Message to Bud: Don't pray for it, make it happen.

After Carlos Pena’s single drove in B.J. Upton with the tying run, and the grounds crew practically following him across the plate, Selig said he would have not allowed the Phillies be crowned champions with a rain-shortened victory.

“It’s not a way to end a World Series,” Selig said. “I would not have allowed the World Series to end that way.”

I believe he wouldn’t. He would have played his “best interest in baseball,” card and done the right thing.

Giving that, why couldn’t he have done the right thing earlier? Perhaps not start the game at all, given the forecast? Or, once it started, said, “if we have to stop this, we won’t have a rain-shortened winner?”

The late start times and scheduling are other matters he needs to correct. My thinking is the World Series is the ultimate. It’s baseball’s showcase event, and it should be treated that way. Too often MLB lets those who don’t love it make the decisions and that has to stop.

If Selig’s words are to be believed, he must follow them up with actions that mean something. So far, his legacy as commissioner has been the steroids era, interleague play, new divisional alignments and a work stoppage that killed the 1994 World Series.

Time to change that for the better. Schedule the Series start times so people can see the game, and if worse, to give you more leeway time with the weather. If you don’t like playing this late in October, then you’re going to have to do something about shortening the playoffs?

Since you won’t reduce the number of games, then you must alter the regular season schedule. I have already suggested in these pages to have at least one day-night doubleheader a month. That would give you six days to play with. There are things that can be done, and in the end they won’t hurt as bad as the embarrassment that was last night.

Posted under New York Mets

Mets and Braves playing a doubleheader at Shea today. Rain in the forecast for tonight. First game at 4 p.m., the second about a half-hour later. Late start courtesy of TV.

Johan Santana against Mike Hampton in the first game; Jon Niese and Jo-Jo Reyes in the second game.

Brian Schneider catches Santana and will catch Oliver Perez tomorrow. Robinson Cancel will catch Niese in the second game.

Jerry Manuel tried to be coy before the game, saying he didn’t know the club’s magic number is 14. Don’t believe him. I think he’s aware of all those things. He’s too sharp not to know.

Speaking of which, I think it would be appropriate to announce an extension for him and his interim coaches.

Posted under New York Mets

Mets manager Jerry Manuel said Oliver Perez has pitched so well lately that he’ll let this one slide. He can afford to because Carlos Delgado is playing up to the MVP chants.

It wasn’t a good night for Perez, but Delgado hit two more homers and has 24 in his last 66 games to lead the majors.

For awhile tonight it appeared as if Perez would kick this one away, but Delgado’s two homers and one by Carlos Beltran carried the Mets to a 10-8 victory over the Nationals to increase their lead over Philly to 2 1/2 games.

Kudos also to the bullpen. It has been hot in September, but tell the truth, aren’t you holding your breath?

For those who were with me tonight, many thanks. The Room is open all night.-JD

Posted under New York Mets