I know many of us including myself were pulling for a Red Sox-Dodgers World Series just for the great storylines with Manny facing his former teammates and Joe Torre getting back to the Series after how the Yankees treated him but there’s something cool about a potential Rays-Phillies Series.

Sure. It might not have quite the appeal of Boston vs Los Angeles. But think about it. It would feature two teams which aren’t associated with winning. You have the Phillies who haven’t been to the WS in 15 years when Joe Carter was last seen circling the bases celebrating the only walkoff home run in Series history for the Jays’ repeat. It’s also a city associated with losing with nobody winning since the 1983 76ers. The Flyers lost three Stanley Cups and the Eagles lost in the Super Bowl. Plus the exasperation of Mitch Williams’ implosion during that 1993 Series which led to a six-game defeat with Carter winning it.

Then you got the Rays who before this year were always associated with losing becoming baseball’s laughingstock franchise. They won only 66 games last season giving no indication they could go from worst to first similarly to how the 1991 Twins did when they edged the Braves in another improbably yet riveting Series which went seven and had its own dramatics. Those two teams were last place clubs the year before who turned it around and gave us a memorable conclusion.

Now with both teams up 3-1 in winning positions, the reality could be here of a surprising Tampa Bay-Philadelphia series which probably would be excellent due to each ballclubs’ grit and perseverance. It wouldn’t be the ratings bonanza a Boston-LA series could bring.  But just maybe these are the best two teams and either way we’d see something we hadn’t in a while. A fresh champion.

Ain’t that better than watching the Red Sox win another Series? But their potential downfall ain’t got nothing to do without Manny Ramirez. Shhh. Don’t tell anyone that including a few choice local columnists who keep advising the Mets and Yanks not to go after the best righty slugging hitter in the game. I don’t care about all his baggage and don’t approve of how he got his way out of Massachusetts. However, even at 36 going on 37, he’s still a constant threat at the plate. Nobody’s figured out how to get him out since he became a Dodger. And this postseason, the guy’s been money.

For all the talk that teams shouldn’t commit three or four years to a player who doesn’t always give his best, were they saying that a few years ago when the Mets overcommitted for Pedro? Ramirez has a lot more left and while he might not be as great in say the final year, he can put a team that’s close over the top. Don’t you think Manny would look awfully nice batting cleanup behind David Wright with Carlos Delgado fifth and Carlos Beltran either second or sixth?

Correct me if I’m wrong here. But isn’t it about winning with the Amazin’s cause I’m not sure that’s the case anymore with the Yankee management team? Manny can win you a championship. Just look at the impact he had with a weak hitting Dodger club immediately making young emerging players like James Loney, Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp better players. Before he arrived, they were under .500 despite a nice roster and were looking at missing October.

Then the slugger came and carried them with a huge September making up over six games on Arizona to win the NL West going away. With him such a factor, the Cubs never had a prayer despite owning the NL’s best record.

Understand this. For all the risks with an aging player of Manny’s caliber, there’s still no other hitter in baseball you’d want up in a key situation at this time of year. He certainly has done his part for the Dodgers who find themselves a game from elimination due to some mismanaging from Torre and a pen implosion.

Manny’s loose personality has been seen as uncaring and unmotivated. But if that were really the case, he wouldn’t have such a well disciplined approach at the plate taking his hacks. You know he’s either going to walk or hit the ball hard somewhere. It’s that same cool persona which allows him to swing free and easy because the guy doesn’t feel any pressure. He doesn’t care what’s written and is just going to let it hang all out there.

That approach works a lot better than a couple of third base sluggers’ recent track records in this area.

-Or maybe I should say Day Two since that really is what it is at this juncture. In case anyone missed it, the Red Sox again took care of the Angels coming back to defeat them 4-1 out on the left coast late last night. The big blow came off the bat of Jason Bay, who delivered a sixth inning go-ahead two out two-run home run off losing Angels’ starter John Lackey. The ex-Pirate was the man they got in return for Manny Ramirez. So, it was a great night for both as they each hit homers and helped lead their respective teams to Game One victories.

The Sox added two runs in the ninth off LA setup man Scot Shields with rookie Jacoby Ellsbury and David Ortiz adding RBI base hits for the final margin giving the defending world champs home field with Josh Beckett waiting to go in Game Three at Fenway. At worst, the Red Sox come away with a split. Game Two isn’t till tomorrow night with Dice-K taking on Ervin Santana.

Boston’s Jon Lester rewarded Terry Francona with a solid seven frames allowing only a run on six hits while walking one and striking out seven to pickup the win.

-Meanwhile for the Angels, the question becomes can they overcome Boston’s psychological edge which has seen them take 10 straight, matching a major league record for consecutive wins in the postseason over one opponent tying Oakland’s dominance over Boston (1988-03). Ironically, it was in 2003 when the Red Sox overcame an 0-2 deficit winning three straight over the A’s including the deciding game on the road advancing to the first of two memorable ALCS versus the archrival Yankees.

Can the Halos recover psychologically to get back in this series or will they continue not to hit in money situations stranding 14 Wednesday. They need Santana to deliver tomorrow but must deliver big hits as well to take pressure off. We’ll see what Mike Scioscia’s ballclub is made of

-The Rays got off to a good start today in their first ever postseason in the franchise’s 11-year history posting a 6-4 Game One home win over the White Sox. The big story was rookie third baseman Evan Longoria, who hit homers in his first two at bats off losing Chicago starter Javier Vazquez. With the game scoreless, he started the second inning by taking Vazquez’ first offering deep to left center for his first career postseason dinger.

The White Sox responded thanks to Dewayne Wise’s three-run homer off Tampa starter James Shields in the third to go ahead 3-1. However, the pesky Rays came right back with three in the bottom frame thanks to Akinori Iwamura’s run scoring triple, replacement first baseman Willy Aybar’s sac fly (came in for Carlos Pena who left with eye injury) and then Longoria drilled a two out solo shot for his second homer in two at bats allowing the Rays to reclaim a 4-3 lead.

The former 2006 No.3 overall pick’s big day wasn’t done. With two runners on, he drove home his third run of the day with an RBI single plating B.J. Upton increasing the lead to 5-3. Carl Crawford singled home Aybar making it a three-run lead. What a brilliant start to Longoria’s playoff career!

