Dr. Fronkensteen meets A-Rod

 

Fronkensteen: Hand me that pen over there-

Inga and Igor: NO!

Frau Blucher: yyyyyyyYESSSS!

(she hands him the pen)

Fronkensteen: Love, mixed with a steady paycheck, is the only thing that can save this poor ballplayer...and I am going to convince him he is loved even at the cost of my own life. No matter what you hear in there, no matter how cruelly I beg you, no matter how terribly I may scream, do not open this door or you will undo everything this ballclub has worked for. Do you understand? Do not open this door. 

Inga: Yes, Herr General Manager

Igor: Nice working with you.

(Fronkensteen enters the locker room. Frau Blucher locks the door. Fronkensteen trips on CC's Taco Bell wrapper, waking A-Rod)

A-Rod: RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Fronkensteen:  Let me out. Let me out of here. Get me the hell out of here. What's the matter with you people? I was joking! Don't you know a joke when you hear one? HA-HA-HA-HA... Jesus Christ, get me out of here! Open this goddamn door or I'll kick your rotten heads in! Mommy! 

A-Rod: MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

(Fronkensteen looks at A-rod)

Fronkensteen: .............HELLO, HANDSOME!

(A-Rod looks behind him)

Fronkensteen: You're a pretty good ballplayer, do you know that? People laugh at you, people hate you, Boston fans boo at you, but why do they boo you? Because... they.......are......jealous! Look at that boyish face. Look at that monster swing. Do you wanna talk about physical strength? Do you want to talk about sheer muscle? Do you want to talk about the most powerful baseball player in recent history? You are a Hall of Famer! And listen to me, you don't suck at everything. You... are... GOOD!

(A-Rod kneels down and starts crying)

Fronkensteen: This is a nice player. This is a good player.  This is a manager's angel. And I want the world to know once and for all, and without any shame, that Alex Rodriguez CAN PLAY... BASEBALL! I'm going to teach you. I'm going to show you how to hit, how to field, how to run, how to THINK. Together....you and I are going to make the greatest single contribution to baseball...since the ACQUISITION OF PUJOLS!!!

Inga (from outside): MISTER FRONKENSTEEN...ARE YOU ALRIGHT?

Fronkensteen: MY NAME....IS....CASHMANSTEIN!

Annnnnnnnnnnnnd SCENE!

You see? I can actually do one of these that's topical AND funny!

Have a Happy Halloween everybody. As for New Jersey residents, just wait until Monday to laugh at this post. Governor's orders and all.

Top 10 Reasons Hurricane Sandy is worse than Cody Ross

10. Sandy has a girl's name, but still has unlimited masculinity. Ross has a guy's name, but has limited femininity.
9. Sandy causes the most damage near bodies of water. Ross causes the most damage near the Fenway dugout.
8. Ross has one ring. Sandy has tons of them, and they're more powerful than a piece of quartz.
7. Ross looks like a troll. Thanks to her numerous internet memes, Sandy IS one.
6. Sandy has only one eye, but does a lot more with it than Ross' multiple ones.
5. Sandy's caused more damage in a week than Ross has in more than 10 seasons.
4. Sandy is named after a SpongeBob SquarePants character. Ross only acts like one.
3. Ross rains on Yankee fans' parade. Sandy rains on everyone, everywhere.
2. Sandy makes Yankee fans cry. Ross only makes them laugh.
And the number one reason Hurricane Sandy is worse than Cody Ross is...
Only Sandy can do damage to the East Coast. Ross only does damage when he's in San Francisco.

PLAY ME OFF, PAUL!

The Hero

 

The sweep would not have happened without this guy.

Thanks Panda. SF thanks you for your performance. 

As for me, I'm braving through Sandy, and hoping to start customizing a new project for November, which you guys might like. 

And until the season starts, I'll be looking here daily.

Hey! There's a World Series Going on!

