Tampa Bay had never won more than 70 games in a season. Vegas, which usually doesn’t get too many of these things wrong, predicted the Rays to win 74, a mark they passed by August. Now, after a gripping ALCS Game 7, the Rays are headed to the World Series.

Here are a few observations:

— Postseason baseball rules. I saw every single pitch of this game and it was a doozy. And to those who claim football has overtaken baseball as America’s pasttime — yes, you may be right, but no league, not even the mighty NFL, can match the drama of a baseball Game 7.

— The action peaked in the top of the eighth. The Rays used five pitchers, including Dan Wheeler and Chad Bradford, the two men they employed most often to close games since Troy Percival went out for good. As the inning unfolded, I thought Joe Maddon had completely fouled up. But when he turned to big David Price — the sport’s next great pitching star — we all were reminded why the Rays defied odds all season. Because they built a club with the most talent in baseball. Price was plenty good enough strikeout J.D. Drew with the bags packed and plenty good enough to close out the pressure-packed ninth.

Watch out for Price in the World Series. Philly, you’ve been warned.

— As for the MVP, a piece belongs to B.J. Upton. I thought Matt Garza was a strong choice, but Upton was a steady presence in all seven games. Not only did he hit four HRs and drive in 11 RBI, he also terrified the hell out of the Red Sox. And remember: It was the Rays’ offense that put them in position to have a 3 games to 1 lead in the first place.

— I like the Rays to win the Series in 5. Philly has the best pitcher, the most feared hitter and the far superior closer, but Tampa has the goods throughout the lineup, the depth in the rotation and a significant homefield advantage. I didn’t think a bullpen without a closer could get through a seven-game series against the Sox without faltering and it didn’t. Yet the Rays still won. And the Phillies, being a flawed team, are not the Red Sox.

It appears the Seattle Mariners will pass on Tony Bernazard.

The Seattle Times reported yesterday that the M’s will give three men second interviews. None of those three men is the Met assistant GM, who interviewed with Seattle last week.

(Coincidentally, one of the three apparent finalists is Jerry DiPoto, who, you may remember, was last seen in Flushing tossing up gopher balls at Shea.)

Bernazard was one of about 10 candidates interviewed for the M’s vacant GM post.

Manny Ramirez looked like Barry Bonds, circa 2002, but it still didn’t matter. The Phillies are headed to next week’s World Series after defeating the Dodgers easily, 4 games to 1.

Cole Hamels pitched another gem, and Jimmy Rollins hit another big leadoff home run. I know this was probably tough to watch if you’re a Met fan, but I have two questions:

1. Did you watch?
2. Will this season sting even more if the Phillies win the World Series?

We had a debate two nights ago at the office about whether or not the Phillies winning the pennant would trouble Mets fans. There was no consensus. The World Series, however, was a far different story.

To this point, a couple guys I work with have basically given up on the postseason without the Mets around. Needless to say, they’ll be watching next week. A Philly championship would be tough for them to stomach.

Another excellent job by MetsBlog, which had a wide-ranging Q and A with Omar Minaya. Among the more interesting responses was Minaya’s admission that four years were too many for Luis Castillo. Of course, we all knew that, but Minaya owned up to it.

Fans may like that, but they won’t like Minaya’s feelings on how to construct a bullpen. He gives the impression that bullpens run hot and cold and the Mets were just stone cold.

Makes me wonder how many changes are actually in store this winter. The Mets may give guys they once trusted — guys like Duaner Sanchez — another chance. You’d still have to think Aaron Heilman is on the block, though.

There’s a must-read column by Rick Carpiniello in The Journal News and at www.lohud.com today on all the items taken out of Shea the last two weeks that had been sold or will be sold. Strangely nobody wanted the foul poles to put up in their backyard so they’re being cut into pieces for sale. There should be more info about what’s available at MeiGray.com. But you can read the article about all the hot items that have gone already.