Shields, who settled down after Wise’s homer ran into trouble in the seventh walking a couple to load the bases with one out forcing Joe Maddon to go to his pen calling on hard thrower Grant Balfour to get out of it. It proved to be a great move as Balfour dialed up his mid-90’s heater striking out an overmatched Juan Uribe and Orlando Cabrera with the latter allowing the reliever to get extra pumped up due to the White Sox shortstop’s foolish kicking of the dirt after ball one as the two exchanged heated words. Balfour responded by getting him swinging and telling him to take a seat. Good to see such intensity under big circumstances. Though we’re still not sure what provoked it. But it made for entertaining playoff baseball like you’ve seen in Major League I and II.

With veteran closer Troy Percival unavailable for this round, the Rays got a 1-2-3 eighth and two K’s from J.P. Howell and then veteran Dan Wheeler worked around a leadoff Paul Konerko solo blast retiring the next three for the save in their 6-4 win.

The Rays aim to go up 2-0 sending Scott Kazmir against Mark Buehrle in a battle of lefties tomorrow.

-In the second game today, so far it’s been mostly Phillies as they used a Shane Victorino two out second inning grand slam following a Pedro Feliz RBI double to score all five of their runs off Milwaukee ace C.C. Sabathia, who’s shown some exhaustion in his fourth consecutive start on three days rest. Staked to a one-run lead on a J.J. Hardy RBI walk off Philly starter Brett Myers, the potential NL Cy Young ran into trouble having a loss of control with two outs in the second. With a run already in on Feliz’ two-bagger, he lost Myers walking him and then walked Jimmy Rollins on four straight pitches loading them up for scrappy center fielder Victorino. I could tell he was in trouble and when he fell behind, I told buddy Brian Sanborn I felt a bases clearing triple coming. With the count 2-1, Victorino did one better drilling the next pitch over the left field wall for a huge grand slam suddenly making it a five-run inning to put the Phils in control up 5-1.

That’s where they still are after a scoreless fourth from Myers, who settled down after loading the bases early walking in one before getting Corey Hart to chase grounding into a 1-2-3 inning ending twin killing.

Entering the fourth, Sabathia’s thrown 72 pitches. We’ll see if he can keep the deficit at four and give his team a chance.

-In other MLB news, no surprise as both Brian Cashman and Omar Minaya were renewed by the Yanks and Mets respectively a day apart. Yesterday, Cashman re-signed for three years, six million and today, Minaya got his much rumored four-year extension through 2012 that includes options for 2013 and 2014.

After seeing his team miss on the final day of the regular season against the Marlins at home a second straight year blowing another division lead with 17 left, Minaya’s being given yet another opportunity to make fans forget this mess and improve the team enough to finally get back to October and compete for a World Series.

Ditto for Cashman, who saw the Yanks miss the postseason entirely for the first time in 15 years with him passing on Johan Santana, who performed very well in his first season at Shea even overcoming a torn cartilage in his left knee to toss one of the best games in Met history- shutting out Florida on three hits while fanning nine on the second last game of the season giving his team a chance. The 29 year-old veteran southpaw underwent successful knee surgery yesterday and is expected to be ready for Spring Training. He finished 16-7 with an NL best 2.53 ERA with 206 strikeouts in 234 and a third- eclipsing 200 K’s for a fifth straight time.

A quote from Mets owner Jeff Wilpon pretty much applies not just to his team’s situation but to Cashman’s as well as he attempts to restore order in the Bronx moving forward in what promises to be a busy offseason for both NY teams:

“Hopefully, the fans understand that as owners, we’re here as the voice of the fans, and we’re asking all these questions. And after some intense review this offseason, we’re going to find out why we fell short the last two seasons. And it’s up to Omar and his staff to correct that. But we are asking those tough questions.”

-The Phils have them loaded again with a gassed Sabathia coming out. We’ll update what happens later.

-Don’t forget a must win for the Cubs who send Carlos Zambrano to the hill tonight against Dodger 16-game winner Chad Billingsley. Sweet Lou’s club needs a win for their psyche.

-It didn’t take long for the Dodgers to silence Wrigley smashing three homers in a come from behind 7-2 Game One win earlier tonight. Given a two-run lead on Mark DeRosa’s two-run job, Ryan Dempster didn’t come close to duplicating his home success which saw him go 14-3 during the regular season. Instead, a brutal loss of control saw the former Cub closer walk a season high seven including loading the bases in the fateful fifth. He needed just one more out though to escape but couldn’t get James Loney, who barely stayed alive just getting a piece of a splitter.

Unfortunately for Cub fans, TBS analyst Ron Darling was right on the money indicating that continuing to rely on the splitter could result in a pitch being up which was eventually what happened allowing Loney to get his bat around on one for a go-ahead grand slam to dead center. A couple of innings prior, a pair of walks and a single had seen Dempster escape by fanning Andre Ethier. But he lost the plate against him and Loney made him pay the price. If you continue putting batters on, it’s usually a recipe for disaster.

The Cubs didn’t do much with Derek Lowe, who settled in nicely working six solid innings of two-run ball scattering seven hits while issuing just one walk and K-ing six including an overmatched Alfonso Soriano twice to boos. Soriano continued to struggle in the postseason turning in an 0-for-5 performance leaving three on which won’t get it done this series. They need him to get on base and wreak havoc.

Meanwhile, Manny Ramirez did as expected finishing with a pair of hits, a walk and a solo blast to left center golfing a Sean Marshall offering 20 rows up. Casey Blake added an eighth inning RBI single and Dodger catcher Russell Martin went yard in the ninth to close the scoring.

Joe Torre’s pen tossed three scoreless closing it out to take a 1-0 series lead putting the pressure squarely on the shoulders of Cubs Game 2 starter Carlos Zambrano, who will be battling 16-game winner Chad Billingsley. They desperately need a big performance from Big Z. We’ll see if he’s up to the challenge.

-In the third and final opening game of the night, the Red Sox and Angels are scoreless in the second with Jon Lester taking on John Lackey. Can the Halos finally get a win over Boston in October. We’ll have a better answer by the end of the night.

-I realize Brad Lidge escaped by the hair on his chinny chin chin notching the save stranding the tying runners in scoring position but would it have killed Charlie Manuel to stick with his ace Cole Hamels, who dominated the first eight innings against the Brewers permitting two hits and fanning nine on 101 pitches? What’s wrong with allowing a big starter to finish what they started?

