Rain has postponed Game 1 of the NLCS. The postponement can really wreak some havoc on the National League teams' rotations - especially the Mets, considering they only have a few starters who give them a legitimate chance to win. The rain probably benefits the Cardinals, who can now line up their starters in a fashion more to their liking.
But the rainout pales in comparison to the other news out of New York, which has Mets ties, but is also just a horrible, horrible thing. Cory Lidle, late of the Yankees, was killed when the plane he was piloting crashed into a building in New York City. Lidle began his career with the Mets, back in 1997, and I really thought he pitched in New York longer than that, but he was selected in the expansion draft by the Diamondbacks the following year, sat out with an injury, resurfaced with Tampa Bay, then pitched in Oakland, Toronto, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and with the Yankees. Lidle's numbers with the Mets were very good in 1997: 54 appearances, 81 and 2-thirds innings pitched, a 3.53 ERA, 7-2 record, and 2 saves.
The weird thing about this is that I was watching the coverage, and all of the facts were falling into place, and whenever an event like this happens I just think to myself, "I can't wait until all the facts are in and the speculation stops, and we find out exactly what happened." Well, eventually all the facts sorted themselves out, and it was very surreal to hear Cory Lidle's name involved. I feel awful for his wife and son. And anyone else affiliated with his loss.
It makes me wonder exactly what it must have been like when Roberto Clemente died. This is tragic, and it's Cory Lidle, a decent pitcher, but not a great baseball player. Clemente was a national - international - icon. I just finished reading David Maraniss' biography Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero. It was excellent, but of course, Clemente's story happened before I was even born. It must have just been heartbreaking for a guy like Clemente to die so young (as it is with Lidle). The most amazing thing about Clemente in the book was that he had all these premonitions that he was going to die young, and possibly in a plane crash. Very eerie. Anyway, it's a good book - I recommend it.
I don't think Major League Baseball was wrong to continue with the League Championship Series Wednesday night (the Mets and Cardinals would have played if the weather had allowed). I think it would have been more appropriate to honor Lidle with a moment of silence/tribute before the game than to cancel the games. I'm actually not sure what they did in Oakland - I missed the very beginning of that game.
ALCS: The Tigers just beat the A's to take a 2-0 series lead. I'm glad they're sitting pretty, heading home, because I hope the Mets play them in the World Series, so I get another new matchup out of the way. But I have to say I'm surprised that they are doing so well. I wrote many times this year about how I didn't think they were for real because they were beating up on the weak AL teams, and not doing so well against the AL contenders. Well, I guess they're for real now.
STREAKS: On the FOX pre-game show, they had a graphic showing that the Tigers had the worst 50-game stretch heading into the post-season in history - I think it was something like 19-31. Right behind them was the second-worst stretch - the Cardinals, with something like 21 or 22 wins. I knew the Cardinals were having a historically awful year for a first-place team - just didn't know how awful. Hopefully they don't hit their stride like the Tigers have started to do.
One last thing about the Mets - I'll predict they win in 5....6 at most. And as for the Mets' struggles in the final couple of weeks of the season - I really think it was because they had everything sewn up already, and didn't have much to play for. I think now, as seen in the Dodgers series, they're back to the old Mets of April-August. And I think that's what we'll be seeing for the remainder of October.
I'll have a post-Game 1 wrap late Thursday night.
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