The Lonliest Number

If there weren't so many unwritten rules regarding our little sport here, you might be likely to see a pile of Mets on the mound with a Pirate mixed in.

Oh how it's going to stink to be Xavier Nady this weekend.

Sure, Xavier is a Pittsburgh Pirate...he has Pittsburgh Pirate friends and will be allowed to play in all of their Pittsburgh Pirate games. But if the Mets do indeed clinch on Friday night, he'll feel all alone.

Met fan or not, you wouldn't be human if you didn't feel bad for the man, who had nothing to do with Filthy Sanchez's shoulder being dislocated by a drunk driver, yet his life (along with Filthy's, of course) was forever changed.

It might not be the worst thing in the world if the Mets lost say, 2-1 to the Bucs (with Pedro pitching strong of course), then clinch in the lockerroom. Sure, Xavier would have to hear the whoopin' and hollering from down the hallway, but he'd at least have a fighting chance to shower and exit before that would happen. It would be a better scenario than Nady having to watch a celebration from the dugout or worse...making the last out.

That being said, a Friday night coronation isn't a sure thing. Pat Maholm goes for Pittsburgh, and we have that lefty problem that's crept in. And I have a feeling that one Mr. Nady is going to be super locked in against Petey as they try to delay the Mets party for three nights.

But hopefully it isn't going to be all bad for Xavier in the long run, since I can't imagine that he wouldn't get voted a playoff share and get a World Series ring out of it. Then, Metstradamus can buy that ring on eBay if Nady gets all bitter and decides he wants no part of it. Everybody wins.

Well, everyone except Philadelphia. And you know what that means...that's right. It's party time with paper mache numbers.