Sports this 'n' that

The Mets, entering today, could be welcoming back former star slugger Carlos Beltran to Flushing, this time as their manager.

Beltran, of late in the Yankees' front office, was with the Mets from 2005-11, when he was traded to San Francisco for Zack Wheeler. While the Mets will make every effort possible to retain Wheeler, having another first-time manager in the dugout isn't what the fan base wants, but making it someone like Beltran, still beloved in Flushing following his 6 1/2 year stint there might just be a case of appeasement, since the Wilpons are unwilling to spend the big bucks for an experienced pilot, especially after Joe Girardi ankled them for Philadelphia (good luck massaging Bryce Harper's ego, Joe) a couple of weeks back.

The other candidate is another ex-player, Eduardo Perez, currently with ESPN. Can we send the Wilpons a copy of Santayana?
======================================
The World Series despite the late inning drama in most, but not all, of the seven games, wasn't exactly a ratings hit outside of Houston & Washington and their respective suburbs.

Part of the problem is the snail's pacing of the games. Had Fox had any gumption or common sense, they'd move the first pitch to 7 pm (ET), and put pressure on Major League Baseball to actually do something about pace of play, since all the rules changes implemented the last couple of years haven't exactly worked. It's all about ad revenues to the network, never mind the next generation of players. Well, they should care about that next generation.....
==========================================
WWE's 4th voyage to Saudi Arabia ended with travel delays that have left several personnel, including wrestlers, stuck in hotels until a flight can leave at 3 am (ET) Saturday morning.

Everything is sketchy right now, but it doesn't paint a very good picture when CEO/Chairman Vince McMahon and Executive Producer Kevin Dunn left early, as did WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and his advocate, Raw Executive Director Paul Heyman, the latter of whom also is gainfully employed away from wrestling.

The worst case scenario? Some folks might've been forced to stay back because of unforeseen issues with the Saudis, and if that were the case, which it isn't, insofar as we know, that would be grounds for a breach of contract that would end WWE's contract with the Saudis, two years into a 10 year deal signed in 2018. Stay tuned.