I Could Have Guessed

            This is awesome.  A rain delay.  But not just a rain delay.  A rain delay that isn't going to end well.  First of all, I confess to not really knowing the rules, as usual, when it comes to rain delays.  The rain comes when the Yankees have a lead, of course, so we can start with that.  So what's worse?  Do you sit and wait it out?  Sounds good.  Who can forget last year when jerks like me sat there until quarter-to-four in the morning watching the Yankees lose to the Tigers in extra innings after a rain delay.  After all, you're not going back to Pittsburgh any time soon, so another option is to have one of those "we'll play it if we need to" games looming for the rest of the season.  Or even worse, actually schedule a trip to Pittsburgh on an off day.  That's just awful.  So you sit and wait it out, right?          Great.  The problem is that you need to get on a plane and go play the Mets at 2pm tomorrow afternoon in the Bronx.  And the Mets have been resting comfortably in New York enjoying an off-day.  Awesome.  So neither option is good.  Which is worse?  Do you get this game out of the way tonight and throw tomorrow's away in the process?  Or do you bail on tonight and get out of town to be fresh(er) for tomorrow. 

            My opinion - you play.  Here's why.  First of all, you're winning.  Dude, if you've got a lead against the Pirates, you've got a real good shot at winning a game.  Just do it.  Plus, you've already burned out Moose.  So play and win.  You know why else?  You're not going to win tomorrow anyway.  Not a chance.  First of all, the team is going to be exhausted.  Somebody is going to lose tomorrow.  Either Dan Giese or Sidney Ponson.  I hope not both.  But they're not going to sweep.  And I know there is the "that's why they play the games" scenario where the Yankees might surprise you, but the Yankees never do that.  They lose every game they're supposed to lose.  So take the win tonight.

            So, of course, they postponed the game.  So take the lead away, give the Pirates a reprieve, and take away an off day during a homestand.  You couldn't have written a worse scenario.  Not if you hired George Lucas to write the script.  The Yanks are still going to get in at 2am, and the game will start 12 hours later.  Disaster.  

            When the game against the Mets was postponed last time, I figured it might have been a blessing in disguise for the Yanks.  They were reeling.  Help was a long way off.  Allie and Posada were on the DL, Joba was an underused 8^th inning guy, and the Mets were outclassing them all over the field, if that's possible.  I figured when they met again Allie and Posada would be back and the Yankees would have to be playing better.  And last week, they would have been exactly the story.  But now, the Ferocious Lion is out, Damon is hurt, and they're starting Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz, and Peter Tork in three of the games.  So.....awesome....

            I know.  Lots of pessimism today.  I would love the Yankees to prove me wrong, but they rarely do that in 2008.  Besides.  The Mets are so much better than their record.  All of the turmoil and odd behavior aside, there is really no reason for the Mets to be where they are.  The last time they met, both teams were reeling.  Something had to give.  And something wasn't the Mets.  And it wasn't really close either.  Bottom line - I would be ecstatic with a split.  Okay, maybe that's an overstatement.  I'm a Yankee fan.  Yankee fans are never going to be happy with a split.  It's not in their nature.  I would be grudgingly satisfied with a  split.

            Joey (brother-in-law) is going to be in section 24 tomorrow afternoon.  I'd love to say I felt good about it.