-WFAN’s Chris Carlin says the Yankees rewarding Brian Cashman with three more years aren’t about winning World Series anymore and how can we argue given the Yankee GM’s recent track record. Until proven otherwise, the Yanks are heading the wrong way with Boston, Tampa and maybe even Toronto making the AL East baseball’s toughest division.

-There’s been a lot of discussion about this but if the Mets trade either pair of 25 year-old stars David Wright or Jose Reyes, they’ve lost their minds as much as some of their fans along with Mr. Know It All Mike Francesa.

-And so, the New York baseball season is over and it really does feel weird that both the Mets and Yankees won’t be playing meaningful baseball as October gets ready to hit. I just can’t remember what this felt like. Sure. The two teams both finished with identical records winning 89 games which meant they didn’t stink by any stretch but when you have the kind of payrolls they do, so many expectations come with it for this spoiled city which makes it all the more disappointing.

In the end, both teams despite big names proved to be flawed which was why they fell short in their postseason bids. Injuries aside, the Yankees didn’t have enough pitching or timely hitting. For some reason, they never hit the way they could’ve and too often couldn’t deliver in the clutch. That along with being a very streaky team which sometimes lacked energy kept them from putting together that run with their best ball coming way too late when the season was already lost.

The Mets also had their share of injuries but severely underperformed the first 10 weeks getting Willie Randolph axed before waking up under Jerry Manuel to get back in the race. Despite no pen to speak of, they persevered and once again were in great position to win their division before it all came crashing down in the final couple of weeks though not as badly as last year. While the pen could never be trusted and cost them a ton of games, what was most baffling was the offense which at times disappeared. How do you explain getting shutout 1-0 against the majors’ worst team the Nats? And what about scoring only five runs in the do or die weekend series against the same Marlins who danced on their field eliminating them last year? Questions will continue to linger about David Wright and Jose Reyes until they stop disappearing and carry this team back to October and beyond.

Now, it will be a long offseason for Omar Minaya with plenty of angry customers wondering why next year will be different at Citi Field. Getting a real second baseman while unloading Luis Castillo along with revamping the bullpen are just a couple of topics he must address with new record closer Francisco Rodriguez at the top of the list. It’s also likely Pedro Martinez pitched his final game as a Met after struggling mightily. And then there’s Oliver Perez, who will be seeking a deal in the neighborhood of $12-16 million per year under greedy agent Scott Boras$. Is he really worth that kind of money longterm? I say no. He’s just too unpredictable to get to that next level. What about Carlos Delgado? Do they pick up the $12 million option rewarding him for his brilliant second half or do they try to get younger going for better defense? If they let him go, it won’t be easy to replace his big bat.

As for the Yankees, they will need to decide on center field moving forward along with what they intend to do with Joba Chamberlain. If they make him a starter, then they must continue to shore up their pen. Bringing back 20-game winner Mike Mussina should be at the top of Brian Cashman’s list. Figure Andy Pettite to either retire or go elsewhere following a dismal second half. The Yanks of course need a real ace and should be in the running for C.C. Sabathia, John Lackey or A.J. Burnett with him expected to opt out of Toronto. There’s also the first base situation where they could be competing with the Angels and Mets for Mark Teixeira. Figure Jason Giambi to go elsewhere after a productive season proving he can still be a valuable DH somewhere. As for Bobby Abreu, he’s a solid run producer who gets on base but leaves something to be desired for in right which is why we see Xavier Nady shifting.

Whatever transpires over the next three months, New York baseball fans know full well their rosters won’t look the same following a quiet October.

Get ready for chaos.

-Just in case we forgot, there’s still one more regular season game to be played later today when the Twins visit the Windy City against the White Sox, who earned the one-game home playoff by getting a grand slam from overlooked rookie second baseman Alexei Ramirez in an 8-2 win over the Tigers in a makeup game Monday. They get the game despite winning their first in six thanks to the Twins dropping two of three to the Royals despite sweeping three from Ozzie Guillen’s club to pull half a game up. It’ll be John Danks going on three days rest against Nick Blackburn to decide the AL Central for the final playoff berth.

One team will advance to play the Tampa Bay Rays in the Division Series while Boston travels to California to meet the 100-win Angels.

The NL of course is all set with the Cubs taking on the Dodgers while the Phillies host the Brewers, who are in their first postseason in 26 years.

We’ll have more playoff stuff later on.

-It’s hard to choose one between each but our pick for NL MVP would be Ryan Howard for how he carried the Phillies the final month having one of the best Septembers eerily similar to when he clubbed 58 home runs and knocking in 149 to win the award two years ago. I’ve always been a huge fan of Manny Ramirez and he sure stepped up carrying the Dodgers in the final two months impacting their lineup while coming back to win the NL West. But it’s hard to pick him over Howard with how well the first base slugger finished leading his team to a 13-3 record over the final 16 pressure packed games in a very tight race.

-The same could be said for the NL Cy Young where worthy candidates like Johan Santana, Brandon Webb and Tim Lincecum all are in the running against Milwaukee rental Sabathia, who tossed a remarkable seven complete games pacing the league while turning in a money performance following Santana’s gem to get the Brewers in. For that, we’ll give the nod to Sabathia over Lincecum with Santana third and Webb fourth.

-AL MVP is a little easier and could depend on if the Twins win with Justin Morneau once again in the running against Boston tandem Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis. It’s hard to ignore Carlos Quentin’s impact with the White Sox, who haven’t been the same since he went down. To be honest, he would’ve been a lock had he not broken his wrist. If the Twins get in, Morneau should win his second MVP in three years this time edging another do everything infielder Pedroia, who resembles a young Derek Jeter. If not, give the award to Pedroia because he’s been his team’s best player since the Manny trade.

-As for AL Cy Young, Cliff Lee should get the nod handily edging out K-Rod, Dice-K and Roy Halladay. I know he won’t get a lot of consideration but Moose deserves a few votes for how well he pitched in the Bronx this year.

-What else can Joe Girardi be two-faced about and purposely hide from the media?

-It’s nice to see Brett Favre finally be allowed to open it up and get on the same page with Laveranues Coles, who caught three touchdowns for the first time in his career- half of Favre’s career high six in the Jets’ 56-35 win over Kurt Warner and the Cards. I just wonder if Gang Green fans can be pleased about their D turning a 34-0 halftime cushion into a game by allowing three straight TDs in the third quarter before Favre and the Jet offense put it away.