 

This guy had a stellar performance last night, knocking in three homers in a Reggie-worthy fashion.

 

While this guy's defensive capabilities are keeping the Giants at bay so far tonight.

Who'll win tonight? Only time will tell.

Please beat the Cardinals

 

I mean it. If the Cardinals win tonight, I'll be absolutely indifferent about the World Series. However, if the Giants win, I'll only be partially indifferent.

And that's a pretty big difference.

So please, oh please, with an orange cherry on top (I think those exist. If not fetch a black cherry), win tonight. Then, sad to say Night Owl, but you'll be the favorite going into the WS.

(By the way, this was the third time a pre-elimination-game poll has gone in favor of the Cardinals' opponent. The last two have gone on to lose. I don't want that to happen again.)

Jeez, Arizona...

 

At least wait until the season's over to make trades!

If you haven't heard already, the D-Backs made some pretty big moves today. One of their biggest stars (Chris Young) was traded to Oakland, while a rebuilding closer (Heath Bell) was traded for. 

Again, these moves are questionable, as Chris Young was too big a star, and Heath Bell was a bit of a gamble...but this easily could have waited until after the Cardinals lost the World Series. Seriously.

I kid, of course, but usually I don't see trades until November. This is crazy.

Thud.

 

I've always been a pretty big fan of Survivor, which makes approximately 1 blogger out there who watches that show (let alone television to begin with). And through this obsessive following of a reality show, I've learned one sad fact. Well...two.

1. If you're built up to be the greatest ever, the greatest villain ever, and if you spend the whole time being so much better at things than everybody else, you have to have a gigantic downfall. There's no stopping it. It needs to be huge, it needs to be soul-crushing, and for 70% percent of the viewing audience it needs to be absolutely hysterical. 

2. and this was coined by Jonny Fairplay, one of the dirtiest players the game ever had: "To be the man, ya gotta beat the man."

 I mention this, because tonight, or more importantly, this week, the Yankees had their downfall. It was worse than anything ever on Survivor, because it was slow, painful, and everybody saw it coming. And absolutely nobody was rooting for the Yankees at the end. Everybody was cheering once they bowed out of the playoffs. Nobody effing likes the Yankees.

And that downfall was absolutely necessary, too. For the past season, the Yanks had dominated, with a nice buncha hubris too, and they needed something like that, sad to say. The Tigers sorta gave them a nice comeuppance, and I feel like this was the best way to end this tragic hero tale.

More importantly, this shifts the power a bit in the MLB. Because the Tigers beat the #1 team in baseball. That's why I brought up the Fairplay quote. Now everybody fears the Tigers. They beat the A's, they outdid the Rangers, and now the Yankees. Now, going into the WS, they're the favorite.

So now what? Who do I root for? There are two scenarios:

1. Cardinals beat the Giants. At this point I have no choice but to root for Detroit. The Cardinals must not win anything else. If the Cards win, my smarmy, in-your-face Cardinal fan friend wins. And I don't want that. 

2. Giants beat the Cardinals. Then, and I do this with all apologies to one of my favorite bloggers, who will not like this decision, but then I'll root for the Giants. I don't hate the Giants as much as everyone else does. I saw them play a few seasons ago just as they got hot. And they're a nice fun team. They're not like the band of rag-tag soldiers from 2010. They're a serious team with a serious pitching staff. And I think they can win.

But yeah. It's a sad story, this season. Hopefully there's a light at the end of the tunnel, however dim it is.

Shout out to the rain

Remember that one Calvin and Hobbes Simpsons Fairly OddParents everything episode where Calvin Bart Timmy the main character wishes for the day of the big test to be snowed out, and when it is, makes no effort whatsoever to study or make up, and then gets a bad grade on it (actually, Calvin was saved again, but that doesn't matter)?

That's sorta like the Yankees right now.

Whereas tonight, the Yankees needed a miracle, because they knew they were cooked. So Brian Cashman, stuffed tiger in hand, made a big tall wish that the game would be postponed. And lo and behold, a miracle happened and the game was shelved.

