During baseball hot stove, lots of rumors circulate that perk our interest. Aside from Toronto’s spending spree along with Carlos Ruiz’ positive test for PEDs, the Mets are reportedly trying to sign David Wright to a long-term extension that would keep him here for his entire career.

According to New York Daily News Andy Martino, the Mets have offered Wright a seven-year contract close to $140 million. The average per year is said to be around $18 million. On par with recent extensions signed by third basemen Ryan Zimmerman and Evan Longoria. Tampa reached agreement with Longoria on a six-year deal worth $100 million. Martino noted that Wright was perturbed by a similar initial offer early in the process.

Since, the Amazin’s have upped the ante hoping to retain their brightest star. The soon to be 30-year old Wright (Dec.20) is coming off a bounce back 2012 that saw him bat .306 with 21 home runs and 93 RBI’s. He paced the team in batting average, RBI’s, total hits (178) and runs scored (91) while also stealing a club best 15 bases.

He’s set to enter the final year of a contract with the Mets owing him $16 million. Considering the uncertainty surrounding the franchise, it’s imperative for The Wilpons to get him re-signed. There’s still talk that they could trade NL Cy Young winner RA Dickey instead of keeping him as their ace. If they can fetch a package of top prospects for the crafty knuckleballer, it makes sense. But you can’t let the franchise third baseman go. Who would go to games?

Over nine seasons, Wright has been a staple in the middle of the Mets’ order, slugging 20-or-more homers six times while knocking in at least 100 five times. The former ’01 first round pick is a career .301 hitter with 204 dingers and a club record 818 RBI’s. This past year, he surpassed Ed Kranepool to become the franchise’s all-time leading hitter (1,426). Wright is also the all-time leader in doubles (322), walks (616) and strikeouts (1,009). His 204 home runs trail only Mike Piazza (220) and Darryl Strawberry (252).

If he remains a Met, he’ll have almost every hitting category. It’s up to Wright.

Carlos Ruiz has been a key cog for the Phillies, including on their 2008 championship roster. He developed from a non-threat who hit seventh or eighth into a run producing backstop.

Perhaps last year should’ve set us off. Suddenly, Ruiz went from a single digit home run guy to doubling his production by slamming a career best 16 dingers while knocking in 68 in only 372 at bats in an injury riddled 2012. He also hit a career best .325.

The best comparable is 2010 when the Philly catcher batted .302 with eight home runs and 53 RBI’s in one fewer at bat (371). Hardly what you’d call poor production for a guy behind the plate. He’s now 33 and curiously had his best season. So, is it any shock that Ruiz tested positive for a banned amphetamine? Nothing surprises us anymore. We saw what happened with Melky, who still got a multi-year $8 million commitment from those free spending Blue Jays.

While the Melk Man was punished for 50 games, including no postseason thanks to eventual world champ San Francisco, all Ruiz gets is 25. A slap on the wrist. Are you kidding me?!?!?!?!?! Why should he only have to sit out a month for doing the same thing because it’s the offseason?

Major League Baseball needs to get its act together. If you want to clean up the sport as much as you insist, find a better policy. One that makes these guys think twice before cheating. Make it 100 games if they’re caught and a one-year ban if they are a repeat offender. Three strikes and you’re out.

At least when it happens in baseball, it gets covered. Not true in football where more and more guys are being caught and getting four-game bans without any criticism. Why is that? Could it be because the powers that be are afraid to trash their most lucrative sport? It doesn’t matter how much revenue is brought in. Call a spade a spade.

-The Rays bounced back with a 4-2 win in Game 2 over the Phillies evening the World Series at a game apiece with the next three back in Philly this weekend. Tampa Bay scored twice in the first and tacked on a couple of more runs in the second and fourth off losing Phillie starter Brett Myers while ace James Shields held their opponent without a run in five and two thirds scattering seven hits while walking two and striking out four.

A pair of RBI ground outs from Carlos Pena and rookie third baseman Evan Longoria helped Tampa Bay get off to a quick start. B.J. Upton’s two out bases loaded RBI single to the opposite field plated a third run before Jayson Werth’s throw nailed Rocco Baldelli at the plate with the right fielder crashing into Philadelphia catcher Carlos Ruiz, who held on for the final out.

