Sorry for the breif hiatus. I needed to take some time away from baseball. I did watch the playoffs (half-heartedly sighing repeatedly) and took time away from righting. Unlike Scott Boras and Alex Rodriguez, who encase you’ve been trapped in a well for the past 48 hours, will opt out of his contract with the Yankees and test the free agent market.

Here we go folks, we have about two weeks to debate and discuss the fate of A-Rod. This will be as annoying as the ‘Manny to the Mets’ talk with even a smaller chance of ever happening. David Wright to play first? Will Delgado catch? I remember the last time we moved one of our All Stars to first and that worked out great right? Of course David says he’d move. If you didn’t know with 100 percent faith that David would say that before he said it, well you really haven’t been paying attention for the past few year.

If the Mets paid A-Rod the 2.5 billion dollar salary over the next 15 years, there is zero chance of ever getting Santana next season. I would rather have over spent on Zito than bringing A-Rod to Shea. Look for Omar to focus on bringing in a left-handed outfielder to replace Green and Lastings and Endy to play when Alou gets hurt, though I think Willie will held at gunpoint if anyone expects him to start Milledge on a regular basis.. The only moves I really see Omar making here is in the bullpen, likely adding a starter to replace Glavine, LoDuca to be resigned (I’m convinced that’s the right move looking at what else is out there. The big moves and the flurry of names coming out of the winter meetings will involve the bullpen. Look for Omar to kick the tires on this year’s crop of Japanese imports.

The only thing crazier than A-Rod displacing Wright to first was this rant from long time Red Sox fan regarding where the MVP might end up, Gammons started his sour-grapes analysis:

I don’t think there’s any question that the Angels, I think the Rangers will be a player, could be Giants could be but I don’t think A-Rod would want to play in that ball park.

The Rangers? Are you kidding, Pete? A-Rod left such a bad taste in Rangers fans mouths that he still gets heavily booed in Arlington. Not to mention the blame for the Ranger’s poor performance was laid at A-Rod’s feet by Ranger management after being named team captain by the team about a week before he was dealt to the Yankees. All Rodriguez did was win another MVP award in Texas. File this under ‘never going to happen, ever, ever.’ Hicks will spend the money to bring Torri Hunter to the Ballpark as the Rangers have the shortstop position covered by a pretty solid infielder in Michael Young. Tom Hicks isn’t my favorite owner, but he isn’t crazy enough outbid himself to give record setting ten year deal to Alex Rodriguez…I mean again.

I often watch the last game of the World Series, not really for a sense of closure with the season or anything like that but rather to simply say goodbye to baseball for a few months. My wife, who missed the early 90’s Mets fan experience is as heartbroken as I am over the way this season ended has refused to watch an inning of playoff baseball, walked into the room Sunday night as the Sox were putting on the finishing touches. I asked her if she wanted to say goodbye to baseball for 2007. She answered, “at least I get you back for a few months.”

Isnt that cute? As if simply not having any games on the schedule would actually stop me from obsessing over Mets Baseball. I love the hot stove.

Mets in 08, baby!