“I only wear two rings: a wedding ring and my World Series ring.” ~ Joe Garagiola, former MLB catcher and broadcaster.
The Fall Classic has arrived. The World Series starts tonight. 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. Is there anything better in the world? I doubt it.
This is the goal of every team, to be playing tonight. Unfortunately, only two reach this position. Of course, this is what we wait for all season, but once a champion is crowned, the season is over, so there is impending dread as well. I have mentioned more than once that I go into a mini depression, a “blue funk” as it were for a few weeks after the season. No more games to watch, no checking stats, no standings to check. There is a void. The days become shorter as if nature itself realizes that baseball isn’t present and sunlight in the evening isn’t needed.
As with life, it is with baseball, you must take the good with the bad. So, we potentially have seven games left. I for one will be watching every pitch, soaking up all the action. The spectacular plays and the little nuances of the game. Enjoying each moment, taking in whatever gifts the game bestows on us. I will cheer and smile throughout.
The Texas Rangers are playing the Arizonia Diamondbacks if you weren’t aware. These were not my preseason picks. I had the Los Angeles Dodgers playing the Chicago White Sox with the Sox winning in six games, oh well. Both teams lost over a hundred games two seasons ago. The D’Backs were 52-110 and the Rangers were 60-102 in the 2021 season. Great turnarounds to say the least. They are both “smaller market” teams, and neither is an East Coast team, which is a big ratings issue. But I think it will provide us with excellent baseball.
Fox is broadcasting the games. (All at night – I wish some games would be scheduled for weekend afternoons, but ratings are more important than my childhood memories I guess.) Their broadcasters / reporters handing the in-game coverage will be Joe Davis, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci. They are a solid group in my opinion. The pre- and post-game coverage is Kevin Burkhardt, Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, and Alex Rodriguez with Tom Rinaldi as a “contributor”. Not thrilled with David Ortiz or Alex Rodriguez. Their past PED use should keep them from being anywhere near the game (should have kept Ortiz out of the HoF too), just my personal opinion. Burkhardt is solid and Jeter has grown on me, Ortiz is a joke and Rodriguez usually states the obvious, so they added little to nothing.
I will be rooting for the Arizona Diamond backs, even though I tend to be an American League fan. They are the “underdog”, so I must support them, besides it’s just plain hard to support Texas teams. I will hate these ridiculous new rules, but I will be enjoying each hit, run, defensive play, stolen base, out and every facet of the game. I’ll be watching every moment, soaking it in with joy. And missing it all beyond belief after the final out.
Who are you rooting for this series? Let me know in the comments.
~ Coach Mike
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Excellent points‼️ It’s so sad that a fun day at the ballpark is so out of reach for families ☹️ We will watch tonight because our friend will be behind 3rd base line should be fun to see if we can spot him and hopefully see some great plays🤞 I love double plays myself🤗
Your writing is so filled with love of the game and passion ‼️ Makes me want to watch the games but I can’t get behind either team🙇🏻♀️ It’s not the White Sox🥺
We have a friend who lives in Arizona not far from the ballpark who just bought a ticket for game 3 for a whopping $2,000