Fast-forward a couple of weeks. The baseball World Series begins in just 2 days. The upstart Oakland A’s, anchored by their dominating young pitching staff, will face off against the defending World Champion Arizona Diamondbacks, whose roster is filled with crafty veterans. But making their return visit to defend their title proved enormously costly for the D-backs. In game 1 of the NLCS against their divisional foes, the San Francisco Giants, D-back third baseman Matty Williams fouled a curve ball off his foot and broke yet another bone. One inning later, pitching ace Curt Schilling took a line drive off his knee, ending his season.

In game 2 of the NLCS, the D-backs added Steve Finley to their list of injured outfielders, beside all-star and last years MVP, Luis Gonzales. Game 4 of the NLCS, perhaps most devastating of all for the D-backs, saw 2 more veteran team leaders head to the disabled list when they lost starting pitcher Randy Johnson, who tore his rotator cuff and future hall of fame first baseman Mark Grace when he was hit by a pitch that may end up requiring knee surgery.

Nonetheless, the D-backs some how managed to prevail to win the National League title, but with the bulk of their veteran talent out for the series, Las Vegas odds makers give the D-backs little chance of surviving the young Oakland team. As of this morning, odds makers were giving 5-2 odds that the A’s will win the series.

However, in a surprise move, baseball commissioner Bud Selig is considering allowing the San Francisco Giants to face Oakland in stead. Selig said last night, "Arizona has little chance of winning, so they are going to withdraw from the World Series and the National League will send San Francisco in their place. San Francisco has a much better chance of winning, and the National League really doesn’t want to give up the title"

Wouldn’t it be pathetic if such a thing were actually allowed to happen? Well guess what? It is happening, folks, but not in baseball. It is happening in politics. That is, politics New Jersey democrat style.

New Jersey Senator Robert Torricelli withdrew from the race after polls had him 13 points behind challenger, Republican businessman Douglas Forrester. New Jersey voting law is quite clear on this. A party can replace a statewide nominee on the ballot if the person drops out at least 48 days before the election. The problem is, Torricelli withdrew from the race several days after the deadline. The ballots are already being printed.

The Democrats have held a de-facto majority by one seat in the Senate after Jumpin’ Jim Jeffords abandoned the Republican part last year to proclaim himself an independent. The Democrats appear willing to do anything to hold on to that one seat majority, up to and including breaking the law, or at least, changing it to fit their needs.

On Tuesday, Torricelli gave what appeared to be a eulogy of sorts, professing his undeniable loyalty to the American public. He told the story of how when only five years old, he wrote a will giving his worldly possessions to the Marine Corps and to the United States. Is that will still in effect, I wonder? The tearful Torch said, "I will not be responsible for the loss of the Democratic majority of the United States Senate.

He went on to ask, "When did we become such an unforgiving people?" Well Torch, perhaps it happened when you broke the law by accepting bribes. We continue to learn more of the relationship between businessman David Chang and Sen. Torricelli. Chang told investigators he gave the senator Italian suits, an expensive grandfather clock, a Rolex watch and many other lavish items in exchange for political favors in business deals involving North and South Korea. In all, seven people have pleaded guilty of making illegal donation to Torricelli’s campaign in 1996.

When the Torch withdrew from the election, he insisted on being replace on the ballot by one of three people; either Rep. Frank Pallone, Rep. Bob Menendez or former Senator Bill Bradley, who Torricelli replace as NJ Senator. Well, that didn’t work out for Torricelli either. Pallone’s wife wouldn’t let him run. Menendez was more interested in keeping his House seat, and apparently Bill Bradley wasn’t quite corrupt enough to want any part of this fiasco. So, instead, Torricelli’s replacement will be arch enemy, 78 year old retired former Senator Frank Lautenberg.

Even though the law is clear, the Democrat-run New Jersey Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case. If they vote to allow the democrats to replace Torricelli’s name on the November ballot, it will mean military New Jerseyans will be denied their right to vote, as their will be no time for mail in ballots, but then again, most of them are republicans anyway.

This years World Series will be played by the 2 teams who are left standing after the playoffs (primaries). Not so for the November election. How could we expect the democrats to allow a silly old law get in the way of controlling an election?