Game 1 called

So now we head to Game 1 on Thursday, with Game 2 on Friday.

So what now? I'll tell you what now.

The weather has given TLR something he hasn't had since the postseason began....options. Is that a good thing? Well, that's another topic. What are his options?

Suppan pitched Saturday, meaning he could pitch Thursday, game 1, on regular rest. Carpenter pitched a hard 7 innings on Sunday, meaning regular rest for him would be Friday. Our first off-day is, apparently, gone.

While it hasn't been officially announced, we'll now play Games 1-5 on Thursday through Monday.

If our game 1 starter is to pitch game 5, he'll do so on 3 days rest. Our Game 2 and 3 starters can still pitch games 6 and 7 on regular rest.

The options: Pitch either Suppan or Weaver in Game 1, then again on three days rest in game 5. TLR could opt for Carpenter in Game 2 on Friday, pitching him again in game 6. He could go with either Weaver or Suppan in Game 3 and 7.

The logical move would seem to be to let Weaver go game 1, Carpenter Game 2, and Suppan Game 3. That leaves Carpenter and Suppan, our two best pitchers, the opportunity to pitch twice in this series on regular rest.

Game 5 would feature either Weaver on three days rest, or a bullpen game. Yicks. However, if we're going to throw a starter to the "wolves" of a three day rest, lets try it with Weaver. The one thing you can say about him, he's got a rubber arm. Also, he might just be better when he has nothing to lose.

The Mets might be in a tougher spot. They have their best pitcher in Glavine set for game 1. If they want to use him on regular rest, they have to hold him for game 6. That means they'd have to start Darren Oliver in game 5. Darren Oliver is bad. Very, very bad.

The Mets have a better bullpen, and can cover a bad game 5 start more effectively than we can. However, we have more durable starters, and, frankly, better starters to weather the weather.

Floyd gets an extra day to rest his calf. Rolen can rest his shoulder. Edmonds can do, whatever it is he does. Albert, well, I imagine Albert went to his hotel room, set up a tee, and smacked balls into the wall while watching Pulp Fiction on the TV. He's the one that says BFM.

The rain gives pundits a reason to talk. Let's hope it works for the Birds.