Play ball!

As a lifelong baseball fan, the playoffs are one of the year's highlights. That both New York teams are playing makes it that much sweeter. The TV networks shudder at the prospect of a Subway Series because the ratings around the country will pale against those in the New York area. But if the Yankees and Mets are the best teams and make it to the World Series, the folks at Fox will suddenly realize New Yorkers are transplanted everywhere. And they should never forget they are presenting baseball, a great game regardless of the uniform shirt.

We East Coast fans also should be spared the agony of having baseball schedule crucial games from the West Coast at times we -- and especially younger fans -- should be heading to bed. The Mets game or two at Los Angeles should be 4 p.m. or 8 p.m. starts this weekend. None of this 10 or even 11 p.m. business. Baseball has to remember that its future depends on cultivating its young fan base. The games should be played when all of us can enjoy them.