With Cliff Floyd on third, a well executed safety squeeze from shortstop Jason Bartlett scored the fourth run two innings later.

After Dan Wheeler came onto toss one scoreless frame K-ing a pair, ALCS Game Seven rookie hero David Price made things interesting by giving up a two out eighth inning pinch hit Eric Bruntlett solo blast to left breaking the shutout.

With Joe Maddon staying with the former 2007 first overall pick out of Vanderbilt, it got even tighter when Ruiz ledoff with a double and Jimmy Rollins appeared to be hit by a pitch. If the ball did touch part of the 2007 NL MVP’s jersey, plate umpire Kerwin Danley wasn’t saying and neither did the shortstop make much of it.

Instead, Price cameback to pop him up for a big first out before Werth’s scorcher off Longoria which somehow was ruled an E5 scored Ruiz for the Phils’ second run sending the tying run to the plate in Game 1 hero Chase Utley with Ryan Howard on deck. But Price dug deep getting Utley to chase and then inducing the struggling Howard into a grounder right into the shift for an easy 4-3 putout ending the game.

-A good win for the Rays who like they did in the ALCS against Boston bounced back from a Game One home defeat to even a series making it anyone’s with five potential games left. They”ll be in the identical spot they were when they visited Fenway sending ALCS MVP Matt Garza to the mound against crafty 45 year-old southpaw Jamie Moyer Saturday night. Figure the edge to go to the Rays if Garza continues to dominate. We’ll see if Howard can get untracked.

The other two match-ups at Citizen’s Bank Park pits Andy Sonnanstine against Joe Blanton and a Game 1 lefty rematch between 24 year-olds Scott Kazmir and Cole Hamels. This series shaped up to be a good one and thus far, has delivered even if ratings on Fox are probably down due to who’s in it. It’s good baseball though with solid pitching on both sides, low scores and key hits. Whoever wins the whole thing will have really earned it.

-Who cares if Brett Favre really put in a call to buddy Matt Millen before he was axed by Detroit about a game versus his ex-team. What does it matter? We’re talking about the Lions here, who need all the help they can get and that still wouldn’t be enough. What’s sad is that Favre lied when asked about whether he spoke to Millen. Why hide it? It’s not that bad to begin with but makes him look a lot worse.

Meanwhile, Favre’s sketchy play on the gridiron for an underachieving 3-3 Jets team in a weaker AFC is what should come under fire by the New York media here. He just hasn’t been the difference Gang Green expected him to be with part of the blame on conservative coach Eric Mangini along with Brian Schottenheimer, who’d rather run the ball with Thomas Jones than let one of the greatest QBs the game’s ever seen win a game at Oakland in which he was responsible for even getting it there in the first place.

You don’t treat Favre with kid gloves. That was easily one of the most poorly coached OTs I’ve ever seen with the Jets getting what they deserved. An ugly loss putting them two behind an overachieving bunch in Buffalo who find ways to win and don’t use excuses like the ones Bob Wischusen invents behind a Jets microphone over on ESPN Radio.

Bottom Line: The good teams overcome adversity to pull out games while the mediocre ones don’t which is what the Jets are right now. Mediocre.

-I’m no expert but what does changing her name to Sasha Fierce have to do with Beyonce anyway? She’s fierce anyway. We know that. Just look at her!

-The World Series got going last night with the Phillies behind Cole Hamels, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge edging the Rays 3-2 to take Game One over Scott Kazmir and Co. in St. Pete. All-Star second baseman Chase Utley’s first inning two-run homer to short right was the only real mistake the former Mets’ farmhand made in six solid frames of three-run, six hit ball while walking and fanning four apiece.

The 24 year-old southpaw was just good enough to lose despite battling through stranding runners while tossing 110 pitches (73 strikes) before the Tampa Bay bullpen shutdown the Phils the rest of the way including big outs by lefty J.P. Howell and Grant Balfour to keep them down a run.

Problem was Hamels, who took home NLCS MVP versus the Dodgers was his stingy self working seven strong allowing two earned on five hits walking a pair while striking out five. Given a three-run lead to protect following backstop Carlos Ruiz’ fourth inning RBI ground out, the 24 year-old former Phillies’ 2002 first round pick bent but didn’t break permitting a Carl Crawford solo shot and a Akinori Iwamura run scoring double in two consecutive innings both with two outs.

