Perhaps Chipper had a valid point about the competitive disadvantage dealt to the Mets and Braves by the schedulers this season? Under ordinary circumstances, the Metropolitans dropping 9 of their last 10 (and 4 consecutive series) would likely knock them out of first place, but fortunately for Willie Randolph and his SI cover boys, the Braves are mired in a deep funk of their own. And I don’t mean the good sort of funk, like Maceo Parker. Something more akin to Pablo Cruise.

Bob Wickman’s failure to hold a 2-0 lead Thursday night was Atlanta’s 9 loss in their last 12, and squandered a strong Tim Hudson performance on a night the Braves’ noted sexual libertine outpitched Johan Santana.

After the Dodgers pounded out what seemed like 100 hits over the course of their 3 game sweep of the Mets at Chavez Ravine earlier in the week, the club responded by sacking hiting coach Eddie Murray. Clearly, there’s no job security in lighting up Jorge Sosa.

Though not nearly as heralded as the firing of Hall Of Famer Murray, the Blue Jays’ decision on Wednesday to waive catcher Sal Fasano has to be considered a serious blow to the cause of masculinity in Eastern Canada.