Mets now accepting has-beens, cast-offs

Trot Nixon, a long-time Red Sox fan favorite, is now a Met. That's how bad things are going for the second team in New York, where Willie Randolph is on what seems to be the 12th death watch of the season.

I'll always root for Trot. I wasn't happy when he won a game for the Indians in last year's ALCS, but I didn't hold it against him personally. I hope he can rejuvanate his career as the Mets finish in last.

We're trotting all over the state. We're going to see one of the newest Red Sox fans, then up north into Yankee territory. So we may not update tonight.

Sox-Phils interleague history, 2006: The Sox took two of three in Philly in May - splitting the two games we attended. We didn't go to the opener in which Matt Clement beat Jon Lieber 5-3, keyed by Mike Lowell and David Ortiz homers. In the Saturday game, we saw Josh Beckett for the first time. Sloppy defense on both sides ruined his duel with Brett Myers. Beckett gave up four runs (three earned) in 7 innnigs; Myers gave up six runs (two earned) in 6.1. Sox won 8-4. Beckett also hit a homer and an RBI single.

Before the game, we were stopped by a couple of girls who wanted to take our picture because they were on a scavanger hunt and needed a picture of a couple wearing competing jerseys. We obliged. Our picture is probably on some weirdo Web site like ours.

The finale was a Phillies blowout. Brian and Liza invited us to join them in their section in right field, so I sold the tickets we had bought to a colleague (Red Sox fan). Cory Lidle, who we seemed to see more than any other Phillies pitcher at the time, was pitted against Lenny DiNardo, who combined with Abe Alvarez to give up eight runs in five innings. Future enemy Bobby Abreu was a double away from the cycle. Phils won 10-5.

There was a strange off-field incident: David Wells accused David Dellucci of using steroids.

The teams hooked up again a month later in Boston, and the Phillies faced some serious PR problems for starting Myers in a nationally televised game after reports that he hit his wife. Charges were dropped, and Myers seems to have matured since the incident.

On the field, the Red Sox swept. We didn't go to any games, but I have lots of memories of the series. During the first game, I was sanding and spackling a room we were planning to paint. Josh Beckett beat the Phils 10-2, but I'll remember Scott Mathieson pitching well for 4.2 innings after starter Ryan Madson got shelled. We listened to the middle game (the Myers debacle) while driving to North Jersey for a wedding. David Ortiz had a walk-off homer against Tom Gordon in the 10th. Jonathan Papelbon won it. I don't remember the Sunday finale; we were probably driving home from the wedding. Sox won 8-7 in 12, Craig Hansen over Clay Condrey.

No football today ...

... but that doesn't mean it's not on my mind.

I still haven't picked up my jaw after Lawrence Tynes' overtime field goal salvaged his career and made the Giants a surprise entry in the Super Bowl against the team that perfectly met expectations to get there.

I've said it before, I'm torn. The Giants are the only New York/New Jersey team that I didn't reject in my youth. And rooting for the Red Sox has made me root for the Patriots as well. Usually I would prefer the Giants in this match-up because the Patriots have won so many championships recently. But the chance for history and shutting up the '72 Dolphins also has appeal.

One thing I've wondered is whom my neighbors in Philadelphia should be rooting against: their hated New York rivals or New England, which has become home of the champions, the opposite of Philly.

The Inquirer tackled this issue today with dueling columnists debating whether to hate the Giants or the Patriots. (Frank Fitzpatrick, still on his anti-local kick, says Philadelphians hate themselves.) Neither swayed me to either side. Here's how I would handicap it for a hometown Philly fan.

Giants: Underdog playing with heart. No really obnoxious players. But it's a hated division rival and on paper the Giants aren't much better than the Eagles.

Patriots: Ruined the Super Bowl a few years ago, plus the jealousy that comes along with winning.

My head says Philly will be rooting more for the Patriots, but I'm probably underestimating championship envy.

Back to baseball: TROTTTTTTTTT!!!! That's what I screamed when Trot hit a game-ending home run in game 3 of the 2003 ALDS against Oakland. It averted elimination and paved the way for a dramatic comeback. Grady Little then gave the league championship to the drug-infested Empire, but that was a fun run.

Anyhoo, he's still looking for work and did a Q&A with the Globe.

And: Looks like re-signing Doug Mirabelli may have forced former Phil Mike Lieberthal into retirement. He says he wants to get into broadcasting. I don't know how he'd do in the booth, but I fully endorse him to replace Wheels.