Of course now they have to face the exact same thing a day late. Which...doesn't bode well. The Tigers are a strong team, and the rain isn't making them any weaker. Unless of course, rain is the Tigers' kryptonite, much like flies are the Yankees'.

So am I happy the Yankees didn't blow it tonight? Yes. Am I at all optimistic about the game tomorrow? Nope. Okay, maybe a sliver, but just a tiny sliver.

The upside of all this rain is that instead of painfully watching the game on TBS, instead I watched an Uncle Leo episode of Seinfeld, followed by the Big Bang Theory where Sheldon and Penny sing work songs and make "Penny-loafers"

Oh, Sheldon. You're so much more joyful to watch than a losing Yankees team!

It's All Going Terribly Awry

 

I really didn't think the playoffs would come to this, but they have. The Yankees haven't even been knocked out yet, and I'm already pessimistic about their chances.

Right now the participants in the playoffs are 1 team I love (Yankees), one team I'm indifferent about (Giants), and two that I despise (Cardinals, Tigers). Right now, the wrong teams are winning. I know, the Giants tied their series, but ya really think that's gonna last long? I mean, look at the Cardinals right now. Not even Mike Matheny dying would stop this team, and before I get stuff thrown at me, I don't wish death upon any man.

(Except for Cody Ross, that is.)

But the worst part of all this is that, while the Yankees' pitching staff is doing wonderfully, they are not hitting for crap. Robinson Cano was red-hot the night before the playoffs began. Now he hasn't had a single hit the entire October. Swisher's the same deal. At least there are people like Raul Ibanez and Ichiro, who can still hit the ball pretty well.

I'm not even going into much detail about Derek Jeter getting hurt, but that doesn't help the situation either.

So what I hope is that tonight, the Yankees play their best baseball to date, that Cano gets some nice hits in, and the pitching is just as good as the batting. And also, I want the Cardinals to fall off a cliff, but mostly the first one.

It really would be great for someone likeable to make the World Series...at least likeable to me.

Start Spreading the News

I was asked to go down into the basement, sometime during the 6th or 7th inning, to get something. As I went down, I quipped to my dad, sheltered around the TV, turned to TBS,that the second I'd get down there, somebody would hit a home run.

I was really close to being right there.

By the time I came up, I witnessed the instant replay of McLouths long drive crossing behind the foul pole, and heaving a sigh of relief. Knowing the umpires, I had an idea it'd be fair.

Of course, the second I leave to make the bed, I come back down and the bases are loaded in the bottom of the 8th. Thankfully CC fanned both batters, and made way for a breezy ninth.

All I can say is that it was a miracle that we got through tonight without breaking, because there were moments where cracks were starting to form. I'm really happy the Yankees held that lead, and that CC kept pitching consistently.

So now, we play Detroit, the long awaited, oh-no-not-this-again matchup. And it's gonna be even more nerve-racking than the Orioles series. If they wanna get to November, they need to get through Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera and the rest.

And that's tougher than any Oriole they faced tonight.

Congrats to the Yankees, and good luck.

And a second victory!

 

I gotta hand it to Verlander, he sure knows how to blast through some postseason heroics. I was thinking the Tigers would win this, and am happy they've gotten stronger as a team. Just not too strong. They have to play either the Yanks or the Orioles, either of which I'd gladly root for.

 

In other news....eeeeeeeeeerrrrghhhhhhhhh

 

I'm happy for Jayson Werth, that he made his team proud yesterday. What makes me even happier is the fact that the Cardinals didn't win. Go Nats!

The First Victory

Well, who saw that coming?

I honestly thought the Reds would take this one. I thought the rotation was strong enough to last them through October, but apparently the bottom fell out. I'm still happy for the Giants, but it's pretty surprising that they made it.

