Ire in the autumn air.
It is October in America, that time of year when Laird Superfood Pumpkin Spice fills the air and baseball the soul. Yes, while the World Surf League may claim to be the nation’s pastime, baseball has long occupied that slot. The season, which kicks off in spring, consists of 162 games winding through the dog days of summer and culminating in autumn.
The Fall Classic.
Now, in times past, the top three teams from each of the three division, both National and American Leagues, punched their playoff ticket to the playoffs alongside the National and American League team with the best record that didn’t win its division as wildcards.
The Major League Baseball powers that be, though, wanted to add some spice and expanded the wildcard portion, allowing a few more teams a shot at the Big Dance. These teams play a three game series, then the winner plays the team with the best record in its league.
This tinkering has been compared to the World Surf League’s decision to implement “Finals Day” wherein the top five surfers, male and female, head to Lower Trestles to compete in a winner-take-all showdown.
While the intention was to “increase excitement” in both baseball and surfing, the results have also benefited upstarts that just so happened to “get hot.”
Take Stephanie Gilmore’s worst-to-first 2022 performance in which Carissa Moore, the champion all year, was unseated.
Or, over on the baseball side, the Arizona Diamondbacks sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers even though the Dodgers were ahead of the D-Backs by sixteen games at season end.
Last year, the Dodgers were undone by the San Diego Padres in similar fashion, leaving Dodger fans furious and wanting the playoff format changed back to the way it was.
Furious.
Message boards and op-eds are filled with “salty” messages from Dodgers, and Braves, fans decrying the “Carissa Moore-ing” of teams that proved their worth all season only to get “Lower Trestled.”
Surf fans not named Richard Toledo nodding quietly.
Will the grousing lead to changes?
Do you have thoughts on the matter or a horse in the race?
The Texas Rangers take on the Houston Astros tonight for the American League pennant.
All action, no lulls.
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Ha ha Dodgers
Sandy buns = fun in the Sun
The Dodgers were cursed after they honored those perverted fake nuns from San Fran this year.
comfortable here…
This may be the stupidest thing I have ever read.
Chas you know I bleed Dodger blue but their starting rotation was riddled with injuries and even though Kershaw did pitch his performance was sub par. Dumb ass Urias just couldn’t stop beating his wife and it seems probable that MLB will 86 him for good. Their bullpen was weak from the start too and the whole thing was a recipe for a Dodger early exit despite their 100 plus win record.
Remember that it was MLB and the MLB Players Association that agreed to expand the postseason to 12 teams as part of the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement. The problem is with the top two teams in each league getting a bye while the best of 3 Wild Card Series happens. Many say that the 5 day bye period is too long and was a contributing factor in the three 100+ teams going down, the Braves, Dodgers, and Orioles. Momentum is everything and I might agree with that assessment.
🌭⚾️🍺
Coach
Just another kid delivered raw into the world…
“From a gleam in your Daddy’s eye…”
Unaware of routine, talent, knowledge, worth, or girth…
Shaped by forces and Mother’s intent…
Driven to find another meaning…
A meaning to life…
And on occasion when I needed a dime…
Can I borrow five bucks?
To play, to school, to surf or date…
“And don’t do that Tim…”
I usually did…
Mentors have developed, matured, and rolled over with time…
A who’s who of heavy men…in books, in movies, on tv…
Today’s sport hero is an old radical named Bill…
“Can’t stand to hear him behind a mike…”
But Dad, he was once young like you…
Dribbling then heaving round balls through square nets…
________________________________________________________________________
Sports…
Heroes…
And coaches…
________________________________________________________________________
He had John Wooden…
And I have you…
As someone who knows virtually nothing about baseball I have no “thoughts on the matter or a horse in the race”.