However, he did get the dangerous B.J. Upton to harmlessly pop out in foul territory to first baseman Ryan Howard, who made a nice defensive gem getting his glove extended into the stands coming away with the ball for the final out of the fifth.

If Hamels did the job handing the ball off to a pen which has dominated the late innings this Fall, then what Madson and Lidge did wasn’t all that startling with the Philadelphia 1-2 punch retiring all six Rays they faced including the latter getting the first two in only Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria swinging at nasty sliders before popping up Crawford into foul ground where third baseman Pedro Feliz squeezed the final out.

It was Lidge’s sixth straight successive save this postseason making the Phillie closer 47-for-47 including the regular season continuing to erase any doubts from his previous October experience with the Astros where Albert Pujols hit a tying homer which still hasn’t landed.

The Phils won despite another quiet night from top slugger Howard, who took the collar in four plate appearances whiffing three times. They also prevailed in spite of stranding a preposterous 22 on base. That’s what good pitching does. Tampa’s kept them afloat but the Phillies’ best was enough to pickup the win and take the home field away.

One potential turning point last night was when an E3 on Howard allowed Pena to reach leading off the sixth. He then took off on Hamels’ first move towards home but was picked off 1-3-6 despite Joe Maddon’s protests that it should’ve been a balk which Fox tandem Joe Buck and Tim McCarver accurately contended with replays confirming it.

Chalk it up to a break which went the Phils’ way and one which went against the Rays, who now really need tonight’s Game Two sending ace James Shields to the mound against Brett Myers. Especially with the next three shifting to the City of Brotherly Love.

In order for Tampa to have any shot, they obviously need to win tonight’s game and the recipe should be to score often on Myers, who has looked shaky this postseason after a strong finish to the regular season. He’s prone to walking batters and can be taken yard. Something the Rays have done during this run to their first World Series.

The Rays don’t want to let Myers off the hook and allow Charlie Manuel’s pen to dictate things cause they’ve been automatic late. It’s imperative for Tampa to swing the bats early and often getting out to a lead and taking some pressure off Shields.

Before the series began, we liked the more experienced Phillies in six competitive games. For as wrong as I’ve been on the NFL the past couple of weeks, I’m not changing my pick here. I just feel the Phils’ lineup is a little better and their pen gives them an edge despite the Rays throwing better starters outside of Hamels.

-Kudos to the Rays for overcoming a gritty determined defending champ in Boston coming back to beat the Red Sox 3-1 in the deciding Game Seven. It was truly storybook with mainstay Rocco Baldelli netting the series clinching RBI bouncing back from an exhaustion illness which has plagued him the past couple of seasons causing him to miss significant time.

That Longoria got the tying two out RBI opposite field double and steady fill-in utility man Willy Aybar added some insurance with a dinger seemed fitting considering how much of a team they’ve been all season.

We’ll see if they can pull this off becoming the first team to go from worst record the prior year to world champs. It should be a good series!

-One other thought on Game One. Enough already with these bands playing our national anthem. Last night, The Backstreet Boys made a mockery of it. I much prefer our anthem being sang/performed the way it should sound. No time to turn into a choir or hit song. You’d think they’d know better.

-Anyone really feel that the Red Sox would’ve scored only a run leaving all those runners on in the late goings if Manny Ramirez is still there batting behind David Ortiz? Try telling that to Mike Lupica.

-Thus far, we’ve seen one team dominate the first two games with the Phillies sweeping the first pair from the Dodgers at Citizen’s Bank Park by scores of 3-2 and 8-5 by outslugging Joe Torre’s ballclub improving to 5-0 this postseason with the balance of the series hanging later tonight when it shifts to Hollywood for the next three. It’s pretty much imperative for the Dodgers to win Game 3 to have any realistic chance of coming back.

Memo to Manny Ramirez’ teammates: It’s time for you to step up. The ex-Red Sock left fielder slugger can’t do it alone though he’s tried going 3-for-8 with a homer and four of his team’s seven runs knocked in. They must better support their emotional leader when crafty 45 year-old veteran lefty Jamie Moyer takes the mound tonight versus Hiroki Kuroda tonight.

If they get a win, then maybe they can carry momentum forward for tomorrow’s Game 4.