I'll say this about San Francisco- 2 years ago they were the underdogs. They were the island of misfit toys, made up of players nobody wanted. They made a championship from that team, of a couple of good players and some rising stars.

Now that they have a better, stronger team, I think they have more of a shot to win it than they did the year they won it.

Crazy postseason so far. Tonight I bet it gets crazier.

Raul, you never cease to amaze me.

 

Wow. Just...just wow. I feel like what happened last night was made to be a baseball story. The star DH isn't hitting, so they bring in Raul, and he decks 2 of 'em to win the game. Oh, it was classic. It was so awesome to watch, too. 

 

Meanwhile, this man, who is part of your complete breakfast, helped his team stay alive and tie the series. I really like this A's team, and I really hope they win...mainly because the Yankees can probably beat them. 

 

Who woulda called this guy pitching pretty well out of the bullpen? Actually, who would have called the Reds allowing the Giants to tie it up? The Reds are a strong team, and I think they'll get the win, but this is a bit scary for them. The Giants are beginning to get good, fast. 

 

 In other news...this guy neeeds to break a bone. It's not very nice to wish pain on people, especially baseball players, but it would make my life a hell of a lot easier knowing this guy isn't in the lineup. If he keeps it up, he'll pass Cody Ross on my Most Infuriating Players list.

Where Hamilton Won't Go

 

This is Josh.

Josh isn't especially happy right now, since his team isn't even pretending to make an offer, to keep him around. Also, after a play that basically cost his team the AL East, he's on the outs in baseball.

So where does he go? Here are some teams that I'm almost definitely sure will not take Josh Hamilton.

•  Pirates. Dead broke, already having a decent outfielder. Yeah, I'm pretty sure Josh wouldn't fit.
• Padres. Same thing. They can't afford him.
• Matter of fact, let's also eliminate the teams that definitely can't afford Josh Hamilton. Sorry Blue Jays, Astros, Cubs, Mariners and Royals.
• Indians. They're just rich enough to escape the previous category. Then again, Terry Francona could snatch him up.
• Phillies. They may be desperate, but they're not stupid.
• Mets. Ya think David Wright would enjoy sharing a clubhouse with that guy?
• Tigers. Because Jim Leyland's been searching high and low for a drinking buddy for Miguel Cabrera. Actually, they're on here because I absolutely, positively do not want this to happen. Miggy, Prince and Hamilton on the same lineup? I get shivers.
• Rangers. Already been discussed.
• Yankees. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. No. 

 So that narrows the playing field a bit. Then again, I could be wrong. One of these teams could very well pick Josh up for next season.

Just not the Yankees.

A Down Night

 

Last night was sort of a down night, because two teams I am not very fond of tied their respective series. Actually, scratch that. I am very fond of the Orioles. They're a great team. I just felt bad that the Yankees lost, and the man above spent the night happy. 

 

 

 And then there's this guy. Just when I think the Nationals are gonna blow these guys away, they come back swinging hard. Beltran had a few nice knocks back there. But I really hope the Nationals don't win. Seeing the Cards in the World Series would be very atrocious...unless they were playing the Yankees. Then it'd be all worthwhile.

That's what I like to see!

 CC Sabathia picked up a much deserved win last night, as the Yanks smacked the Orioles down hard 7-2. That was great. But it was only a piece of an eventful night in the playoffs.

Miguel Cabrera had a few hits to assist the Tigers in defeating Oakland 5-4. 

 

 Bronson Arroyo pitched a great game against San Francisco, as the team crushed them 9-0.

 

 And Ian Desmond, who signed a Turkey Red card for me, had a great game as well, helping the Nats overcome St. Louis 3-2.

 Overall. a great night for baseball in general. Tonight, things heat up!

My first blaster of 2012 Topps Update

I've always been a fan of the update set, due to my love of players in new uniforms. This being my fifth straight year gobbling up, I got a Target blaster of the stuff. I've been hearing good things, let's find out if they're true.

