Obviously with the Mets out of it I have to decide what to root for in the post season. I have the answer. No, it’s not whether to root for the Phillies over the Yankees or the Yankees over the Phillies. It’s not rooting for Joe Torre over the Yankees, although that is intriguing. No, no. For me, I’m rooting for Mother Nature. That’s right, the weather.

This is not a new rant for me. Usually, once or twice a year, I write about the absurdity of Major League Baseball extending the season later and later each year. This year, the World Series will end in November, no ifs ands or buts. Game four is scheduled for November 1st unless it has to be pushed back further due to bad weather. If the Series goes seven games, it will end on November 5th, likely at Yankee Stadium…at night. Perfect!

Forty years ago, the Mets won the World Series on October 16th, the same date the ALCS will begin this season. This year, the World Series will not even start for another two weeks.

That’s why I am rooting for cold, windy, wet weather. What better way to spend an evening than freezing to death catching the Swine Flu while rooting for your beloved Yankees or Phillies.

Now, before you think I’m being cynical, here me out.

What is it going to take for the lords of baseball to come to their senses? If you are going to tell me the love of the game is first and foremost in the minds of the owners, you are crazy and downright wrong. Like everything else in America, baseball is only about the money, the almighty buck. The powers that be know there are enough of us morons tuning in every evening to pedel their dopey products. To them, it justifies the horrendous conditions the national pastime’s championship season is played in.

Baseball sells the rights to broadcast games to the highest bidder. Why? Because, the owners want the most money they can get. Do you honestly think the question “What will you do to enhance the game of baseball?” is ever uttered from those from baseball when negotiating these deals? I doubt it. If that were true, TBS would have never gotten the opportunity to broadcast games.

The networks pay top dollar because they in turn charge the most they can to advertisers who know they will have a large audience. In the mean time, the game suffers. Last season, the Phillies won the World Series in awful conditions at Philadelphia. Was it as fair as it could have been for Tampa Bay if it had been played earlier in the month of October during the day time?

I am a fan of the game. I don’t care how much money changes hands. But I do care about the conditions in which these games are played. Remember, it’s the summer game, a game that requires decent weather conditions so players can use their skills to the best of their abilities. The post season of baseball should be a celebration of the best of play from the game. How can that be in the worst of conditions? Even football’s Super Bowl, a game designed for cold weather, is played in a warm weather location every year.

Are there things that baseball can do to improve the condition of the post season? Why of course there are. Shorten the regular season or start the season earlier in warm weather locations. Why not play more doubleheaders during the regular season so the post season can start sooner.  Shorten the playoffs to 2 of 3 in the first round, 3 of 5 in the second. Play in a warm weather, neutral location (personally, I’m not a fan of this idea). Don’t have so many days off during the playoffs. Play the games during the day when the weather is at least warmer.

But my (and others) solutions have a common problem. They all benefit the good of the game. None of them increase revenue. That’s why they will never be employed. And that’s why I hope a monsoon hits New York or Philadelphia on November 1st.