-Did anyone ever think the Bills and Titans would both be the only remaining unbeatens in the AFC looking like playoff locks?

-How come Terrell Owens always blames Dallas defeats on not getting him involved enough when it was about as believable as anything Sarah Palin says? Can’t he ever give credit to the opponent because the Redskins played a heck of a game and have certainly turned things around since the NFL Opener defeat to the Giants? But hey. T-Ho will always be a selfserving primadona who doesn’t care about the team concept despite his talent which is why I’d never take him on my team.

-I could do a better job than Scott Linehan did with the Rams.

-It sure took long enough for the Lions to realize Matt Millen wasn’t a good Team President. I wonder what keyed them in on that.

-When someone takes shots at the Yanks and Mets for not qualifying, just remember you could be the Tigers who gave up the world for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis, who now looks like a serious rebuilding project. Tell ya one thing. Cameron Maybin sure looks good in center for the Marlins. And if Andrew Miller pans out, that’s gonna be one heck of a rotation in 2009. The Mets and Phillies might have some competition for the NL East.

-Just how ridiculous is Jim Dolan? Idiotic enough to continue bringing back Allan Houston while refusing to payoff Stephon Marbury to get him off the Knicks roster. That’s why no matter who’s running it, they’ll always be the same laughingstock.

-Now would be a good time to tell the Rangers that the NHL regular season begins in a few days over in Europe cause they have looked really bad so far. I wonder what Glen Sather thinks now of investing six years and six and a half per on Wade Redden. Just wait till the season starts up. You ain’t seen nothing yet.

-What I like about the Giant organization is they stick to their rules disciplining Plaxico Burress for missing two straight days of practice even if it was due to a personal family matter. The wideout still should’ve communicated better this way he wouldn’t be fined and have to sit out next week’s home game versus Seattle. However, there aren’t any excuses and no exceptions under Coach Coughlin which is why I believe this team can repeat. They get it!

-Someone might want to tell Jerry Jones that this isn’t the 50’s anymore when he last played organized football. He doesn’t belong on the sideline.

-Boomer and Carton are a fun listen on WFAN in the morning because they work well and have solid chemistry. Listening to them rant over the Mets’ latest disappointment was good radio. Loved Carton’s nickname for Wright for failing to deliver in the clutch: “D-Rod.” A reference to Alex Rodriguez.

-I feel bad for diehard Met fans like Steve Somers, Tony Paige, Evan Roberts and Joe Benigno, who live and die with their team all year long. You can feel the emotion and terrible bitterness in their voices. Particularly Somers, who last week coming back from a great Weezer concert sounded heartbroken over a costly extra inning defeat to the Cubs. You could really tell how badly he wanted to see them get in and reverse last year.

They all did and showed so much. Maybe if the Mets had played with as much energy as they brought to the WFAN airwaves, they wouldn’t be sitting home instead getting ready for Lou Piniella’s Cubs. They might get paid to talk sports but they wear the Mets’ logo as a badge of honor as did outstanding play-by-play man Howie Rose.

Nobody ever likes to get their hearts broken. Especially by their favorite sports team which is what can make following sports so crazy. One minute, you’re as high as the sky and the next you feel like burying yourself under the sand.

It’s the real diehards who never abandon ship who shall always get my sorrows. Cause it takes a lot sometimes to stay with a team that constantly gives you heartache.

He wanted the ball on short rest from Jerry Manuel and got it saving his team’s season. Johan Santana pitched one of the greatest games in Mets history yesterday going on three days rest to shutout the Marlins 2-0 helping the Queens club tie the Brewers for the wild card due to Milwaukee’s 7-3 home defeat at the hands of the Cubs.

Now it comes down to another Sunday late in September at Shea just like last year against the very same Florida team who still can spoil the final ever regular season game at the old ballpark. However, that wouldn’t be possible without the former Twin two-time AL Cy Young winner pitching like an ace earning every penny of his big contract for his 16th victory improving to 9-0 in 17 starts since late June.

The best aspect was that the 29 year-old southpaw demanded to pitch taking on the large responsibility for a flawed team which is real thin on pitching. Right away, you could tell Santana had superb stuff with his fastball hitting 94 on the gun and his bread and butter slider change biting out of the strike zone fooling batters.

This was the kind of special performance which can energize a team desperately looking for a much better result than the morgue Shea turned into last year. But wasn’t it John Maine who was utterly brilliant on a Saturday giving that team life before Tom Glavine destroyed it in less than one inning? Why will it be different this time? You might say because this Met team has a pulse and is much more together under Manuel wanting October so badly despite no bullpen to speak of.

They fight to the bitter end this time and don’t want today to be the last ever game played at Shea before they move into their new park next store at Citi Field. It’s not possible without Santana who has had exactly the kind of second half he needed turning around a so/so season into the NL’s best ERA lowering it to 2.53 and putting himself in play for the Cy Young. Though the field should be packed with contenders including Milwaukee rental C.C. Sabathia, who’ll be once again going on short rest trying to deliver the same sort of virtuoso performance to make Brewer fans forget that their team hasn’t seen the postseason in 26 years when they were still in the AL East.

Santana’s shall be a tough act to follow after how he dialed up 117 more pitches following a career high 125 in a win over the Cubs Tuesday to three-hit a dangerous hitting Marlin team. With his team up a pair in the fifth, he escaped a bases loaded two out jam by getting rookie catcher John Baker to line out to right fielder Ryan Church who was positioned perfectly preserving the two-run lead.

From that point, he only got stronger cruising through the next three innings by getting a few batters to chase that change which helped him ring up nine strikeouts.

“I just went out there and tried to finish it. I didn’t do anything crazy,” he later acknowledged. “I knew the situation we were in.”

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever seen, given the situation,” praised potential Monday sudden death starter Pedro Martinez.

At 104 after eight which was right around Manuel’s limit, there was no doubt that he wasn’t coming out of such a crucial game. Not with the hardest three outs to get. Especially if you root for these Mets.

“You couldn’t have pulled him out. He wouldn’t have let you,” the cool skipper said while going on to add:

“How many did he pitch? How many did he throw? Wow, wow, wow, wow. I think if I had to describe that one, I would say that was gangsta. That was real gangsta.”