Guaranteed Patch-
Blockbusters of RICKEY HENDERSON TO THE YANKEES! WOW! That is a pretty nice one for Yankees fans. I will hold onto that one. Rickey is awesome.

Pack 1 (The first two packs I believe are all Target red cards)-
93- Chris Ianetta. Not bad.
156- Troy Patton
297- HUNTER PENCE! ALL RIGHT! Even if he's a Giant, I still love getting cards of him.
222- Jairo Asencio GOLD SHINY CARD!
Rickey Henderson on the Mets Golden Greats. Not bad at all. Another Rickey, and one for my collection of him on the Mets. A short term goal of mine has always been to get a card of him on every team he's played for. Still need one from the Angels.
237- Prince Fielder HRD.
72- Carlos Beltran. HRD.
5- Wade Miley Rookie Debut. NICE!


Pack 2-
309- Chris Heisey
287- Dan Wheeler
109- STARLING MARTE ROOKIE! IT'S ONE OF THE GOOD ONES! YAHOO!
107- Randy Choate GOLD #'D TO 2012. Wow, I thought Topps wasn't doing these this year
Blockbusters of Gary Carter. This is a nice one! I really like these inserts, because I love trades.
206- Cole Hamels AS
98- Hector Santiago
8- Luis Perez

Pack 3-
106- Pedro Strop
103- Jack Wilson. Wow, he's still playing?
297- Hunter Pence. So now I have him in Red and regular. If any (nonexistent) Giants blogger wants either, just ask.
160- Marco Scutaro SHINY CARD! ooooh, more Giants bait!
Golden Moments of Ozzie Smith. Very nice.
52- Clayton Kershaw AS
166- Chipper Jones AS. A fitting final card.
129- Giancarlo Stanton AS.

Pack 4-
181- Takashi Saito. I keep thinking he was in Inception
3- Adam Kennedy
109- Starling Marte. Well, one for the rookie binder.
Blockbusters of Jose Bautista. Wish I would have gotten somebody better than Joey Bats, but he'll do.
Golden Giveaway Card. Because why not-
Tony Gwynn Coin. GRRRRRRRRRRRRWHYCAN'TIEVERGETACARRRRRRD!??
269- Drew Hutchison
256- Joe Nathan AS
37- Billy Butler AS, looking like the lost Hantz relative. (Somebody please get that)

Pack 5-
205- Travis Ishikawa.
27- Cesar Izturis
229- Quintin Berry
428- Jordan Schafer GOLD #'D TO 2012. So thaaaat's what they're doing with gold cards.
Golden Moments of George Brett
228- Aaron Cunningham.
annnnnnnnnd two cards I already got in the Red packs. Great collation, Topps. Really great.

Pack 6-
300- Mark Kotsay. My God...he's still playing! Somebody tell him to throw in the towel!
204- Jesus Montero. That's a pretty nice one.
208- Tyler Moore
242- Joe Kelly GOLD #'D TO 2012. Wow, my gold-per-pack ratio is pretty high.
Yu Darvish 1987 mini Rookie Star. That is awesome.231- Tim Dillard
annnnnd two more doubles.

Pack 7-
230- Xavier Nady
94- Kevin Slowey. Because being stuck in fourth sure beats a lifetime of being stuck in fifth.
286- JA Happ. Nice.
128- Dan Straily SHINY GOLD! We are 6 for 7 on gold!
299- Bryce Harper...HOLY CRAP I PULLED A HARPER
wait
HOLY CRAP I PULLED A SHORT PRINT
wait
HOLD CRAP I PULLED A BRYCE HARPER SHORT PRINT! EEEEEEE!
there, I'm done
313- Wandy!
18- Tom Wilhelmsen
36- Juan Cruz. Amazing. Not a single double.

