A clandestine undertaking on behalf of Israel, the Jets and the Jews.

 
Game 1 Rainout: Bad For Me, Terrible For The Mets

1. Even though my tickets to last night's game are clearly marked "NLCS Game 1," the Mets are only honoring those tickets to tomorrow's game, which will be Game 2.

MLB has still not announced the game time for tomorrow, which has resulted in a massive number of people holding Game 1 tickets trying to trade or sell them, but little demand.

Fortunately, thanks to the miracle of Craigs List, I managed to trade my tickets for similar seats to tonight's game. Dozens of others sought similar trades, but I did the logical thing and coughed up an extra $50 to entice the other guy to deal.

2. I'm afraid that the Mets will be less fortunate than me, that Omar Minaya's inattention to the starting rotation and Willie Randolph's refusal to start Aaron Heilman will result in a Mets NLCS loss.

The rainout is terrible for the Mets. They now have no Game 5 starter - they already have no Game 4 starter - unless Oliver Perez is considered major league material. Randolph has indicated that he will start 40 year old Tom Glavine on three days rest in Game 5. Does he know that Glavine is 40, and that he has pitched abysmally on short rest?

3. Glavine is also stubborn about following a routine and always pitching on 4 days rest. The rainout broke his routine, and now he will pitch on 6 days rest tonight.

4. The rainout also allows the Cardinals to pitch ace Chris Carpenter on full rest in Games 2 and 6.

5. Bottom line: With Glavine and Maine, I expect a split of the first two games.

If I'm right, and the Mets don't win both games at Shea, they will probably lose the series. Steve Trachsel, terrible in LA, pitches Game 3, and he will be followed on the road by Perez and probably Glavine on short rest. If the Cards split at Shea and then win two of the games in St. Louis, they will then have Carpenter in Game 6 with a chance to close the series.

6. All season I have maintained that the Mets starting rotation was too thin, and that Heilman in particular was more valuable in the rotation. I hope the Mets prove me wrong.
posted on 10/12/2006