Speaking of what’s not hot, Joe Torre apparently is being roasted throughout the L.A. area for his pitching moves (i.e. pulling Derek Lowe after five and bullpen choices) in Game 4 that backfired against the Phillies, who will look to clinch tonight.

Jon Niese, the 21-year-old from Defiance, Ohio, was the subject of a feature in his local paper yesterday. It gives you an idea at how Niese viewed his season, like how nervous he was in his big league debut and how awed he was by the packed house at Shea when he tossed eight innings of shutout ball at the Braves.

In the story, Niese said his goal is to break with the club from Spring Training.

“The ultimate goal is to break with the team out of spring training. That means I have to go there in shape, ready to pitch and to work hard. I want to be the hardest working guy there because I really want to be in the rotation to start the year. Right now I’m taking some time off to let my body recover, but around the middle of November it’s back to work to get ready for 2009.”

So we’re here to take a break from Arizona Fall League updates and report that Carlos Beltran put the Mets’ latest forgettable September behind him and got married to Jessica Beltran—again. It was a joint ceremony at a Caesars Palace hotel penthouse in Vegas this weekend along with Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, according to People’s Web site. The couples actually just renewed their vows after dining and hitting the tables together. The “re-marriages” were a spontaneous idea by Anthony, according to the story.

People’s people did state that Beltran gave Mrs. Beltran an engraved ring and provided rings as presents to the famous friends, who were in town to celebrate Anthony’s 40th birthday. Lopez was said to be looking “beautiful” in her black dress.

And that’s our celebrity gossip for the day. Now back to waiting for the Peoria Saguaros game—Daniel Murphy and friends are playing Surprise this afternoon—plus Red Sox-Rays and then Phillies-Dodgers tonight. Maybe the pitchers can aim for the plate this time.

Today in The Journal News and at LoHud.com, there’s a story recapping last night’s Dodgers-Phillies game complete with the two sides throwing way inside and Manny erupting during the bench-clearing incident. Shane Victorino thinks it’s over, but stay tuned tonight. L.A. needs to win to make it even at 2-2, and Joe Torre is bringing back free agent-to-be Derek Lowe (future Met or Yankee?) on three days’ rest.

Our Mets-related story involves Donovan Mitchell, manager of the Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats, giving back to the game, leading a kids clinic last weekend in Briarcliff and about to give another this weekend to try to prepare high school players for what the college coaches and pro scouts want.

In the Arizona Fall League, the Peoria Saguaros—the team with some Mets’ personnel—are up to 5-0. Shane Bowman, the Double-AA Binghamton third baseman trying to put some significant back issues behind him, is off to a great start—.545 (6 for 11) in three games, with two doubles, two homers, five RBI and five runs scored. And Eddie Kunz has now finished all three games in which he has appeared, tossing three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks while fanning four.

In today’s Journal News and at LoHud.com, Sam Borden has a column suggesting the Mets (and the Yankees) take a pass on Manny Ramirez despite his Hall of Fame bat, that his attitude isn’t worth it, nor is a long-term, big-ticket deal at his age.

Maybe the money would be better spent on pitching, CC or the pen, and Orlando Hudson for second base. Thoughts about passing on Manny?

As for hitters who are currently under the Mets’ control, Daniel Murphy is off to a good start in the Arizona Fall League. He played second yesterday in the Peoria Saguaros’ 7-5 win over the Peoria Javelinas and went 2 for 2 with a two-run homer and two walks. He’s 4 for 10 after his first three games. Shawn Bowman, a third baseman who hit .290 in 55 games combined at St. Lucie and Binghamton this season after returning from back surgery, is 4 for 6 with a homer and four RBI in two games.

Eddie Kunz has finished two games, throwing two scoreless innings. And Bobby Parnell started yesterday’s game and went a scoreless inning. There were 201 fans there to see it. The Saguaros, by the way, are off to a 4-0 start.

Summing up the various Mets reports from the week, John Maine told MLB.com his shoulder is feeling good after having a big bone spur shaved, the team has sold all its luxury boxes at Citi Field, according to the Post, and Ambiorix Burgos is in jail right now because of the hit-and-run incident in the Dominican that left two women dead. It’s supposed to be a three-month stay before his trial. He claims not to have been the driver.