When it looked like he’d finish without any drama, a one out Josh Willingham double off the left field wall made things interesting again. Still a couple of outs to go. But then Santana made Dan Uggla look silly chasing three changes for out two.

One more. Even if you weren’t a Met fan, you had to be into it wanting to see him finish such a gem. He quickly got ahead of Cody Ross 0-2 before the count went to 1-2. One more pitch would do it but what would it be without making Met fans hearts race?

Then Ross put a really good swing on one of the few Santana pitches which got enough of the plate sending it deep making fans fear the worst. Could it possibly be? But much like Met great Mike Piazza’s home run swing off Mariano Rivera which turned into the final out of the 2000 World Series, Ross’ ball died on the warning track safely into left fielder Endy Chavez’ glove.

Game over. Met season saved and very much in play thanks to Lou Piniella, who wisely pulled Jason Marquis when the Brewers suddenly had them loaded down a run before Michael Wuertz got dangerous first base slugger Prince Fielder to bounce into an inning ending twin killing. In a previous match-up versus Marquis, he had a bases clearing double in the Brew Crew’s only win in three last week at Wrigley.

The Met season probably hung in the balance with that at bat. Instead, Wuertz induced the ground ball and the Cubs got insurance off struggling Milwaukee closer Salomon Torres highlighted by Kosuke Fukudome’s two-run home run and then tacked on one more for good measure.

“It’s obviously been a roller-coaster ride,” Milwaukee interim manager Dale Sveum pointed out after his team blew a five and a half game WC lead before passing the Mets only to have their five-game win streak stopped making Game 162 a must win. “But the fact of the matter is, when we started, if somebody said, ‘You’re tied after game 161, would you take that in spring training?’ Thirty teams would have done that.”

Now we get another riveting conclusion to a wild season which won’t soon be forgotten. The Mets will send out Oliver Perez hoping the good one will show up at the ballpark when he takes on fellow lefty Scott Olsen. They’ll honor their past before the big game and then start up less than an hour before Sabathia gets the ball against Cub no-name Angel Guzman, who’s subbing in place of Carlos Zambrano much to Met fans’ chagrin.

Such is the situation when the NL’s best team has nothing to play for and will probably sit out many regulars in preparation for Wednesday.

“I didn’t think about tomorrow, I thought about today,” Santana added while keeping perspective for why he had such success.

Now, it all comes down to this with a possible one game playoff at Shea tomorrow if necessary.

Martinez then appropriately shouted as he departed the one word which sums it up:

“Manana!”

Only time shall tell for these Amazin’s.

They’re not even my baseball team. It’s always been known that I root for the other New York team known as the Yankees, who this time weren’t good enough to make October. They just never got untracked and by the time they played their best ball, it was way too late to help the cause.

Sure. It’s nice that they’re still playing hard since they closed Yankee Stadium having taken nine of 10 after last night’s 19-8 drubbing of the archrival Red Sox in Fenway helped insure Tampa Bay’s first ever AL East Division Title. How cool is that? I sure hope the Rays do well in their first ever postseason as Joe Maddon’s gritty ballclub deserves all the kudos they get! More than you can say for Joe Girardi’s first season as Yankee skipper and his rocky relationship with the press which he caused by purposely lying about some of his players’ health status.

While the circus will be officially letting out of the Bronx Zoo Monday after a great 13-year ride, that other New York team is driving their fans nuts wondering if they’ll somehow make the playoffs or if it will be another September to forget. The last three days still can’t be explained unless you’re a Met fan.

I’ve never really cared one way or another since I was a little kid rooting for the 1986 Amazin’ Mets take this city on a wild ride nobody will ever forget. If you were around, you know where you were the day Bill Buckner let Mookie Wilson’s little trickler as legendary announcer Vince Scully called it get through his legs into right field allowing a disbelieving Ray Knight to score the winning run in one of the greatest two out rallies in World Series history. I can still see the WS MVP’s hands on his helmet. It’s just one of those defining moments which stands out along with all the unbelievable two strike two out base hits Davey Johnson’s destined ballclub strung together to shock the Red Sox and NBC.

Twenty two years later, here is another resilient exciting gritty bunch facing possible elimination from postseason contention today with their bread and butter ace Johan Santana taking the ball on three days rest against a Marlins team who openly has stated they want to end their season just like last year. The question is will the heavy rain forecast for today’s game at Shea delay making baseball’s most schizo fanbase wait even longer?

In such a topsy turvy roller coaster ride of emotions since the personable Jerry Manuel took over for Willie Randolph in June, why not? What’s another 24 hours for these Met fans who are living and dying with every pitch? The dying of course should be underlined considering the kind of stinging losses their team has inflicted making something which seemed so promising a week prior look so dire because now the Mets need help from Lou Piniella’s Cubs, who are getting ready for October resting guys in Milwaukee this weekend.

Not only must Santana deliver another big performance on short rest for just the second time in his career but his team will be curiously watching the scoreboard hoping for Cubbies to cross home plate against Ben Sheets, who’s taking the ball despite questions about his arm in hopes of getting the Brewers to their first serious baseball in 26 years.

The Mets need a win and a Brewer loss to at least have destiny in their own hands for Sunday’s final scheduled regular season games. Somehow, they want to come out with two wins and hope Milwaukee splits so there’s at least a one-game playoff to be played in Queens due to New York winning the coin flip.

Cause at the moment, the NL East looks lost as the Phillies have played tremendous down the stretch winning 11 of 14 thanks in large part to NL MVP candidate Ryan Howard, who slugged a three-run homer and had an RBI double knocking in half in their 8-4 win over the majors worst team the Nationals. The same one which took the first two drawing a split of four against those Mets last week when things looked much more hopeful. Then, the division was realistic. Now, they’re two behind with two to play and the Phillies’ Magic No. is down to one. So, one win or a Met defeat will seal a second consecutive NL East to Charlie Manuel’s bunch.

How did the Amazin’s get into this pickle? Well, losing two to Washington and two of three to the hated Braves in Atlanta wasn’t exactly the recipe. It still pales in comparison to what’s taken place this week. Even if you were the most optimistic Met fan, you didn’t want to see the Cubs at Shea for four because that’s how good they really are. Piniella sat out star players in every game and still came away with a split.

