Too much time on their hands

It seemed odd to take a day off from postseason baseball on Wednesday. It's the first time that MLB has scheduled an off day in the middle of a series that wasn't a travel day. It's all for TV, of course, so the World Series can start on a weekday (and not a Monday, against the NFL), if both series go seven games, which means higher ratings. When will one of these pro sports leagues ever make a decision that leaves a little bit of television money on the table and actually benefits the game? (Save the response: I know the answer...)

The day off is better for the Red Sox, as the Indians had won three in a row and no doubt wanted to finish off the series on Wednesday. Although that gave Manny Ramirez a chance to be Manny:

"Why should we panic?" he said Wednesday to several reporters. "We've got a great team."

And then: "It doesn't happen, so who cares? There's always next year. It's not like it's the end of the world."

The impact of that quote? Aside from riling up some Sox fans, nothing. Manny is just a goofy guy, and everybody knows it. Nobody takes him seriously, and he'll try just as hard. Meanwhile in Denver, the Rockies will deal with a long layoff before the World Series begins next Wednesday in either Cleveland or Boston. They "earned" the home-field advantage with their win in the All-Star Game.

By the way, Wednesday was a beautiful day in Cleveland. It's been raining today. No matter what, the World Series will be played in some climates that are known for their foul fall weather.