I don’t have a dog in this fight. By “this fight” I mean the World Series. My team, the Orioles, not only had its first winning season in 15 years (which is all I asked for), but also made it to the wild card round, beat the Texas Rangers in a one-game playoff and took the Yankees to seven games (two of which went into extra innings), exhausting them enough to allow the Tigers to sweep in the ALCS.
Which may not have been a good thing, since the Tigers looked as rusty last night as they did in the 2006 World Series. That year, Detroit swept the Oakland A’s in four games in the ALCS, then waited until St. Louis took a full seven games to get past the Mets. By the time the big show started, the Tigers couldn’t pitch, hit or throw like major leaguers should. The Cards won in five.
We don’t have cable (much to the teenaged girl’s chagrin) so I have to go over to the neighbor’s to watch baseball, presidential debates or anything else. (I keep waiting for the teen to call me a hypocrite, but it hasn’t happened. Maybe she’s saving it for Christmas.) Monday, I had to switch away from an exciting final NLCS game to watch an excruciating final debate. (One, it’s not my tee vee; two, I felt guilty and unpatriotic if I chose baseball over the debate and three, I followed the game on my smart phone anyhow.)
(Just one thing about the debate: All I could think of was Mitt as Mormon missionary, grinding away at a weird version of history unsupported by facts, evidence or common sense regardless of any opponent, moderator or homeowner attempting to shut the door and get him off the front stoop.)
I really dislike Fox Sports and not just because of the guy that owns it. Like I said, I don’t watch much tee vee, but after the classy and informative act of Ernie Johnson, Cal Ripken and John Smoltz on TBS for the ALCS, annoying blowhards Joe Buck and Tim McCarver are torture. Sure I turn the sound off (unfortunately, I didn’t have it turned off for McCarver’s stupid homophobic joke last night), but Fox forces in so many commercials you miss the first pitch of each half inning, then it runs another commercial over the game itself after the first out. Nothing but greed, the worst aspect of baseball.
Last night the curse of ’06 was back with a vengeance. Justin Verlander actually pitched pretty well, except when he didn’t. A team that’s sharp will make you pay for your mistakes, which the Giants – Pablo Sandoval especially – did. The Giants also offered few mistakes for the Tigers to capitalize on, even if they could have, which I don’t think they could.
Still, three consecutive homers from a panda-compared third baseman who has all of 76 homers in his MLB career, joining the Babe, Reggie and Albert Pujols in a very exclusive club was a moment of that makes baseball – for all its sins – so joyful. (If only it wasn’t on Fox.)
Again, my heart has no preference; I have respect for both teams, two fine organizations. My head says Giants in five, if not four. As fate had it, earlier today I dialed in early to a video conference call and there also dialed in early were my colleagues Daniel and Dan in San Francisco. Daniel, from SFO often wears his black-and-orange Giants jacket. Dan, from Michigan, sports a ragged Tigers cap.
What could I do? As tactfully as I could (which isn’t saying much in my case), I congratulated Daniel on the win. He graciously did not gloat (probably believing in jinxes). What else could he do? For his part Dan – what else could he do? – shot the bird at the camera. From a Tigers fan to an Orioles fan in the presence of a Giants fan. Appropriate.
© Mark Floegel, 2012
Attack of the Giant Pandas
I don’t have a dog in this fight. By “this fight” I mean the World Series. My team, the Orioles, not only had its first winning season in 15 years (which is all I asked for), but also made it to the wild card round, beat the Texas Rangers in a one-game playoff and took the Yankees to seven games (two of which went into extra innings), exhausting them enough to allow the Tigers to sweep in the ALCS.
Which may not have been a good thing, since the Tigers looked as rusty last night as they did in the 2006 World Series. That year, Detroit swept the Oakland A’s in four games in the ALCS, then waited until St. Louis took a full seven games to get past the Mets. By the time the big show started, the Tigers couldn’t pitch, hit or throw like major leaguers should. The Cards won in five.
We don’t have cable (much to the teenaged girl’s chagrin) so I have to go over to the neighbor’s to watch baseball, presidential debates or anything else. (I keep waiting for the teen to call me a hypocrite, but it hasn’t happened. Maybe she’s saving it for Christmas.) Monday, I had to switch away from an exciting final NLCS game to watch an excruciating final debate. (One, it’s not my tee vee; two, I felt guilty and unpatriotic if I chose baseball over the debate and three, I followed the game on my smart phone anyhow.)
(Just one thing about the debate: All I could think of was Mitt as Mormon missionary, grinding away at a weird version of history unsupported by facts, evidence or common sense regardless of any opponent, moderator or homeowner attempting to shut the door and get him off the front stoop.)
I really dislike Fox Sports and not just because of the guy that owns it. Like I said, I don’t watch much tee vee, but after the classy and informative act of Ernie Johnson, Cal Ripken and John Smoltz on TBS for the ALCS, annoying blowhards Joe Buck and Tim McCarver are torture. Sure I turn the sound off (unfortunately, I didn’t have it turned off for McCarver’s stupid homophobic joke last night), but Fox forces in so many commercials you miss the first pitch of each half inning, then it runs another commercial over the game itself after the first out. Nothing but greed, the worst aspect of baseball.
Last night the curse of ’06 was back with a vengeance. Justin Verlander actually pitched pretty well, except when he didn’t. A team that’s sharp will make you pay for your mistakes, which the Giants – Pablo Sandoval especially – did. The Giants also offered few mistakes for the Tigers to capitalize on, even if they could have, which I don’t think they could.
Still, three consecutive homers from a panda-compared third baseman who has all of 76 homers in his MLB career, joining the Babe, Reggie and Albert Pujols in a very exclusive club was a moment of that makes baseball – for all its sins – so joyful. (If only it wasn’t on Fox.)
Again, my heart has no preference; I have respect for both teams, two fine organizations. My head says Giants in five, if not four. As fate had it, earlier today I dialed in early to a video conference call and there also dialed in early were my colleagues Daniel and Dan in San Francisco. Daniel, from SFO often wears his black-and-orange Giants jacket. Dan, from Michigan, sports a ragged Tigers cap.
What could I do? As tactfully as I could (which isn’t saying much in my case), I congratulated Daniel on the win. He graciously did not gloat (probably believing in jinxes). What else could he do? For his part Dan – what else could he do? – shot the bird at the camera. From a Tigers fan to an Orioles fan in the presence of a Giants fan. Appropriate.
© Mark Floegel, 2012