Santana of course won his game tossing a career high 125 pitches in eight frames fanning 10 Tuesday to even up the series. Everyone knows what happened the next night where this team suffered their most excruciating loss of the year blowing so many golden opportunities to win the game in one of those final at bats. If only David Wright didn’t chase ball four with bright eyed rookie Daniel Murphy 90 feet away with nobody out. If only the bad Oliver Perez didn’t show up spoiling Carlos Delgado’s grand slam for what should’ve been a win. If. A word which might be repeated often by a frustrated fanbase dying to see their team come through erasing last year’s bitter memories.

Such a defeat had fans exasperated fearing the worst even leaving NY SportsDay colleague Joe McDonald to declare the Met season finished.

But with this team, you knew better. Under Manuel, despite not having any pen to speak of with no Billy Wagner, this team has always responded well to adversity. They showed plenty of heart Thursday never giving up coming back from three down against the Cubs with the kinda improbable two out eighth inning rally which made even this guy think maybe they’re destined for special things. How could one not when Carlos Beltran beat out an infield hit and then Ryan Church followed with another hit to keep it going?

Then, it was little used reserve second baseman Ramon Martinez who is of no relation to Pedro’s older brother and former Dodger delivering the big hit getting his desperate team a run closer. By now as I was driving home from a meaningless Lightning-Rangers exhibition game, I knew third string catcher Robinson Cancel would somehow come through because if Martinez, who entered with one hit the entire year could get a hit, so too would another journeyman delivering a tying single but not without dramatics. Church was a dead duck but even without sliding, he somehow eluded the tag touching home plate to miraculously tie the game 6-6.

Howie Rose’s excitement on WFAN was at a decibel level. You could feel the little kid in him coming out. Why not? This Met team has been fun to watch even for opposing fans. In the ninth, it didn’t matter that Murphy missed a sign bunting foul for strike three with Jose Reyes on first. The lightning rod of the Met offense swiped second a batter later and would come around to score three batters later when Carlos Beltran walked off after Piniella intentionally walked Delgado putting two runners on. It didn’t matter if Wright again came up small striking out because Beltran was the hero allowing his team to celebrate along with the 20,000 loyal fans who remained despite lots of wind swept rain.

There were the Mets saving their season because the Brewers a few minutes later responded with Ryan Braun’s first career grand slam in the 10th sweeping the Pirates to keep pace. You had to feel good though because they were still tied for the wild card and only a game behind the Phils, who dropped two of three to Atlanta.

Then came last night where the Marlins immediately scored a pair of runs off Mike Pelfrey beating him for the fourth time this season by a count of 6-1. The troubling aspect was it looked too easy despite all the runners the Mets left on base the first few innings against rookie Chris Volstad. They just couldn’t muster up enough energy to carry the momentum from such a magical come from behind win.

Why not? Because this is who these Mets are this season. The weirdest team in baseball. Where one day they look like a serious contender who just won’t die. And then the next, they invent tough ways to lose or lay a proverbial egg like last night putting their season on the brink with the Brewers winning a fifth straight 5-1 over the Cubs and the Phils taking care of business.

So, do they have another miracle in them? It’s not entirely up to them but you can bet they’ll try their best to take Met fans home.

Hopefully not for good.

-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.

-The amazing Mets continued their clutch stretch play thanks to a two out ninth inning rally coming from a run down against shaky Florida closer Kevin Gregg. After he retired the first couple, ex-Marlin Luis Castillo kept it alive with a two strike single followed by a David Wright base hit. Gregg then hit the dangerous Carlos Delgado with the first offering loading the bases for Carlos Beltran. As unclutch a big name star in this town with only the chronicles of Alex Rodriguez worse, the $119 million center fielder drove the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for a go-ahead grand slam which WFAN play-by-play man Howie Rose nearly orgasmed to.

Did we just say that? Well, I was in the car and he did. Sometimes, you get the impression the Met announcers think this is some sorta miracle that the NL’s highest payroll is winning these kind of big games and now up two games over the reeling Phillies with a month to go. Granted. The Mets have had their share of injuries but you want to talk about over the top. Rose and Co. have lost their minds. If they sugarcoated anymore, you’d think they were adding even more sugar to a batch of cookies.

Take nothing away from Jerry Manuel’s club’s resiliency. They deserve to be where they are atop the NL East. But why shouldn’t they be? The Phillies are very flawed as proven with that eighth inning implosion in which Delgado tied it with a homer followed by a couple of more big hits including by David Murphy. They just don’t have enough pitching and their big hitters come up pretty soft in big spots. Paging Chase Utley and Pat Burrell. Jimmy Rollins is no better. Ryan Howard’s hit or miss literally. Honestly, the two guys I’d fear in a big spot are outfield overachievers Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino as they always seem to be in the middle of a comeback.

As for the fading Marlins, they’ve always been a flawed team due to the lack of fundamentals in the field and at the plate. Have you ever in your life seen a more undisciplined free swinging team which struck out more than Fredi Gonzalez’ bunch? Unless the ultra talented Hanley Ramirez matures and Dan Uggla (soon to be renamed Uggly for his dreadful 2nd half and fielding), they’ll continue to fail in big spots. As for their pen, Gonzalez deserves plenty of criticism for sticking with Gregg when he’s continually choked away leads blowing game after game to put them seven out. How in the world did he not send out ex-Met Matt Lindstrom for the ninth when he needed only five pitches to record the final out of the eighth? Just call it a case of bad managing 101. When your team desperately needs a game as much as his did, you don’t always stay conventional and remain loyal to struggling performers.

Precisely why managing by the book is vastly overrated.

Not surprisingly, the Marlins nearly tied it with a two out rally of their own scoring twice off Luis Ayala before he finally got Wes Helms to bounce out to short stranding the tying run at third and winning run at second. Does this mean the luster is finally off the ex-Nat pickup as temporary closer for the Mets? Who knows? Manuel is mixing and matching doing the best he can because he doesn’t got much no thanks to Omar Minaya. If the Mets do fall short, it won’t be for lack of heart cause they got plenty of that. But due to a pen which makes every Amazin fan squeamish.

Still, they should have enough to win the division. Especially with Jose Reyes playing well while Wright and Delgado rake. With plenty of contributions from unsung heroes such as Damion Easley, Murphy and even light hitting defensive catcher Brian Schneider who amazingly enough has gotten a couple of more big hits than A-Rod the past two months, they should score enough runs to support a superior staff led by Johan Santana, Oliver Perez and Mike Pelfrey. Now if only they could get Pedro back on track.