Pack 8-
43- Michael Bowden
310- Kelly Shoppach. This guy was traded while I was in Lake George.
199- Nate Schieholtz. Phils need him.
526- Casper Wells GOLD! YES, ANOTHER ONE! #'D TO 2012!
Blockbusters of Hanley Ramirez on the Dodgers. That's a nice one!
83- Carlos Lee. ALL RIGHT!
175- Tim Byrdak
306- Joe Wieland

Pack 9-
240- Ronny Paulino. Tried out for the Phillies in 2009 for a potential catching job. Lost out because Chooch was just getting good then.
193- Henry Blanco
57- Hanley Ramirez!!!
JOHNNY BENCH Golden Moments.
Golden Giveaway. Sigh...
Roy Halladay coin. But I already have this one.....TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPSSSS!
84- Eric Thames. Not bad
326- Gio Gonzalez. What an awesome season
308- Jay Bruce

Pack 10-
122- Logan Ondruzek
4- Matt Treanor. His wife is an Olympian. He is a backup catcher. Stay at home dad?
100- RYAN DEMPSTER!
525- Paul Maholm....GOLD! I KNOW! #'D TO 2012
Austin Jackson 87 mini
161- Brian Dozier
283- Elvis Andrus AS
209- Yasmani Grandal  RD

These were fun. I'm liking this one. The moment I get more cash, I'll snap up some more.

And they're off!

 

The first win of the playoffs goes to Detroit, for overpowering the quickly rising A's.

And it'll only get crazier from here.

The Balance Shifts

 

Last week, the Rangers were fully expected to clinch the AL West.

Oh ho hoooo boy. 

The Orioles' defeat of the strong-armed Rangers last night is only proof that the power is beginning to shift once again. No longer are the high payroll teams on top winning it all- instead, teams like the Orioles, Nationals and A's rise to the top.

I'll say this: I didn't see it coming, last night. I wanted the Orioles to win, no doubt, but I didn't really think it was going to occur. All year the Rangers were one of the best teams in the AL. They were playing really good baseball, and their pitching staff was moving on from CJ Wilson. And then...they lose last night and it's all over. I'll say that it's heartbreaking for most Rangers fans, but I fist pumped.

The Rangers have beaten down my Yankees before, numerous times. I'm so glad they're out of the playoffs. But now the Orioles are in our way. And now I begin nailbiting again.

The Orioles are now a good, strong team. And they have gotten hot. That's the problem. They're a good, strong, powerful, hot at the moment squad. We slowed down in August and September. The entire team isn't as hot right now as the O's, although Robinson Cano is pretty good right now.

My fear is that the Orioles will end the series crushing my Yankees, and giving an even bigger balance shift. If the Orioles, or even if the A's, beat the Billion Dollar Yankees, then it'll be the mother of all sports stories. It'll be so talked about that you'll have to escape to bars and retirement homes and places where they don't talk about it. 

That's my one fear. The Orioles are fully capable of hitting my Yankees hard. The Yankees, however, are fully capable of hitting them back.

Farewell, Chippah

 

The Greatest Switch-Hitting Third Baseman of all time.

It's a shame that the last game of your career was marred by an error. I really hate that. But who's gonna remember you for that? They'll remember the other times, the better times, when you led the league, and won the World Series.

See you in 6 Years for your speech in Cooperstown.

Boy...that escalated quickly!

 

"I mean that really got out of hand"

"It jumped up a notch!

"It did, didn't it?"

"Yeah, I made Chipper Jones commit an error!"

"I saw that! Brick embarrassed Chipper! Did you sink a liner?"

"Yeah, there was trash everywhere, and an umpire on fire, and I made Chipper Jones commit an error!"

"Brick, I've been meaning to talk to you about that. You should probably find yourself a safe house or a relative in the West. Lay low for a while, because you're probably wanted for murder in Atlanta."

-----

Needless to say, I'm not very happy about the results of tonight's first wild card game. My Cardinal-loving friend will be rubbing this in my face on Friday. This should not happen. They should not be making the playoffs. If they make the champs, then I will owe him money.

