Itโs roughly 50-50 that one of the White Sox, Guardians, Rangers, Astros, Blue Jays or Orioles (not dead!) make it to the World Series. Those teams are GUARANTEED a spot in the ALCS. And would you really give any of them less than a 40-60 shot at knocking off the Rays, Yankees, or Red Sox in a 7-game series? Thatโs baseball! But yes, the AL should just cancel that half of the bracket, and I hate that there is a bracket at all in baseball.
When your team isn't all that great, always has to battle, always has to come back from defeats & continues to do it in September, well that's exciting baseball.
Youโre my favorite sportswriter, Joe. But I just finished your daughter Lizโs tribute to Westley, and itโs right up there with your post on the same topic. Maybe itโs genetic.
"Reggie Smith, who I think has a powerful Hall of Fame case ..."
I don't get too worked up about who is in and who is out. But if I were given the ability to pick and choose, I would say that Reggie is absolutely deserving. Very good hitter (career 137 OPS+ which is two points below that other Reggie and two points better than Junior Griffey), gold glove winning CF before moving to RF, dealt with some ugly racism in his early years but did so with class. What holds him back in public perception is that from age 27 to 37, he'd miss 20+ games each year holding down his counting stats.
...
Tom Boswell's Total Average came out right around the same time that I was first introduced to Bill James and shortly before I heard of Pete Palmer. Not the perfect stat (among other things, it overweights steals by a lot) but it helped teach me of the value of patience and power when the world kept telling me that Batting Average was king. The annual releases in IIRC "Sport" and then later "Inside Sports" were must reads. He was, to me, the bridge between the lyric poetry from Roger Angel and the fun informationally dense James.
Other must reads include his first two collections, "Why Life Begins on Opening Day" and "How Life Imitates the World Series." It was near perfect that Bos was writing, mostly, about the Earl Weaver era Orioles. I can still recall passages from Ballpark Wanderer and other stories.
I will never cease to be astonished at the lengths to which the sportswriting world will go to avoid giving literally any credit to the Rays being the best team in the league, basically all season.
Joe, sometimes you astound me. I'll be skipping this edition of The Joy of Baseball, because those Don't Be Like Your Parents commercials are ones that cause me to change the channel every time they play, along with the Allstate Mayhem commercials. I avoid the Mayhem commercials because I detest insurance companies trying to sell insurance using fear tactics. I avoid Progressive's DBLYP commercials because Dr Rick, in telling you not to be like your parents, is himself being exactly like your parents, telling what you should or shouldn't do all the time. I have a good sense of humor and can see how they might be funny one time, but to me he comes off as a humorless know-it-all, and I would personally be doing whatever he thinks I shouldn't be doing in every situation just to make him crazy. But hey, you continue to watch Browns games, so there must be a little masochism in there somewhere.
I do remember that the Rangers won the Series recently -- but only because it meant their streak of seasons without a championship was snapped, and can no longer threaten the Cubs' 108-year mark. (Though Cleveland had better hurry up and win one soon.)
I appreciate that, since I worked in Phoenix as head pro of a ratty golf course there in Maryvale for two years back in the '90s, but that was dry heat. Houston can be so hot and humid that breathing becomes labored when you're sitting outside in the shade doing absolutely nothing. In Phoenix you can get under a swamp cooler, but if you did that in Houston, you'd drown.
I hope "The Roadrunner" - one of the most perfect baseball nicknames EVER - gets inducted in his Chisox slow-pitch softball uniform... and also, that we all remember Bill Veeck and his progressive ideas in the advancement of our beloved game.
Thomas Boswell... the best! Why Time Begins on Opening Day (the best book title); The Heart of the Order! Glad to see his recent writing. Joe is funnier.
Joe - Love your work. Condolences on Westley. My dog is old and grey and blind and our time left together is drawing short. So, I'm dreading my turn in your spot.
I am a Rangers fan. Been there since I was 10 years old way back in 1980. 2023 was a loooong time coming, especially after the absolute heartbreak in 2011. I know you do it for comedic purposes, but you seem to always take a jab at the 2023 World Series Champions. Maybe the matchup wasn't what the rest of the country wanted, but I will never forget a single moment. A team won 11 straight road games in the post season. Read that a couple of times. If that doesn't make it memorable, then I'm not sure what will.
