second). The Yankees win a Series every week or so. The title of a history of the Phillies earns the National Book Award for integrity: Occasional Glory. The Yankees erect monuments.

Displaying the spirit with which Flying Squirrels was picked as the name of Richmond’s new baseball team, the Double-A franchise’s general manager expressed outside-the-box approval yesterday. “Let me be the first one to say: ‘Let’s go nuts!‘“ Bill Papierniak said.

Well, so much for that. Richmond’s new ball team will officially be known not as the Generals, the Ravens, or any of the other spiffy monikers suggested by area residents. They are now the Flying Squirrels. That name might not strike anyone outside the franchise as ideal, but—as we noted yesterday—on the bright side, they could have done a lot worse.

This afternoon, Richmond baseball officials will announce the name of the area’s incoming minor-league team. Some people hope the choice won’t be Flatheads. The word has undertones for Native Americans. Team officials said they haven’t had any calls or complaints about the potential use of Flatheads, which was proposed as a reference to catfish found in the James River.

The Richmond Baseball franchise has eliminated “Hambones” as a potential team name.

Now that we’re naming names, which of the six options should be chosen as the moniker for our new baseball team? First, let’s silence talk about the Richmond Hush Puppies. What would the mascot be? A fried cornmeal ball? A suede shoe? Hush Puppies’ trade mark basset hound? I like the new owners’ desire to follow the minor league trend toward quirky names. But that name should connect with our hometown.

There may never again be such a good time for Ken Griffey Jr. to call it a career. He’s about to turn 40, clearly way past his prime and in demand only by the nostalgic. But that doesn’t mean he’s going to walk away after the dramatic way he finished the season a week ago, delivering three home runs in the Mariners’ season-ending homestand and a single in his final at-bat.

While Todd Parnell was the general manager at Class AA Altoona, Pa., his gall bladder was removed. He wanted to give it away as part of a game-night promotion. The plan was vetoed. “My doctor got serious about Hazmat stuff,“ Parnell said. Instead, at an Altoona game Parnell distributed 500 color pictures of his gall bladder, then autographed them in the stadium concourse. Parnell said that during subsequent months, he was occasionally stopped in the area and told, “Hey, I’ve still got your gall bladder on my refrigerator.“ Parnell, now the vice president and chief operating officer of Richmond’s Class AA franchise, pledges that similarly inventive promotions—though probably not as personal—are coming to The Diamond.

The possible names for Richmond’s baseball team may not appear to be big hits. But the club’s boss says,  “Richmond will soon learn that we aren’t afraid to stick our necks out there and have some fun.“

After receiving more than 6,000 entries, including duplications, the front office of Richmond’s Double-A baseball franchise has selected five finalists.

Last week officials announced that the Connecticut Defenders of the Class AA Eastern League will relocate to Richmond. Next April an ump will yell, “Play ball!“—and local fans will be able once again to root, root, root for the home team. The much anticipated news came as something of a relief. The move resembles a successful stint by a middle reliever. The ultimate outcome relies on a closer. We hope Mariano Rivera is warming up. Pro baseball’s long-term future in Central Virginia depends less on the action on the field than on action regarding the stands. The Defenders (who will take a new name) will open the 2010 season at The Diamond. Although improvements will enhance the venue, a new stadium seems essential. And Richmonders have heard plenty about that for lo these many years.

ALEXANDRIA And that’s the price . . . per ticket?“ It was too late. I had already committed in mind, body, and wallet. On this day, I was divulging the details of my credit card not only for Yankee tickets, but Yankee playoff tickets—and lower level. I went to my first professional baseball game was when I was 5 years old. I had convinced my father to take me to a preseason game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Baltimore Orioles at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. In Virginia, where I grew up, nearly everyone was an Orioles fan. The New York Yankees were the Evil Empire—and my father might as well have been Darth Vader.

AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP ATHLETICS 4, TWINS 2: Brett Anderson threw seven sharp innings and Cliff Pennington had three hits with an RBI as Oakland won for the fifth time in six games. Anderson retired 18 of 24 batters, including the final eight he faced, and didn’t allow a walk for the fourth time this season. ORIOLES 7, YANKEES 3: Brian Roberts hit a grand slam in a six-run second and tied a franchise record with his 51st double as Baltimore defeated New York. Brian Matusz won his third straight start, and the Yankees lost consecutive games for the first time since Aug. 16-17. WHITE SOX 4, ANGELS 3 (10): Scott Podsednik hit an inside-the-park homer and scored the go-ahead run in the 10th on a wild pitch, leading Chicago over Los Angeles. Podsednik hit the White Sox’s first inside-the-park homer since 2002 in the third. He doubled leading off the 10th. NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP

High expectations can be a drag. Not for South Richmond Post 137 in the American Legion state baseball tournament at RF&P Park in Glen Allen. The reigning champions maintained that status for another year with a 17-9 victory over Albemarle Post 74 yesterday. South Richmond swept the tournament in four games and advanced to next week’s region gathering in Morganton, W.Va. Post 137 is the defending region champion as well.