-I know it’s a few days late but what you saw from Joe Girardi’s Yankees those first couple of crucial games against the Red Sox was really how it’s been all year. They just never come up with the big hit or even the big pitches. It’s easy to point the finger at last year’s MVP along with Jason Giambi, who at least saved them the humiliation of a sweep driving in all three Thursday. However, it’s awfully hard not to get on Andy Pettite for his poor showing in such a big spot. To be outpitched by old and older knuckler Tim Wakefield is embarrassing. Even if a banged up Sox club didn’t hit every ball hard, there’s no excuse. Aside from that, who didn’t like that money showing by that pen in a Boston seven-run eighth featuring a Dustin Pedroia grand slam turning a close game into a laugher? Not like they couldn’t have used Kyle Farnsworth there?!?!?!?!?! Oh. That’s right. He was traded for the useless Pudge Rodriguez who looks about ready for retirement.

So, is there anyone out there who doesn’t believe the former Texas catcher didn’t cheat his way to an MVP season in 1999 and was still producing fairly well just a few years ago? I’ve always liked Pudge and he does belong in Cooperstown when it’s done but it’s very hard for me not to think he did something out of the ordinary to manufacture those numbers.

-Whoever would’ve believed that Carl “DL” Pavano would actually be 2-0 after two outings even outpitching Yankee killer A.J. Burnett last night?

-It’s not often you see Andy Roddick outslugged from the baseline but finding a way to persevere and pull out a well earned four set win over the other birthday boy six years younger talented Latvian Ernests Gulbis. Especially when the now 26 year-old American was dangerously close to being down two sets just a couple of points before reeling off the next seven games to assume control. Who knows. Maybe this big win gets the former 2003 U.S. Open champ going for a run and possible quarterfinal against No.3 ranked Serb Novak Djokovic. Who wouldn’t want to see that come down with probably Roger Federer waiting in the wings for the semis? In a year where the final tennis grand slam doesn’t have quite as much appeal on the women’s side with former champ Maria Sharapova sidelined and French Open winner Ana Ivanovic losing in the second round to a little known Frenchwoman, they sure could use the best players on the men’s side to go far.

-I don’t care about who Djokovic “hooked up” with at the Olympics in Beijing. What I want to know is why hasn’t he asked countrywoman Ivanovic out yet? At least it might better explain her poor second half bad thumb and all.

-When Osi Umenyiora went down during last week’s meaningless exhibition versus Brett Favre and the Jets, of course it was said not to be that serious due to the first MRI coming back negative. But anyone who saw the way the Giant sack leader landed had to know better. By the next day not surprisingly, he was done for the year putting a damper on Big Blue’s Super Bowl defense. There ya had it again. Just another reason there are too many NFL preseason games. How many times have you seen a big name star go down before the first real snap? Football more than any other sport can be brutal to its fans. This was just the latest example. Does it all end for the Giants now? Not really cause even if Michael Strahan doesn’t have his “heart in it,” they can move Mathias Kiwanuka back to his original position and get plenty from rising pass rusher Justin Tuck. I still think Steve Spagnuolo finds a way to keep his attacking D a step ahead. Especially with a secondary which should be improved with promising rookie Kenny Phillips. As much as we look at the D, the offense doesn’t have any injuries and should put up points. This is now Eli Manning’s team and time. I expect him to step up.

If there’s an area to be concerned over, it’s the kicking game where they don’t know if NFC championship hero Lawrence Tynes will be ready for next week’s opener versus the Redskins. Given how poorly Josh Huston has performed, they better get Tynes back sooner rather than later.

-It ain’t often they do something right but kudos to the Knicks for acquiring Patrick Ewing, Jr. from the Rockets in exchange for <gulp> all-time draft bust Frederic Weis. Where’s Ed Tapscott these days anyway?

-Is Chad Johnson plain crazy having his name legally changed to Chad Javon Ocho Cinco or just taken too many hits to the head? Here’s the link.

-Mike Lupica’s correct that the Yanks salvaging that final game versus Boston felt more like “saving face” than saving their season. However, the Daily News know it all columnist is quite wrong if he actually believes the best way for them to field a World Series contender in their new Stadium next year is to spend, spend, spend. That change in philosophy is what turned a once modern day dynasty into a colossal disappointment with little to no chemistry continuing to head the wrong way.

-Only in the NL West could the defending NL champion Rockies who improved to eight under .500 (64-72) thanks to a pair of Garrett Atkins homers and five RBI’s in a 9-4 road win over the Padres still be within six of the first place Diamondbacks. Who says history can’t repeat?

-I liked Barack Obama’s speech 45 years to the day after Dr. Martin Luther King’s historic “I Have A Dream” speech in accepting the Democratic Presidential nomination in Denver. However, what the heck were they thinking turning it into that fake Washington cathedral stage?!?!?!?!?!

-And finally, here’s a cool sports video on YouTube I just can’t get enough of of Olympic triple world record gold medalist Jamaican runner Usain “Lightning” Bolt featuring hilarious commentary.

Lately, I just haven’t felt like writing about sports. I’ve stopped covering games and just don’t have the passion to write about what everyone knows. The Yanks suck and have zero heart while the Mets are the polar opposite and resilient as ever evidenced by last night’s eighth inning comeback over the Phillies. Kudos to them as they haven’t played like dead men walking as opposed to what’s taken place in the Bronx in what will be a very quiet and sad chapter closing the only Yankee Stadium.
One of these days, I’ll get motivated again and give everything and more. I just don’t want to half ass it. For now, another lyrical writeup waxing poetic which is how it’s gone lately.

The Olympics are wrapping up finally this weekend in Beijing and the pennant races are heating up. Plus football is actually back with the annual Giants/Jets preseason tilt tonight. So, what’s floating around my brain? Shall we:

1.It’s pretty pathetic how bad our men’s and women’s relay teams performed botching routine handoffs of the baton to not even give themselves a shot of winning gold. Passing the baton is something which is taught during high school outdoor track as I can recall learning it along with teammates. You want to make sure to get the baton in the next runner’s hands. Making sure they secure it is vital. Of course, sometimes, as they begin to pull away, they don’t have it tucked away safely which also can lead to problems. It’s really all about communication and teamwork. If you work together, then it shouldn’t be an issue. Practice makes perfect. This was something NBC track and field analyst Otto Bolden referenced as unlike other countries, Team USA always has a wealth of options when choosing four runners. Perhaps that’s a disadvantage because there won’t be a lot of consistent reps going in which might be why our country embarrassed themselves a couple of nights ago.