Watching the playoffs has to make you wonder how the Mets would’ve fared in October. Yes, bullpens are at a premium in the postseason (duh), but just consider who contenders trot out with the game in the balance — guys named Papelbon, Lidge and Broxton, not to mention the likes of Justin Masterson and Hideki Okajima; J.C. Romero and Ryan Madson; Grant Balfour and Chad Bradford; and Corey Wade and Hong-Chih Kuo.

Whether it’s readers griping about hitting with runners in scoring position, or a sportswriter laying out his or her offseason plan, it doesn’t matter. The Mets, no matter what has happened, are still just as good as anyone in baseball in their lineup, in their rotation and on defense. It’s the shoddy bullpen that cost them this season.

No team had a better run differential through six innings. So before bullpens became a factor in the average game, the Mets were the best club in baseball.

You can talk about trading Carlos Beltran, cutting ties with Carlos Delgado, and debate whether or not Ryan Church likes New York, but to do so you miss the point entirely.

The Mets can’t afford to just toss a band-aid on their bullpen problems — and this is where the K-Rod Konundrum comes in: Should the Mets sign Francisco Rodriguez or should they leave him and his many red flags be?

If only it were so simple. If only someone like Jonathan Papelbon were on the open market. But he isn’t. And guess what? K-Rod is no Papelbon, no Rivera. Heck, he’s not even Lidge.

Statistically, K-Rod had his worst season as a pro. He broke the saves record by saving 62 games, but practically every other measurable deteriorated in the process. Consider:

— K-Rod threw just one more inning than his previous career low (68.1 to 67.1) yet allowed the most hits in his six full seasons (54).
— His 34 walks were the second-most of his career. His most (35) came during a season when he threw 18 more innings.
— His strikeouts dipped to a career low (77). One year he actually struck out 123 while allowing less hits and walks than he did in 2008.
— His strikeout per walk ratio was the worst of his career (2.27).
— The opposition had a paltry .216 batting average against and .314 on-base percentage against. Still, those were career-worst marks. His .629 OPS against was also a career worst.

If it sounds like I’m against the Mets signing K-Rod, then you’ve jumped to a conclusion. I’m not. Why? Because there is plenty to like about him too.

Here are the top 5 positives in ascending order:

5. He is 26.
4. He’s proven, having 208 saves in 241 chances.
3. He’s reliable, having pitched in 59 or more games six straight years.
2. He is very confident in a time when the ‘pen could use a little mojo. K-Rod has already pitched in five Octobers, and won’t be spooked by the spotlight. (He cherishes it.)
1. He’s the best option on the market. Period.

Reason No. 1 is exactly why K-Rod may prove the perfect fit, despite what appear to be diminishing returns. He is the best man for the job, and the Mets desperately need that man right now to right the wrongs of 2007 and 2008. But dropping between $60-80 million in the lap of a pitcher whose velocity has dipped from the high to low 90s and who has a violent motion is risky.

Of course, it’s not my money and it’s not your money, but it is the Wilpons money. They, along with Omar Minaya, have to decide whether the second list outweighs the first.

Decent AFL debuts for Dan Murphy and Eddie Kunz, who helped the Peoria Saguaros win 9-3.

Murphy went 2 for 4 with a sac fly. Kunz pitched an inning of relief and allowed a hit and a walk and recorded a strikeout.

Three other guys played as well. Jason Vargas pitched an inning and escaped unscathed despite allowing three hits. Shawn Bowman, a Class AA and AA third baseman, went 2 for 3 with a walk. Tobi Stoner, a Class A RHP, allowed a run over two innings and earned the victory.

Key thing: The Saguaros committed an error — alas, it wasn’t Murphy.

The Mets’ two other farmhands didn’t play: Bobby Parnell and 20-year-old Class A catcher Josh Thole (batted .300 in 111 games at Port St. Lucie this year).

