Series Royale

The Fall Classic has come and gone with Kansas City beating the New York Mets in five games. I'd say I watched about 75% of the World Series, and I am surprised I even got through that much. All in all, I thought it was a boring series with a boring match-up. I know some of you that read this blog are really die-hard Mets and Royals fans, and may be a little peeved that I say this, but when your favored teams are sitting at home during the World Series, interest kind of goes out the window. Add to that the Royals and Mets really isn't a scintillating match-up, the feel-good story Cubs were bounced in the NLCS, this Series really didn't have a lot for me. I did watch a lot of it, and I'm glad I did, but there really isn't a whole lot I want to trumpet. 

After the Dodgers were eliminated my rooting interest was for the Cubs. I was really pulling for them. I credit my experiences with that organization this year with giving me a fan interest to them for the playoffs. The fact that they hadn't won a World Series in more than 100 years, and that they haven't won a pennant in 70, there was something to root for there. However, my visit to Wrigley this summer, and my annual homage to Catalina Island's Wrigley Field, means the Cubs occupy a special place in my baseball heart. I was disappointed that they didn't make it to the World Series, but as the Wrigley Faithful commonly say "there's always next year." 

On the American League side, it was tough to get behind any of the teams in the running. The Rangers and Astros are rivals to my Angels, so I was wishing that they'd lose every game in the playoffs. I really don't have an opinion of the Royals, who would end up winning the whole thing. Maybe my team was the Blue Jays because they have been lousy for so many years that their success was akin to that of the Cubs. Whatever was you look at it, the American League playoffs were a little sour for me, and my ambivalence was in full-force. 

As the calendar turns to November, all of us are thinking of family and Thanksgiving. I'm a little sad that I won't be able to travel back to Oregon to have Thanksgiving with my family, but I'm grateful that my girlfriend's family has graciously invited me to their festivities. Before then, however, there is baseball to be seen. Yes, the days are short and there's a briskness in the air, but November means the start of the College Fall Ball series. I'll write a more detailed post later on this week.