I don't wanna owe him money. So please, Nationals, kick the Cardinals' ass for me.

I'll have an update on the Rangers-Orioles game later.

It was fun, Omar

 

He did for shortstop what Carlton Fisk did for catching.

He started playing the season Mike Schmidt stopped.

He played with Ken Griffey Jr, and Ken Griffey Sr.

He classed up a Giants team that had just lost its biggest hitter

He was one of the defining players on countless Indians, Mariners and Giants teams.

He finished his career strong with Chicago, Texas and Toronto.

Omar Vizquel deserves to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame, even if he doesn't make it first year. He's one of the most consistent shortstops the game has had since Luis Aparicio.

Still, I'll miss him. He was a fun player to watch.

An Astonishing Turn of Events

 

Last season was a relatively insane season. You had a team winning the wild card by a hair, and then going on to win the championship, a team that returns to the World Series with a better team and still loses, a Pirates team that peaked in June, and a year without a real noteworthy rookie class, save for two certain overachieving closers. 

You can say that last season itself was pretty crazy. But you put the 2011 season beside the 2012 one, and the 2011 season looks flawless, and sane.

A season where a team expected to finish third in its division ended up winning the whole thing- SANE?

Yet, that's how this current season is looking. Of the ten postseason spots, seven of them have been filled by teams that I never would have expected to get there. The three exceptions are the Yankees, Rangers and Cardinals, because they win all the time. 

Let me explain why the other seven spots shock me so much.

• Giants- Around June or July, when the whole LA boom was going on, I was convinced that this was the Dodgers's season. Kemp was hitting, the pitching staff was strong, and soon they'd be traded every star they could get. And they still didn't win. The Giants, while still a strong team, I never expected to get there. And yet they did.
• Tigers- I was kinda stuck on thinking the White Sox would take it, as was every AL central fan. The Sox were playing excellent baseball, thanks to people like AJ Pierzynski, Chris Sale and Kevin Youkilis. And it all sorta fell apart at the end, which is terrible. The Tigers, like the Giants, are a strong team, but it surprises me that another team got there.
• Braves- At the point when I realized that my Phillies weren't going to win the wild card, that was the point where I knew the Braves had the wild card. However, there was nothing before that this season that hinted that way. They began the season in third, like usual, only the placings were flipped. Then the Nationals started winning, and then I thought the Dodgers would get the Wild Card. They didn't. Then I thought the Phillies would get the Wild Card. They didn't. The Braves won simply by not falling apart.
• Reds- I will blame the Pirates for this one, for getting so good, and choking so quickly. I thought they had it, and for a while they were toggling back and forth with the Reds for first place. Then the Reds had their epic winning streak. Welp. So much for that.
• Nationals- At the beginning of the season, I was intent on the fact that the Phillies would take it, not knowing that the team was aging and the stars were injured. The team plummeted to last place. Meanwhile, the team usually sitting in that spot elevated to first. Silliest thing I've ever heard. And they held it, too. I thought it was going to wear out. The fact that this is #3 on the list is an example of how crazy the year was.
• Orioles- I've always been a shallow Orioles fan, so when they started winning, I was really happy. I applauded them, I saw them rise the second, and I made a simple plea: "Don't get too good". And they didn't listen to me. The last two months they've been going toe to toe with my Yankees because they wanted to get competative. And that's a great team, too, but it would have been really embarrassing if they floored the Yankees.
• A's. This came as an absolute shock to me, and to everyone. Beginning of the season we all thought the Rangers would repeat as AL West champs. (Buzzer Noise). The A's came out of absolutely nowhere and started winning games, which I thought was remarkable for a team with no star power. Now the Rangers might get knocked out by whoever loses the AL East race, which is an interesting prospect.

So there you go. Craziest season in recent memory. Now let's see how it ends. I'll get some customs together for the last few weeks.