However that quotation reminded me of a famous photograph of J.P.Curry in contemplative reminiscence…
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Baseball needs a version of surf equity to point out all its hypotheticle flaws.
assuming most pro athletes are psychos to begin with…exemplified by superstitions, over-coddling, individualists mostly…and with the intensified pressure…with time off they were over-thinking it. unravelled! one or two days off. fine. 3 or more? teams full of head cases. love ’em anyway. but like WSL, i am no longer a fanatic. and would never buy a jersey. but do adorn a LA cap from time to time!
too much sand everywhere! ‘cept Sunset. Firing right now.
Pipe is gonna be 10-15 on weds
You Chas took the words right outta my noggin. Came across this bit…BGer’s with no baseball sense take to the batting cages. (The 100+ winning teams couldn’t find the guy to calibrate the pitchin’ machine?) The result? We’re takin’ one for Team Carissa…and cruisin’ for a bruisin’…
https://www.barstoolsports….
https://www.barstoolsports….
Still on the NS?
When did Eric Logan take over Baseball?
there are some similarities. Baseball’s aging viewership demographic; screwed up regional tv contract system; lack of an intelligible streaming option that allows watching one’s local team (if you think WSL is screwed up, imagine a system where if you sign up for the main MLB streaming app to stream live games, you can stream all games except the ones airing in your local area — i.e., your local team … totally wacky).
“It’s only Year 2,” Rob Manfred belched. “I’m sort of the view you need to give something a chance to work out. I know some of the higher-seeded teams didn’t win. I think if you think about where some of those teams were, there are other explanations than a five-day layoff. But I think we’ll reevaluate in the offseason like we always do and think about if we have the format right.” (Deadspin)
Baseball, WSL, and Golf are my three go to’s for lulling me into a restful nap.
pitch clock helped this year…first year in a long time I’ve paid attention to regular season.
all with muted sound and way too many commercial interuptions…momentum killers. but those burgers looked good…https://images.firstwefeast.com/com…
Not entirely.
On the (very) rare occasions when the surf is good and Turdpail isn’t talking, WSL can hold my attention. Baseball and golf are sleep inducing, always.
It’s OK Dodger fans, maybe the Cowboys or Lakers will bring one home for you this year.
WHOA that was brutal! Lakers are not relevant and who cares about the Cowgirls. I’m upset the ghost of Tommy Lasorda hasn’t propped up this troubled version of the Dodgers. If only Trevor Bauer had the benefit of my time in the dugout with Tommy D, Ron Cey, Steve Garvey, etc back in Vero during spring training in the 70s. He would have stayed on the straight and narrow path just as I did…except of course when I veered off with shit in my veins that would have killed may lesser men. NEXT YEAR I’ll BE AT CHAVEZ RAVINE SUPPORTING THE DODGERS! Unless they suck!
were Garvey’s forearms as impressive close up as on tv??
he’s runnin’ for Cali
Gov.Senate..where’s Cindy? The last time California voters elected a Republican U.S. Senator was in 1988.LOL*! As a teenager, at the time, they were truly impressive while my mother had a few comments about his looks.
*Typically one might suspect there is an inference of homoerotica in your Q knowing this is BG but I am working off of the assumption of purity in your Q which might be disappointing to some
totally pure!!!
RESPECT!
Puts you in a pickle the. Even when they are good, they suck.
Fair point
Gov Newsome Vetoes this bill
Decriminalizing psychedelics
The legislation would have allowed those 21 and older to possess psilocybin, the hallucinogenic component in what’s known as psychedelic mushrooms. It also would have covered dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and mescaline.
The bill would not have legalized the sale of the substances and
would have barred any possession of the substances on school grounds.
Instead, it would have ensured people are neither arrested nor
prosecuted for possessing limited amounts of plant-based hallucinogens,
the Associated Press reported.
I saw that I suspect it was as much about his national political aspirations as it was the lack of framework he referenced in his veto. In honor of that poor decision I ate sushi with a buddy Friday night with a proper mixture of tequila and chocolates…
tequila and Bailey’s Creme = Bravo Toro…sushi arrivin’ on Tuesday…lots of rice…no beans.