Shenanigans Formally Declared On Willie Randolph

While the Phillies and Reds were slogging through ten innings last Thursday in weather conditions that only Wolfgang Petersen could love, that day's Mets-Cardinals game never even got started. The game was postponed before a single pitch was thrown. Why? Jim Salisbury has a theory:

The Mets weren't thrilled that they had to play a night game Thursday, not with a bus ride to Philadelphia and yesterday's doubleheader on tap. They had planned to bring up rookie Mike Pelfrey (0-5, 6.53 ERA) to start one of the games, but didn't need to after the rainout.

That rainout, by the way, raised some eyebrows in the Phillies' clubhouse. Major League Baseball confirmed that the Mets - not the umpires - made the call to postpone not long after the scheduled 7:10 p.m. start. The team chose not to wait out the rain, even though one member of the club's traveling party said it was clear by 8.

Hmmm. Is it any wonder that a tired team forced to start multi-initialed rookies is getting shredded by a well-rested, well-hitting, veteran-influenced team? Touché, Willie. Touché.

Salisbury's article also has an interesting item about how El Duque may have received some extra motivation when the Phillies asked the umpires to check his rosin-stained hat. Nice one, Charlie.