It’ll be interesting to see what role Parnell plays down in the desert. At 153 IP this year, Parnell has only thrown nine more innings than he did in 2007. I’d imagine the Mets want him to throw at least 20-25 more in Arizona.

Anyway, here’s the full box from tonight. 

So who had Rays-Red Sox and Dodgers-Phillies as the final four in the office pool (at the beginning of the season)? Do you think Joe Torre wouldn’t love to see his Dodgers advance and take out the Red Sox or the Rays in the World Series and show the Yankees what they missed? Personally, I’d rather see Rays-Phillies, but I would pick Boston to advance and face Philadelphia. But who knows? There’s no clear-cut favorite. Anyone here like the Rays to go the distance? Both championship series should be good. Trying to squeeze, by the way, late in an elimination game is a little risky. Mike Scioscia may agree now.

From the Mets’ front, the Peoria Saguaros’ game at Scottsdale hasn’t begun yet. That Arizona Fall League opener starts tonight at 7:05 Arizona time. Of course, Daniel Murphy, Bobby Parnell, Eddie Kunz and Jason Vargas are on Peoria. For those who have already decompressed from the Mets’ ending and want more, MLB.com allows you to follow the game.

We run a weekly pro-con on Sundays in The Journal News. This Sunday’s pro-con asked: “Should the Mets break up the core of their team after collapsing again?”

Obviously, the question is an ode to Mike Francesa, who has debated the topic ad nauseum on the FAN — and seemingly done so since the moment Ryan Church’s fly ball settled into the glove of Cameron Maybin eight days ago.

Two of our writers debated the topic Sunday. You can read their takes here. Jeff Gold said the Mets should keep ‘em all; Eric Lebowitz, as big a legend as a Met fan as anyone in our office, says the club should dump Carlos Beltran for a starting pitcher.

Give both a read and leave your thoughts below…

The 2008 season may be over, but ‘09 begins in earnest tomorrow night among the cacti in the desert as several Mets open play in the Arizona Fall League.

The club to watch closely is the Peoria Saguaros. Several farmhands populate the Saguaros’ roster, including Dan Murphy, Eddie Kunz and Bobby Parnell. Murphy is listed as a 1B, but don’t fret. There are no 2B listed on the website, which you can check  out here.

Obviously, since Murphy’s bat isn’t a question-mark, it’ll be tough to follow his progress through the web. It’s kinda tough to break down defense through a box score.

What’ll be interesting is how Parnell and Kunz are used. Will Parnell start or will the Mets use him out of the ‘pen? Or will Kunz close games down there?

Last thing: Jerry Manuel just had a wide-ranging 40-minute interview on WFAN. One item pertained to this topic — Manuel said Murphy will head to Puerto Rico for winter ball after the AFL season is over.

Just wondering, but with the way the Dodgers swept away the Cubs, do you think the Mets also would have beaten Chicago if they had made the playoffs? That would’ve been the matchup if the Mets had the wild card.

I don’t think there would have been a sweep because nothing would have been easy with that bullpen and the up-and-down clutch hitting, but I certainly would have given the Mets a real chance to advance, especially with the Cubs’ October track record. And if the Dodgers had beaten the Phillies in the other first-rounder, the Mets would have set up well against L.A.’s righty pitching.

OK, this is a form of fantasy baseball. But it’s intriguing to think that if the Mets had thrown away just two less games in the first 162, they would have had an opportunity, and then you never know.

CC Sabathia, by the way, said yesterday that he doesn’t want his situation dragging out all winter and that he isn’t going on a free-agent tour. Teams are going to have to come to his door and make their pitch. It’s obviously going to take Santana money. Sabathia threw 256 2/3 this year, including his one postseason start, and he isn’t always Mr. October, but do you invest in having two aces and take the stress off the bullpen those two days?

It sounds like a Southern California team would be his preference, though, if one would be willing to crack open the vault. It also sounds like Milwaukee may try to make a pitch as well. He liked it there, but it’s hard to see the Brewers going that high.