-The Phillies have to feel pretty good about themselves as they’ve gotten plenty of contributions from role players like Shane Victorino (4 RBI’s in Game Two), Carlos Ruiz (3-for-7, 2 runs, RBI) and Greg Dobbs (2 hits, 2 runs in Game Two start). It’s hard to remember that they were shutdown by Derek Lowe through five innings trailing by two in the series opener before a Rafael Furcal throwing error opened the door for Chase Utley’s tying two-run blast and Pat Burrell’s game-winner.

They completely took apart Los Angeles 16-game winner Chad Billingsley roasting him for seven of their eight runs in two and a third with starter Brett Myers the unsung hero going a perfect three-for-three with three RBI’s and two runs scored while going five (5 ER, 6 H, 4 BB, 6 K’s) to pickup the victory.

-One other Phillie note: They’ve won the first two games without a hit from NL MVP candidate Ryan Howard along with hardly any production from leadoff shortstop Jimmy Rollins (1-for-9, 4 K’s) and right fielder Jayson Werth (1-for-8, 2 K’s).

-One of the big differences thus far is that the Dodgers haven’t made a dent with Philly’s bullpen. In fact, they have only two hits in six innings while whiffing eight times. The trio of Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero and closer Brad Lidge have been instrumental in the first two games. Not that the Dodger pen has been bad having not allowed a run yet. The problem has been taking a lead into the late innings. They really need to get the jump in Game 3 and take some pressure off. A blowout would do the trick. But so would a three or four-run lead in the seventh or eighth. Especially with Torre able to mix and match with Jonathan Broxton waiting to finish it off.

We’ll find out what they’re made of later tonight.

For five innings, it didn’t look like the Phillies would solve Derek Lowe but trailing by a pair in the home sixth, fortunes turned their way when a Rafael Furcal throwing error allowed Shane Victorino to reach leading off. Chase Utley then followed by taking Lowe yard on the next pitch suddenly tying Game One of the NLCS.

Just like that, Joe Torre’s Dodger two-run lead was gone and so was Lowe’s rhythm as a couple of batters later, he fell behind 3-1 on Pat Burrell, who then deposited the next offering into the left field seats much to the sellout crowd’s (45,839) delight.

The three-run two-homer inning were enough to give them first blood in the NLCS as Phillie ace Cole Hamels settled in nicely to go the first seven allowing two earned on six hits while walking a couple and fanning eight to pickup the victory.

It didn’t start well for the southpaw who three batters in fell behind when sizzling left field slugger Manny Ramirez laced the second pitch he saw to the deepest part of the ballpark with only the high wall keeping a rocket from being a two-run home run. Instead, the former Red Sock World Series MVP wound up on second with an RBI double driving in Andre Ethier.

Following a two out James Loney walk and wild pitch, Hamels toughened up getting dangerous center fielder Matt Kemp to fly out harmlessly to right limiting the damage. That was huge for the Phillies psychologically who didn’t fall behind by too much.

With Lowe looking strong, rookie second baseman Blake Dewitt’s fourth inning sacrifice fly gave him a two-run lead to work with. The sinkerball righty responded by retiring the Phils in order K-ing his only two batters of the night. At one point, he retired nine straight keeping the ball down in the zone.

However, momentum’s a funny thing in baseball and it all changed when his shortstop Furcal threw too high to get Victorino in the Phils’ sixth starting the deciding rally. Before you knew it, Lowe had served up two long balls and was out of the game replaced by Chan Ho Park.

With their ace now throwing better, Hamels retired the Dodgers in order getting a couple swinging in his final inning before giving way to the bullpen. Including a pivotal 4-6-3 double play, he retired nine of the last 11 before setup man Ryan Madson replaced him for the eighth.

The setup man got the first two including Ramirez, who had a couple of hits but lined out to third. He then worked around a Russell Martin single by getting Loney to bounce out routinely to second ending the inning.

Following a quiet Phillie eighth versus Hong-Chih Kuo, out came closer Brad Lidge, who didn’t show any anxiety getting the side in order on a couple of fly balls and then made DeWitt chase a pitch in the dirt with catcher Carlos Ruiz tossing perfectly to Ryan Howard for the 2-3 putout. The former Houston closer is now a perfect three-of-three in save opportunities this postseason making him 44-for-44.

Not bad for a guy who seemed to have lost his way following that towering Albert Pujols drive which extended the 2005 NLCS seven before the Astros prevailed.

