an even odder fact

... and then I'll sign off for the night ...

I now know pretty much first hand what it felt like to be in the press box ... at Shea in 1986, and at the Stadium in 2003 ... Having already written your lead, in which the Red Sox finally climb over the hump and beat a New York team for a) the Series win, or b) the ALCS and going to face Florida with a full head of steam ... just as:

a) Stanley throws the sweeping curve that lets ion the tying run, then delivers to Mookie, who then hits the dribbler-that-can-never-be-forgotten; OR

b) Either:

1) Pedro does NOT come out in the 8th inning as he should have, and Matsui, then Posada take him even; OR

2) Wakefield delivers that floater to Aaron [ ] Boone ... as they are getting ready to give him the trophy aas MVP of the ALCS ...

So I guess it's a good thing I'm not having to file another story tonight after all ...

But now it's Oswalt vs. Mulder ... and Clemens vs. Morris if need be (or Clemens starting Game One of the series if 'Stros do it Weds.? Which would be one of their best rotations to face Chisox, or ...). And if it's to be Cards/Chisox, they could basically take a bus back and forth, and each field will be about half-and-half fanwise ... and the pitching matchups are still pretty cool, and ... the Cards get a chance to "pull a Boston" and run the table ... if they can :)