Well, the World Series started Tuesday night. The big baseball event so to speak. 162 regular season games, plus playoffs to get to this stage. I love it. A 7-game series for all the marbles. The perfect dessert for baseball fans.
It’s the event I wait for all season and yet there is a dread to it as well. Once the series is over, there is no baseball. I seriously go into a “blue funk”, a mild depression for a couple weeks. My routine of watching games, checking stats and standings is abruptly stopped. The days are shorter and there is no baseball. You take the good with the bad. So it is with baseball, so it is with life. But, on the positive side, Spring Training will only a couple months away. It looks like reporting dates will begin on or about February 15th (with most teams still in the TBA category).
Let me say up front, the two teams that are playing are not the ones I would have “chosen”. I absolutely do not like the Houston Astros and I’m not a fan of the Atlanta Braves either. The Astros are / were cheaters and I tired of the Braves in the 90s, plus I never cared for their former owner, Ted Turner, and his arrogance of colorizing old movies just because he owned the viewing rights.
I like Joe Buck, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal, and Tom Verducci doing the in- game coverage. The pre and post-game coverage I’m split on, like Kevin Burkhardt and Frank Thomas, don’t feel Alex Rodriguez or David Ortiz should be allowed anywhere near an MLB game due to their past. I’m not a fan of the DH (designated hitter) being used.
I will be rooting for the Braves, but I will NOT be doing the “Tomahawk Chop”. I will be enjoying each hit, run, defensive play, stolen base, out and every other facet of the game. I’ll be there for every moment, soaking it in with joy.
There has been an outpouring of displeasure with Houston and deservedly so in my opinion. But I wondered how deep it actually goes, time for an impromptu poll. So, I asked the question “Who ya rooting for in the World Series?” I texted 10 of my friends / family, 5-male and 5-female, posted it on Facebook and asked my wife and youngest daughter. Here’s what I found:
Texted results:
Braves: David – Joe – Mike (son) – Mary Kay – Chris – Terry – Bruce – Colleen (daughter) – Karen – Kim.
Astros: Nobody.
Facebook results:
Braves: Randy – Robbie – Bob – Mollie – Mary Jo – Terri (cousin) – Susan (Mom) – Bruce (again) – John – Mike – Brian - Lori (cousin) – Carol – Jenny – Debbie – John – Jean (cousin) – Steve (cousin) – Tom (cousin) – Chris – Ron – Cindy – Steve (cousin) – Mary Kay (again) – Patsy
Astros: Theresa – Andrew (Voted for Dusty Baker)
Other responses: Tabe / Unsure – Jeff / White Sox!! …oh wait …never mind – Janice / The winning team – Tom / The Cubs (Good luck with THAT).
(Responses as of publishing time).
Verbal:
Braves: Debbie – Kathleen
The overwhelming winner in “fan support”, the Atlanta Braves. Not the most scientific solution, but baseball is a sport and for me an emotional experience, so it works. Enjoy the Series and mourn with me when it’s over. By the way, The Braves won Game 1 with a score of 6-2.
NOTE: Braves right-handed pitcher who was hit on the right leg with a batted ball suffered a fractured Fibula and will miss the remainder of the Series. I feel very badly for him.
~ Coach Mike
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The World Series - 2021
I have been listening and watching the Series for 80 years and may I say that the broadcasters are TERRIBLE this year- I can hardly make them out at times because their pronunciation is SO child like. They never seem to come up for breath and there IS A constant BLAB - I can only think that JOE (BUCK) BALL ONE STRIKE ONE is worse. These players are the very best in the world and the announcers are really BAD reallyBAD. Where is Buck Hernandez?
Coach Mike, I agree about the Astros...but agree to disagree about Joe Buck. Something about his commentating makes the midwestern-er in me upset. I too cannot wait for spring training and looking forward to the trip to see baseball back in its glory...plus getting away from the Chicago weather helps. At this point GO BRAVES!