Most importantly, the solid finish allowed Hamels and the Phillies to take a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-seven NLCS with Game Two this afternoon where Brett Myers will oppose Dodger 16-game winner Chad Billingsley. First pitch is 4:35 at Citizen’s Bank Park on Fox as part of a Friday night doubleheader with the defending champion Red Sox and Rays getting underway later tonight.

A couple of quick thoughts on last night’s game:

-Very well pitched game which went quickly taking only two hours and thirty six minutes to play meaning it actually ended before 11 PM here on the East coast. Fan friendly. Imagine that!

-Veteran righty Greg Maddux came out of the Dodger pen tossing a scoreless seventh. Weird to see the former Cy Young future Hall of Famer in that role.

-The Dodgers left nine on base while the Phillies stranded seven.

-Ethier and Ramirez each led Los Angeles with a pair of hits while Philadelphia got multi-hit nights from the trio of Utley, Burrell and Ruiz.

-With his homer, that made it three in his last two games for Burrell who began the postseason 0-for-8 with a balky back before smashing a pair and knocking in four in the Phils’ elimination of Milwaukee. He’s 5-for-7 with three dingers, five RBI’s and three runs since.

-Games 3, 4 and 5 are at Chavez Ravine beginning Sunday night with an extra day off between Games 4 and 5.

-Red Sox will send out 18-game winner Dice-K Matsuzaka to the mound against 14-game Tampa winner James Shields tonight with Josh Beckett opposing Scott Kazmir in Game 2.

-Thanks to Milwaukee’s continued slide dropping a fifth straight falling 5-4 to the Cubs at Wrigley, the slumping Mets are still in playoff position half a game in front of the Brew Crew for the NL wild card. At this point, frantic Amazin fans will take it as long as it means October baseball. After giving a run back, Cubs closer Kerry Wood pitched out of a first and third jam by getting Brewer first base slugger Prince Fielder looking to move the Cubs within a couple of wrapping up the NL Central.

For Milwaukee who tried to get a ‘W’ for new interim skipper Dale Sveum, it was a blown opportunity as ace C.C. Sabathia was handed his first defeat and they wasted a two homer game from Fielder. A couple of weeks ago, it looked like they were a playoff lock and might even push the Cubbies for the division. Now, they’re fighting for their playoff lives against the NL East runner-up, the slumping Astros, fading Cardinals and possibly even the Marlins if they suddenly keep on winning as they did last night for a sixth straight win.

-Meanwhile, the Mets trail by half a game cause NL MVP candidate Ryan Howard slugged his major league leading 45th- a two-run shot on a full count with two outs in the eighth lifting the Phillies to a come from behind 8-7 road win over Atlanta. The Phillies’ first base slugger has caught fire this month doing everything he can to get his team another division title by hitting .396 with eight dingers and 22 RBI’s. In fact, the past four seasons, he leads the majors with 38 long balls in September. Still, the 2006 NL MVP has no clue as to why he heats up at the right time of the month:

“Maybe it’s just the pennant races are heating up. I’m just trying to go out there and do what I can to help my team.”

Whatever the reason, his teammates have to be very pleased because he’s coming up money. Last year’s MVP Jimmy Rollins has also come around at this key time batting .368 with a couple of homers, nine RBI’s, four steals and 11 runs scored. So, while Chase Utley and Pat Burrell remain MIA, Charlie Manuel can at least take solace knowing a couple of his best stars along with underrated gritty players Jayson Werth (3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI’s, 3 R) Shane Victorino (3 hits, RBI) and even Carlos Ruiz (solo HR) are raking, he has to feel good about his team’s chances. Even if closer Brad Lidge made it interesting loading the bases on three walks before striking out pinch hitter Gregor Blanco to go for 37-for-37 in save opportunities in his first season with his new club.

-What can be said about the Mets when they couldn’t come up with one run against Odalis Perez in seven-plus innings? Not much. Apparently, they left their bats at Shea or are stuck in a time warp thinking it’s 2007 all over again. Thing is there’s still plenty of time to turn it around. But the best they can do is a split against baseball’s worst team after having scored one run in 18 innings. Not only did they not score last night despite a quality effort from Mike Pelfrey in which he went seven permitting one run which was enough to take a hard luck loss. But they also lost the services of surprise left fielder Fernando Tatis, whose diving attempt at a two out Perez double resulted in a separated right shoulder ending his season. Sadly, that missed catch led to a Nats’ two out rally as Willie Harris walked and then Met killer Christian Guzman’s ground rule double scored the only run of the game.