I think what makes that 2023 World Series so forgettable is not JUST the Rangers, though. Two Wild Card teams facing one another, neither of whom had made the postseason in five years, and both of whom are still waiting for their next postseason appearance (though it's reasonably likely that at least one - and maybe both - will make it this year). I mean, it's not like they were dynasties, they weren't building off of anything. I don't blame any Rangers or Diamondbacks fan for remembering and loving that season and Series. But for other baseball fans, I'm going to go ahead and say that it's the most RANDOM matchup we've had, probably ever. (That said, I never forget the 2023 matchup, either - though, of course, there are many years and decades for that to change! The randomness makes it, in my opinion, EASIER to remember, rather than, say, 2013, which was two teams I was SO used to seeing in the World Series, I often completely blank on what the World Series matchup was that year.)
Extraordinarily random match-up, and the Rangers just kind of backed their way into the playoffs, then knocked off the ALโs two juggernauts that year (Tampa and Baltimore) in forgettable sweeps. That left Houston and Texasโtwo teams that won 90 games, and one of which America was very tired ofโto play the ALCS. That Rangers team also had an utterly and totally unremarkable group of starting pitchers, so just didnโt have the main characters needed to make them memorable to the rest of the baseball world.
Also, watching games played in that Texas stadium on TV is like watching a game being played in the half dark.
Yes, you can never figure out baseball, To some extent, this may be true for all sports, but perhaps because of the long season, or having teams play three or four game series, it is the most confounding to figure out. I'm glad that I don't do sports betting (or any betting except for the odd bingo night at the parish hall).
If the Guardians somehow miraculously win another AL Central title this year, I would not be surprised if they lost to a wild card team, just as they did last year against the Tigers. Frankly, they are they are masters at leaving runners in scoring position on base, hitting batters who are sitting at 0-2, and they must lead the league in warning-track power and smacking foul-ball home runs. However, like my late father, I watch or listen to nearly every game, shake my head and mutter some mild expletive, and with the demise of local papers, throw some of the junk flyers across the room. While I am sure that many young people enjoy the Progressive commercials about becoming one's parents, for me, that's not a bad thing, as I became my father (for better or worse) many years ago.
Question did the royals have a blowout total on 2015
Itโs roughly 50-50 that one of the White Sox, Guardians, Rangers, Astros, Blue Jays or Orioles (not dead!) make it to the World Series. Those teams are GUARANTEED a spot in the ALCS. And would you really give any of them less than a 40-60 shot at knocking off the Rays, Yankees, or Red Sox in a 7-game series? Thatโs baseball! But yes, the AL should just cancel that half of the bracket, and I hate that there is a bracket at all in baseball.
WSox win! Back in first.
When your team isn't all that great, always has to battle, always has to come back from defeats & continues to do it in September, well that's exciting baseball.
Tense & bizarre at times but still fun. Whew!
Youโre my favorite sportswriter, Joe. But I just finished your daughter Lizโs tribute to Westley, and itโs right up there with your post on the same topic. Maybe itโs genetic.
Wow! That was indeed great.
Link: https://thisistinseltown.substack.com/p/as-you-wish
Oh my God, you're in Houston? And in my neighborhood? I can walk to the Pit Room. Enjoy! And yes, it's a special kind of hot here.
Long time Ranger fan and you beter know I remember.
"Reggie Smith, who I think has a powerful Hall of Fame case ..."
I don't get too worked up about who is in and who is out. But if I were given the ability to pick and choose, I would say that Reggie is absolutely deserving. Very good hitter (career 137 OPS+ which is two points below that other Reggie and two points better than Junior Griffey), gold glove winning CF before moving to RF, dealt with some ugly racism in his early years but did so with class. What holds him back in public perception is that from age 27 to 37, he'd miss 20+ games each year holding down his counting stats.
...
Tom Boswell's Total Average came out right around the same time that I was first introduced to Bill James and shortly before I heard of Pete Palmer. Not the perfect stat (among other things, it overweights steals by a lot) but it helped teach me of the value of patience and power when the world kept telling me that Batting Average was king. The annual releases in IIRC "Sport" and then later "Inside Sports" were must reads. He was, to me, the bridge between the lyric poetry from Roger Angel and the fun informationally dense James.
Other must reads include his first two collections, "Why Life Begins on Opening Day" and "How Life Imitates the World Series." It was near perfect that Bos was writing, mostly, about the Earl Weaver era Orioles. I can still recall passages from Ballpark Wanderer and other stories.
I have balls autographed by legends including Koufax and Seaver but the one I prize above all is my Buck O'Neil.
Boswell occasionally writes for the new Washington Sun (nรฉe NOTUS) and it's been such a joy to see him again.
I will never cease to be astonished at the lengths to which the sportswriting world will go to avoid giving literally any credit to the Rays being the best team in the league, basically all season.