Whatever the reason, we’ll never know if our Olympic men could’ve pushed the new world record 4×100 Jamaican holders, who led by triple gold medalist record holder Usain “Lightning” Bolt and Asafa Powell blitzed the field producing a record time of 37.10 easily beating out Trinidad and Tobago and bronze medalist Japan.

It should also be noted that botched handoffs also were the Jamaican women’s undoing in their 4×100 race opening the door for the Russian Federation to take the gold. Not only was their mishap brutal but it interfered with England’s lane forcing them to be disqualified too. What ashame.

2.Watching Bolt fly during that third leg putting distance between him and the other competitors to setup Powell’s final 100 for an easy victory was breathtaking. He also didn’t get a good handoff either but made sure to secure it and then just took off like an eagle soaring through the sky past everyone else. The 22 year-old is a freak of nature taking advantage of his 6-5 wingspan flying on the track. His Beijing performance will be remembered forever. Three Olympic golds. Three world records. Automatically a place with the greats. For more on what Bolt accomplished along with his country in track and field, yahoo’s Mike Powell had a good take on this along with the USA failures which produced the least gold medals since 1992 at Barcelona.

3.That USA men’s semifinal five set volleyball win over Russia was tremendous. Especially considering that they blew a two set cushion and allowed their opponents to gain momentum. But when the chips were down even after an iffy missed call, they persevered and came up golden with an awesome block to reach the gold medal round for the first time in 20 years. Great stuff!

4.Maybe next time Bernard Lagat will represent Kenya. Think he would’ve performed this miserably his home country? Just call it the American jinx as our long distance runners never seem to fare well.

5.Maybe it’s just me but doesn’t anyone really care if the Redeem Team takes gold? They’re supposed to.

6.Did anyone in the Yankee brass ever think their season would come down to Carl “DL” Pavano? Amazingly enough, he made it through one inning at Camden Yards unscathed and didn’t hurt himself yet. Don’t hold your breath!

7.Hey. When A-Rod and Giambino deliver clutch two out base knocks, maybe it explains how Pavano could be starting.

8.All the Mets do is keep winning games despite no Billy Wagner with even Luis Ayala tossing a perfect ninth last night fanning a pair to notch a save in a game Johan Santana maxed out tossing a career high 121 pitches during seven scoreless fanning eight. Best of all, the southpaw wanted to be out there begging Jerry Manuel to send him out for the seventh due to counterpart Roy Oswalt keeping it close and going the distance despite the loss:

“He pleaded, begged. ‘I don’t want to come out of this game,’ he said. … I had to give him the benefit of the doubt. It’s only fair to him what he’s brought to the team.”

When you’re a big ace with your team in a pennant race, that’s how it should be. About time.

9.DL Pavano Update: Pavano’s already given up four hits and they’re only in the second. He’ll be begging out by the next inning before he injures his pinky finger. I wish I was kidding.

10.I like how the Rays keep finding ways to win games despite two of their best players Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford out of action. Joe Maddon’s your Manager of the Year by a wide margin even if Ron Gardenhire somehow gets the Twins into the postseason minus Santana.

11.With a home run and five RBI’s, Pat Burrell became the third Phillie to reach the 30 home run mark this season joining teammates Chase Utley (31) and Ryan Howard (34) yet it still probably won’t be enough to beat out the Mets and make October. The Phils just don’t have enough pitching and really need last year’s MVP Jimmy Rollins to wake up. When Jayson Werth’s contributed more, that’s not a ringing endorsement for the mouthy shortstop who dissed Phillie fans. Isn’t it about time he shut up and played?

12.He slugged a three-run homer off John Maine for No.26 to go with over a .330 average and now more than 90 RBI’s. Yep. Even if Lance Berkman’s team isn’t going to see October, he’s right up there in the MVP race with Albert Pujols and Utley. David Wright should also get some consideration as he’ll finish in the top five in RBI’s and should eclipse 30 again. But figure teammate Jose Reyes to take away some votes with his huge second half.

13.DL Pavano Update: After loading the bases, the Birds cashed three in to go ahead 3-2 and now have six hits off the $40 million Man. So much for an awe inspiring outing with a certain YES Classic in the making.

14.Have you ever heard a broadcaster make as many excuses as Michael Kay does? After Johnny Damon made that second drop for the Jays’ winning run a few nights prior, he actually indicated it was because the center fielder didn’t tap his glove like he normally does to make catches. Give me a break. Between him and John Sterling and the irksome Suzyn Waldman on the radio, you can go nuts. Is this really what the Yankee broadcasts have become? A charade of buffoonery tooting their own horn.

15.Where are the American ‘contenders’ in this men’s Olympic marathon? Just saying.

16.DL Pavano Update: After surviving inning two, he’s already thrown 50 pitches with only 28 for strikes. The growing question is will his arm fall off?

I know his last two outings at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre stunk but you’re telling me Phil Hughes couldn’t have done better? Boy. Do the Yankees look foolish now not taking the Santana deal. As much as I was against it, they sure messed up and screwed up Hughes and Ian Kennedy’s development. They can still bounceback from this but who exactly is calling the shots? They don’t have a clue.

17.I wonder what Joe Torre thinks about all this as he tries to get his new team into the playoffs. Must be a relief to be away from the circus.

18.He’s been performing much better but Lastings Milledge still isn’t going to have a better season than Ryan Church, who missed so much time due to a concussion. Is that still a bad trade considering the loud ovation Church received in his return last night?

19.If C.C. Sabathia goes undefeated, he just might sneak in and win the NL Cy Young from Brandon Webb. Speaking of Cy contenders, good thing the Giants didn’t agree to trade Tim Lincecum for Alex Rios. Just imagine what he could do on a good team.

20.Doesn’t look like we’re missing much in the first half of this Giants/Jets battle.

21.Here are our U.S. Open picks:

Men’s Semis: (1) Nadal vs (6) Murray, (2) Federer) vs (3) Djokovic

Champion: Djokovic over Nadal in four sets

Women’s Semis: (6) Safina vs (7) V. Williams, (2) Jankovic vs (5) Dementieva

Champion: Safina over Jankovic