It was a half inning later that Harris would make the defensive play of the game robbing David Wright of a sure two-run go-ahead double ending the inning instead with a nice running over the basket catch. Now, I’m not a Met fan. But how come everytime I see highlights, Harris is always making some sorta defensive gem against them? You just gotta wonder.

-Congrats to Derek Jeter on breaking Lou Gehrig’s all-time home record with a single to left in the home first in the Yanks’ 6-2 loss to the White Sox. With this being the final homestand ever played at Yankee Stadium, Jeter will forever be the man who needed fewer games (more ABs) to beat out one of the all-time greats. With two hits last night, he’s up to 1,271 with still five games left with the finale closing out Sunday Night versus the Orioles. In as disappointing a season as his team’s had, at least Jeter continues to put forth the effort and give Yankee fans something to take with them as closing time approaches:

“It’s kind of hard to enjoy it because we lost the game. But this is something that is pretty special. I mean, I’d be lying to you if I said it wasn’t. Records are made to be broken, but this one at least will never be broken.”

At least for once the elegant Yankee captain admitted that it meant a little extra. It should.

-I’ve heard a few Met fans call up WFAN and mock Jeter referring to most of those hits as singles and even a couple using “overrated.” Say what you will. But there has never been anything more ridiculous uttered about a shortstop who became the model of consistency and defines all the success the Yankees had when they weren’t a team full of superstars at every position. That’s what the Mike Lupicas of the world who’ll mention payroll till their death beds never seem to grasp. The old Yankee way saw them not always go for the top star and fill voids with underrated gritty performers such as Scott Brosius and Tino Martinez through trades when management actually let the real baseball people evaluate the farm and sell high.

Now, it’s become a circus where suddenly Melky Cabrera goes from starting center fielder to never to be seen again with only Brett Gardner getting every start down the stretch. This is really what you’re dealing with. I like Gardner and remember him here but why even have Cabrera back up if he’s not even going to get another chance? That btw opposes what Brian Cashman said at the time the struggling 24 year-old got sent down. I guess he’s already washed up.

-Kudos to the Rays for pushing across a run edging the Red Sox on Dioner Navarro’s walkoff to stay atop the AL East. That team has shown tremendous resiliency amidst all the injuries and pressure. What heart!

-You want a manager who should get axed. Look no further than what’s happened in Arizona where the D-Backs got out of the gate great but have fallen apart and now trail the Dodgers by four and a half on the verge of extinction. Bob Melvin had arguably the best pitcher in ace Brandon Webb and got Dan Haren along with a mostly healthy Randy Johnson. Plus they went out and got slugger Adam Dunn on the cheap to address the middle of the order. You would’ve thought it would be enough to stay afloat in such a poor division. Someone has to take the fall if they don’t put together a miraculous comeback.

-Is there any more dominant starter than the Giants’ Tim Lincecum? The former 2006 No.1 pick has been lights out on a subpar team with little offense posting a 17-3 record with a 2.43 ERA while pacing the bigs with 237 strikeouts. In his last outing, he went the distance three-hitting the Padres walking three and fanning 12 while throwing an unheard of 138 pitches. How did this happen? You mean a manager actually let their young pitcher stay in the game and finish it?!?!?!?!?! Well, it was his first ever complete game shutout. He had been going into the eighth a few times. Even more amazing is that on a team which has won 68 games, the 24 year-old has won five of his last six and six of his last eight decisions. In fact, his last defeat came on July 20 to Milwaukee giving up five earned including two dingers in five frames. He’s allowed only 10 long balls all year and just one since that outing.

Terrific Tim (Since 7/20)

10 GS, 6-0 Record, 72 IP, 44 H, 16 R, 14 ER, 1.75 ERA, 26 BB, 94 K’s+

+Struckout at least 10-or-more in five games

Note: Lincecum has eight games where he’s hit double digits this season.

Does it get any better than that? What happens when Chris “Mad Dog” Russo’s Giants figure out how to win? Just how special can this kid be? Keep your fingers crossed.