(and they are 6-3 vs. the Yankees head-to-head, in case you were wondering)
Joe, sometimes you astound me. I'll be skipping this edition of The Joy of Baseball, because those Don't Be Like Your Parents commercials are ones that cause me to change the channel every time they play, along with the Allstate Mayhem commercials. I avoid the Mayhem commercials because I detest insurance companies trying to sell insurance using fear tactics. I avoid Progressive's DBLYP commercials because Dr Rick, in telling you not to be like your parents, is himself being exactly like your parents, telling what you should or shouldn't do all the time. I have a good sense of humor and can see how they might be funny one time, but to me he comes off as a humorless know-it-all, and I would personally be doing whatever he thinks I shouldn't be doing in every situation just to make him crazy. But hey, you continue to watch Browns games, so there must be a little masochism in there somewhere.
You think Houston is hot? Try Bali.
I do remember that the Rangers won the Series recently -- but only because it meant their streak of seasons without a championship was snapped, and can no longer threaten the Cubs' 108-year mark. (Though Cleveland had better hurry up and win one soon.)
I've been to Bali, and Houston is hot.
And I've been to Houston.
Though for real heat, it's hard to beat midday Phoenix.
I appreciate that, since I worked in Phoenix as head pro of a ratty golf course there in Maryvale for two years back in the '90s, but that was dry heat. Houston can be so hot and humid that breathing becomes labored when you're sitting outside in the shade doing absolutely nothing. In Phoenix you can get under a swamp cooler, but if you did that in Houston, you'd drown.
Your tribute to Tom Boswell is spot on. He was/is the Vin Scully of sportswriting. Or Scully was the Boswell of broadcasting.
I hope "The Roadrunner" - one of the most perfect baseball nicknames EVER - gets inducted in his Chisox slow-pitch softball uniform... and also, that we all remember Bill Veeck and his progressive ideas in the advancement of our beloved game.
Thomas Boswell... the best! Why Time Begins on Opening Day (the best book title); The Heart of the Order! Glad to see his recent writing. Joe is funnier.
Joe - Love your work. Condolences on Westley. My dog is old and grey and blind and our time left together is drawing short. So, I'm dreading my turn in your spot.
I am a Rangers fan. Been there since I was 10 years old way back in 1980. 2023 was a loooong time coming, especially after the absolute heartbreak in 2011. I know you do it for comedic purposes, but you seem to always take a jab at the 2023 World Series Champions. Maybe the matchup wasn't what the rest of the country wanted, but I will never forget a single moment. A team won 11 straight road games in the post season. Read that a couple of times. If that doesn't make it memorable, then I'm not sure what will.
I think what makes that 2023 World Series so forgettable is not JUST the Rangers, though. Two Wild Card teams facing one another, neither of whom had made the postseason in five years, and both of whom are still waiting for their next postseason appearance (though it's reasonably likely that at least one - and maybe both - will make it this year). I mean, it's not like they were dynasties, they weren't building off of anything. I don't blame any Rangers or Diamondbacks fan for remembering and loving that season and Series. But for other baseball fans, I'm going to go ahead and say that it's the most RANDOM matchup we've had, probably ever. (That said, I never forget the 2023 matchup, either - though, of course, there are many years and decades for that to change! The randomness makes it, in my opinion, EASIER to remember, rather than, say, 2013, which was two teams I was SO used to seeing in the World Series, I often completely blank on what the World Series matchup was that year.)
Extraordinarily random match-up, and the Rangers just kind of backed their way into the playoffs, then knocked off the ALโs two juggernauts that year (Tampa and Baltimore) in forgettable sweeps. That left Houston and Texasโtwo teams that won 90 games, and one of which America was very tired ofโto play the ALCS. That Rangers team also had an utterly and totally unremarkable group of starting pitchers, so just didnโt have the main characters needed to make them memorable to the rest of the baseball world.
Also, watching games played in that Texas stadium on TV is like watching a game being played in the half dark.
Yes, you can never figure out baseball, To some extent, this may be true for all sports, but perhaps because of the long season, or having teams play three or four game series, it is the most confounding to figure out. I'm glad that I don't do sports betting (or any betting except for the odd bingo night at the parish hall).
If the Guardians somehow miraculously win another AL Central title this year, I would not be surprised if they lost to a wild card team, just as they did last year against the Tigers. Frankly, they are they are masters at leaving runners in scoring position on base, hitting batters who are sitting at 0-2, and they must lead the league in warning-track power and smacking foul-ball home runs. However, like my late father, I watch or listen to nearly every game, shake my head and mutter some mild expletive, and with the demise of local papers, throw some of the junk flyers across the room. While I am sure that many young people enjoy the Progressive commercials about becoming one's parents, for me, that's not a bad thing, as I became my father (for better or worse) many years ago.