Playoffs can't stop MLB and broadcasters from insulting their viewers

This has been a particularly difficult week, suffering through what television has become.

It was impossible to escape the sounds and sights of weather forecasters standing in deadly conditions – of rain, rushing seawater and debris-slinging, tree-bending, house-splitting winds – urging onlookers to seek shelter from this life-threatening disaster .

“The live camera is not enough. Stand in front of it.”

Then there were the MLB playoffs. The Mets-Phillies series began with a home run by the Phils' Kyle Schwarber in the first inning.

Fox followed with a graphic that was no doubt entered into a database, released for viewing, and then posted for national viewing by a group of inbred yokels: This was Schwarber's “first home run of the postseason.”

Given that it was Schwarber's first at-bat of the postseason — Philly had a bye in the first round — television still hasn't learned that the best way to look ridiculous is to prepare to look ridiculous.

But networks, like national politics, have the mystical ability to put irresponsible people in responsible positions.

ESPN again tried to reinvent the flat tire by eliminating runs, hits and errors graphics from its half-inning edits to commercials. TBS put three round yellow dots, one for each out, as if we needed that third yellow dot to realize that (at least for now) you only get three outs.

“How many outs are there?” “I'm not sure, but at least two.”

Fox graphics included revelations like the batter who was “0 for 6, no HRs.”

But it's now clear that Rob Manfred's primary job as commissioner is to skim every last penny anyone will throw at MLB at the behest of team owners and the MLBPA, who share the benefits. You? As my uncle would say, “You get borscht.”

Therefore, it should be duly noted and fully appreciated that Manfred has succeeded in placing the word “STRAUSS” in large, prominent letters on every batting helmet, meaning that “STRAUSS” will dominate the TV coverage of every pitch this postseason – a Deal that must be fulfilled until the 2027 regular and postseason.

Strauss is neither the manufacturer of batting helmets nor of the 19th century Viennese waltz. It is a German clothing and accessories company. Other than sewing, it has nothing to do with baseball.

Anyway, if you look past the excitement of what the Yanks and Mets have accomplished – the Mets barely qualified for a wild card – you'll see that playing good, logical baseball is no longer a prerequisite for success.

Consider that Manfred's extra innings and fantasy-as-real runners dictate 10 percent of regular-season games. But in the postseason, you play it out, like good old baseball.

This shows us that MLB's extra-innings rule in the regular season is just an empty gimmick, with no regard to the legitimacy of the results that determine who qualifies for the playoffs.

But in the postseason, MLB is trying to restore the credibility to its games that eliminated Manfred's automatic runner.

Of course, pitching has become a really bad joke. Not only were they the fewest complete games in MLB history, 28 – how many? – Bob Gibson threw 28 complete games each year this season as recently as 1968 and 1969. This was before both Tommy John surgery and before Tommy John.

Whatever accelerated pace of play is now established, it is tempered by four and five inning starters and bullpen shopping trips to find just the right player to lose the game against the other manager who is also out for it is to lose excess by a relief pitcher. Misidentifying crapshooting as a strategy.

And it's not just Aaron Boone who has his bullpen “fully lined up” and ready to go. Sunday's Tigers 3, Guardians 0 included nine pitchers; The Padres 10 and Dodgers 2 also had nine on the night. Makes no difference, three runs or 12.

Yanks 3-2 over the Royals, Wednesday, 11 pitchers. This was followed by an 8-0 win by the Dodgers over the Padres – 15 pitchers!

This postseason featured its own pointless oddity: infielders throwing wildly and way too late to first after failing to field a ground ball, giving away second in a game now all-hitters they are expected to turn doubles into singles.

The postseason television commentary was largely what we expected: obviously over-excited, peppered with exaggerated thrills to lure in an audience already watching.

Fox's Adam Amin seems excited about Gus Johnson and Kevin Harlan's not-so-secret secret to success. He screams and shouts over live images that far exceed the performance on the field. But his TV bosses also think we want to be treated like idiots.

The surprise was the venerable Bob Costas, long a truth-seeking and truth-telling favorite. Costas, in his measured voice, asked us several times to believe what he said and not what we saw and already knew.

After seemingly berating Giancarlo Stanton for his career habit of not running first, Costas appeared to go out of his way to defend Stanton in the next game, explaining that his inability to run was due to leg injuries.

But Stanton's most serious leg injuries were self-inflicted because he despised running first. Both times Stanton tried to reach second place after jogging, both times injuring himself slipping when he should have been standing! Both times he was injured because he pursued it.

Finally, like Roger Goodell's NFL, the less noticed TV attractions with the best start times are “punished.” So the Tigers-Indians had three warm afternoon starts.

And nothing says late-season big league baseball like a big red Strauss logo reflecting off everyone's batting helmets in the natural October sun! Now imagine yourself in a hurricane.

Saleh's Jets didn't win, but that didn't stop their showboating

Robert “Keep the receipts” Saleh doesn't get the historical credit it deserves.

Has there been an NFL head coach – not a winning season among his four – who has enabled his troops to practice better as post-play group dancers and fancy handshake artists than Saleh's Jets?

Yes, Brian Daboll's Giants are now giving immodesty about rank, victory or defeat in the group a chance.

Let's not forget Woody Johnson, the owner of the Jets, who allowed a fraudster who went to prison and fake radio and television advertising campaigns to sell his PSLs in line with Roger Goodell's bogus “good investment” claim.

The Jets' PSL contract contains my favorite clauses in the fine print. It states: Regardless of who represented the Jets in the sale of this PSL and regardless of what claims and promises they made at the conclusion of the contract, this must be ignored in favor of what is written in this contract.

Big money, bad intentions. The Goodell era!

Mets starter Sean Manaea would be a sensational player to profile in the MLB's postseason previews.

He is intelligent, anti-Alonso clean, kind, dedicated, considerate, respectful of himself, his family and the game, and has developed into a superior pitcher.

But who can recognize that, let alone advocate for it? Big idiot David Ortiz? Lying, dishonorable, drug addict Alex Rodriguez?

If only Manaea did a me dance after every at-bat, he would be what Snoop Dogg is to the MLB has become NBC.