Cubs vs. Indians. Dream match-up. Hope it goes seven.

Let’s Go Base-ball!

Picture by Bags 

So here we are. The Chicago Cubs are on the verge of going to the Whirled Serious for the first time since 1945. The Dodgers have their ace Clayton Kershaw on the hill. I’m pulling for Kershaw to have a great game. If the Cubs comeback against the bullpen, okay, fine., but I’d like to see the Dodgers win tonight and then the Cubbies take it in Game 7.

Worse case, Cubs win tonight and go to the Serious. I can’t be mad at that. There’s Alex Ciepley, our old All-Baseball/Toaster pal, to think of, as well as a whole bunch of other Cub fans I know and love. Then again, there’s Dodger Thoughts’ Jon Weisman—who now works for the team—to consider. And my pal John Schulian. We’re talking about two of the all-time great mensches—Dodger guys.

I’ll be thrilled for someone, bummed for someone else. So it goes.

Let’s Base-ball!

Picture by Bags

Continuing a season-long tradition of napping on the job, the playoffs are cruising along with or without comment from these quarters.

Doesn’t mean we haven’t been watching…

So far so good in the AL as the Indians are up 3-0 against Toronto, proving again that nobody knows nuthin’ about nuthin’. Injuries? Bah. And the Dodgers would agree. The National League Championship Series is more exciting and I hope it is a long series (I’m pulling for the Cubs but I would be far from displeased should Los Doyers win).

So long as the Red Sox and Blue Jays go home unhappy, we happy. And that’s how it goes when you are a sore loser.

Picture by Bags

With the exception of the Big Bad Blue Jays tearing through the Rangers, I approve of pretty much everything that has gone down in the playoffs so far. Sure, I didn’t want the Mets to lose but I’d like to see the Cubs and Indians in the Whirled Serious anyway so that was okay. Seeing the Sox go out in three straight is about as sweet as it gets. Ortiz standing there with the bat on his shoulder in his final home at bat, not even able to get anything worth have a shit to swing at, goodbye forever, please never come back you very much. Good riddance Cookie.

Loved the Cubs beating the Giants and the Dodgers-Nats series has been fun. I thought Kershaw was terrific yesterday. His final line wasn’t sparkling but he showed a lot of smarts and even more guts. Watching him in the seventh, when he broke off an unfair breaking pitch, I thought—this guy is an artist. And yeah, it ended on a down note, but Kershaw vs. Harper was great entertainment and Harper put together an incredibly tough AB.

Game Five tomorrow. Let’s Go Base-ball.

Picture by Bags.

Yeah, I said it. For one, I’ve liked rooting for this Mets team. Two, I am sick and tired of the Giants. Fug ‘em.

So there it is. A rare occasion around these parts, when I’d really like to see Los Mets win.

Never mind Bumgarner:

Let’s Go Mets! Let’s Go Mets! Let’s Go Mets!

Drawing by Walt Simonson

Yeah, so our boys don’t have a role in the postseason production but that’s not gonna keep us from watching.

I prefer the O’s to the Jays. Then again, a Toronto—Texas rematch does sound tasty.

Never mind the waving white towels:

Let’s Go Base-ball!

Picture by Bags

Tex says goodbye.

Never mind the hankies:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

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Gray and rainy in the Bronx as the Yanks season comes to a close.

Only two more games guys.

Never mind the gloom:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

And now, the end is near.

Never mind the playoffs:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

David “Cookie Monster” Ortiz has been kicking Yankee ass almost as long as this blog has been alive. He’s an all-time great Yankee-killer and I will not miss him at all.

C.C.’s on the hill looking for some love from his offense.

Never mind the calendar:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

A friend of mine who roots for the Sox loves to hate Mark Teixeira. So, this friend was happy last night because the Sox clinched the AL East when he Orioles beat the Blue Jays. But he got a little irritated I’m sure when Teixeira hit a grand slam home run in the 9th inning to give the Yankees the win. I’m sure the annoyance was momentary and then he went to sleep happy.

But for Teixeria, who has only 3 games left in his career, I’m sure it felt good. And we’ll take it where we can get it, right?

What’s funny is that the Yankees celebrated like all teams celebrate a “walk-off” win—as if they’d won the pennant. There is no building up to the big celebration these days, is there? Ha. I’m an old man.

[Photo Credit: EPA/Jason Szenes] 

Cool and breezy.

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Losing your engagement ring in front of how many thousands of  fans at a baseball game… Then finding it again hours later and proposing, only for her to say “Let me think about it; you’re kind of a loser…” Well, that last part didn’t happen as far as I know (though technically it would be true if she did say it), but does summarize the 2016 Yanks and the relationship with its fan base this season, no? At any rate, if the kids play again tonight, expect them to bring some Wu tonight, because BlowSux…

Between the Marlins tribute to Jose Fernandez and that other televised event (which need not be named), I missed most of the Yankee game last night, especially the ruckus. Well, nice to see the Yanks stage a 5-run rally in the 9th and then hang on—by the skin of their teeth—to win it and irritate the Jays.

Jays look to sweep the Yanks.

Never mind the chatter:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

The Yanks are getting pushed around by the Jays and while it’s not official yet, they are pretty much playing out the string at this point.

But that all seems minor—the losing, C.C.’s resilient but hard-luck season, whatever is going on with Joe Girardi—in light of the news that Jose Fernandez, star pitcher for the Miami Marlins, died last night in a boating accident. This is truly a horrible day in the annals of the sport.

We’ll watch the Yanks today, and root for them, but with muted emphasis. Our thoughts and prayers are with Fernandez’s family.

Picture by Bags 

Back to their roles as spoilers the Yanks look to give the Blue Jays a hard time and a headache this weekend.

Here’s hoping they do just that.

Never mind those scruffy bastids:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

So keep it going, already.

Never mind the preamble:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags 

He’s gone beyond Kevin Maas now. Sanchez mashes, Yanks win, we smile.

Who?

Never mind the dome:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags