The Lonely Postseason

For the second year in a row, none of my Southern California teams have made it to the LCS. The Angels and Padres didn't make it to the playoffs, and the Dodgers were beaten in five games by the Mets in the Division Series. Baseball fans here are disappointed, more in the Dodgers, that no teams made it, and I am expecting some changes to come to all three of the teams in the off-season. The absence of my teams means that I no longer have the opportunity to make it to a postseason game in 2015, but of the four teams in the LCS (Mets, Cubs, Blue Jays, Royals), I'm glad to have seen three of them in person play this season.

The Dodgers did host three games of the Division Series at Chavez Ravine. I thought about going, but I can't bring myself to spend $60 on a standing-room ticket at Dodger Stadium. Look, I paid nearly $80 to see the Cubs at Wrigley, but I think that is a different situation. I guess I have developed a rule when it comes to tickets to not spend more than $20, which usually relegates me to the nosebleeds. I do this because I think it makes a more authentic experience of going to a game as baseball is supposed to be an affordable entertainment option. I'm a penny-pincher, sure, but I just have to think of the families that decide to go to games and are they affordable to them. 

Speaking of the Cubs, they're in the LCS for the first time since 2003 and are the popular favorite to win it all. The North-Siders haven't won a World Series since 1908, so if they do go all the way, it will definitely be a seminal moment in professional sports. It will also be a neat anecdote for me being able to say "Yea, I saw the Cubs play at Wrigley the year they won the World Series." Because of this, I'm rooting for the Cubs for the remainder of the playoffs. 

While I'm watching the games on TV this week, I'll be dropping the remote for some actual game action next weekend as I head off to Phoenix for my annual trip to the Arizona Fall League. I'll post an itinerary next week, so keep an eye out for that.

Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)