Sunday reading: Many Mets thoughts, Andy Pettitte, Jayson Werth and Pete Rose

Your new playoff seedings:

AL: Yankees (1) vs. Texas (3), Minnesota (2) vs. Tampa Bay (4).

NL: Atlanta (1) vs. San Diego (3), Cincinnati (2) vs. Philadelphia (4)

Thoughts: All four NL teams have 61 losses. Wacky. The Braves jump back over the Phillies for the NL East lead, but these two clubs play each other six more times, including the final weekend of the season in Atlanta. Fun.

--At the Mets game, I wrote about the teams' plans for general manager and manager. This is a moving target, with evolving mindsets about what should be done, and there are some changes since we started discussing this issue.

Most notably, John Ricco is no longer in line to take the general manager job from Omar Minaya. The Mets' higher-ups have determined (for now) that Ricco is not yet ready for such an opportunity. 

Second most notably, Bobby Valentine has been discussed as an option to replace Jerry Manuel as manager. I'm betting against this happening; as I detail in the column, I think there are too many questions to overcome. But the Mets are determined to make a ticket-selling splash with their managerial hire (and yes, we could have a whole different conversation on the foolhardiness of that approach), and Bobby V. would certainly help the team sell tickets. He also would make the team better.

We'll be following the Yankees' playoff run next month, but the Mets' search for front-office and managing help figures to be pretty compelling, as well.

--You can see in the above, linked story that Jim Baumbach wrote about Mike Pelfrey, who pitched extremely well for the Mets. As Jim wrote, with Johan Santana extremely questionable for Opening Day 2011, Pelfrey might very well get that shot. 

Looking at Pelfrey's FanGraphs page, you can see that many of his advanced metrics haven't differed dramatically over the past three seasons. I think this year feels better because his highs were higher (his 0.69 April ERA stands as his best month over the past two years) and his lows were lower (his 10.02 July ERA stands as his worst month over the past two years). 

--Ike Davis, meanwhile, really has picked it up these last few weeks, and he stood out yesterday because he picked up sixth- and seventh-inning singles off Phillies lefty relievers Antonio Bastardeo and J.C. Romero, both of whom had entered the game specifically to get Davis out. Davis' OPS is back up to a respectable .802, and with a WAR of 2.2 and a dirt-cheap salary, he ranks as one of the Mets' lesser concerns this winter.

--Andy Pettitte will start for Double-A Trenton in Altoona Tuesday, and that's cool if you're a nerd about baseball, geography or both. It's pretty unusual for a rehabbing star player to pitch in a minor-league road game. Yet because it's September, and there are no other options, Pettitte has little choice but to take this assignment. The only other choice would be a simulated game, and it makes far more sense for him to pitch in a real game.

The other question is, how do you even get to Altoona? It's a long drive from New York City, Want to fly to Pittsburgh and then drive to Altoona? That's no picnic, either. 

I look forward to learning how Pettitte gets there, and what sort of New York media contingent shows up. But then again, I'm a nerd when it comes to this stuff.

--For my Sunday Insider, I detailed why Jayson Werth left his agents on the verge of free agency and also interviewed Mets prospect Cory Vaughn.

--The Reds honored Pete Rose last night, as Major League Baseball allowed the team to salute the legendary player on the 25th anniversary of his record-breaking hit. You know what I think? Such permission shouldn't be necessary.

IMO, Rose's lifetime ban from baseball a) is totally justified, and b) should apply only to him taking a job in baseball. It shouldn't apply to him being part of baseball's greater family, such as appearances like last night. If the Reds want to have him throw out the ceremonial first pitch at every playoff home game this fall, then by all means they should do so.

--Great story by the New York Times' Billy Witz about former shortstop Garry Templeton and the grandson of Hall of Famer Whitey Herzog. For those of you who remember Templeton's departure from St. Louis, this will resonate with you.

--Have a great day.