So, with the stress of the plumbing problem (still not solved, btw) i think I experienced a little existential angst earlier when I wondered out loud why the season even matters– or what the point of the post-season actually is, if you can be the best team in your league and not make it out of the first round.  Maybe I represented a Cubs fan’s state of mind pretty accurately, I’m not sure.  Lou Piniella put it quite accurately, that he has some pretty good pitchers pitching the next two games, so no reason to think the Cubs are out of it.  As I have told Mets fans on more occasions than I care to think about, Tug McGraw had it right when he said “ya just gotta believe”.  27 out of 32 teams have won the Division Series when leading 2-0, but those other 5…. well those 5 remind us that anything is possible.  And 5 out of 32?  Well, that may only be 16%, but that’s double digits, and the sample size is pretty darn small.

I have to say, though game two just finished, that I was way wrong about momentum and experience helping the White Sox. The Rays are that good, and the Sox are too old and slow to make much of a statement.  Though I’m not ready to concede on the Cubs/Dodgers series, I feel very differently about the Rays/Sox.

On other notes, good for Jerry Manuel for actually putting up some sort of fuss over his contract.  He was right, if he said no, the team would have had to shell out a decent salary to get the experienced manager they would seek, so he might as well collect.  Its also an insurance policy that he really isn’t on a “trial” basis any longer.  It would be miserable for him if his status started being questioned before April was over, like Willie Randolph’s status was this year.  I haven’t picked apart the Omar Minaya deal yet, though I will do that in the next couple of days.  I did, however, read this great John Harper column speculating on some moves the Mets could make.  Though Minaya seems to have assured the media the Mets will pick up his option, I don’t think Delgado is worth $12 million. You just don’t know which Delgado you will get.  I say waive his option, then resign him for less.  Even if its $10 million, thats another reliever to throw in the mix.  And if Delgado is the guy he seems to want us to believe he is, Delgado won’t want to play anywhere else.  He will want to finish what he started.  If he is the problem some say he is, well…. that will become obvious as well.  I don’t even mind if you give him an extra year, say two years for $15?  Then you can either platoon him the second year with one of the young guys in AA, trade him, or ride him to another playoff. The Harper idea though about JJ Putz was one I hadn’t heard or thought of, but is a great idea.  Hard to know if the big stage would be scary, but I think we would also be a little more patient with him.  If he turns out to be a stud, he will also counter some of the hispanic backlash that has developed among old-time Mets fans as well.

That’s a bunch for me.  Doubtful for  more o Saturday.  My schedule is a little nuts these days, but Sunday morning should have some interesting stuff since, the NL series continue, and could wrap up, tomorrow.