I'll Have a Blue World Series Without You

Major League Baseball’s 111^th World Series is set to start soon, with the blue-and-orange New York Mets taking on the blue-and-white Kansas City Royals.  It’s the Royals’ second consecutive trip to the World Series (which they lost to the San Francisco Giants), so naturally I have to root for them because it was so sad to see them lose last year.  I think it’s my first time picking an American League team since the Minnesota Twins went to the “big dance” in 1991 (and won it by beating the Atlanta Braves).  I was a huge Kirby Puckett fan, and seeing him do so well in the World Series was one of the highlights of my baseball fan-hood.  This year I’m a big fan of… let’s see… no one really; but I have to root for the Royals because I just can’t get myself to cheer for the other team.

What’s wrong with the Mets?  Don’t they have a Gold Glove-winning outfielder in Juan Lagares (who stole the award from the Nationals’ Denard Span in 2014)?  How about that guy Yoenis Céspedes (who killed the Nationals in the last regular-season series they played against each other)?  And don’t they have that good relief pitcher, Tyler Clippard (former National)?  Yeah – I’m a little bitter about the Mets making it this far while the Nationals didn’t even clinch a Wild Card spot in the playoffs.  Still licking my wounds a little bit.

The funny thing is that I used to be a die-hard Mets fan in the late 80s.  I can still recite their regular lineup (Dykstra, Teufel, Hernandez/Magadan, Strawberry, McReynolds, HoJo, Carter, and Elster – and I swear I didn’t get Google’s help!), and I remember their starting pitchers in 1989 being Ron Darling, Dwight Gooden, Sid Fernandez, David Cone, and Bob Ojeda (I believe Frank Viola came in halfway through the season).  I had the shirts, pennants, yearbooks, and even got a media guide from them after having sent them some sort of fan mail.  Darling and Elster were the cute ones, and the Mets still have the biggest section in my baseball card collection.

But alas, the Washington Nationals came to town in 2005, and I had to jump on the bandwagon.  I had not been able to embrace the Baltimore Orioles in the few years I had lived in Maryland, mainly because they were an American League team and because my first husband was not supportive of my baseball habit (lesson learned:  Don’t marry someone who doesn’t share your hobbies!).   After our separation in 2005, I decided to embrace the new team in town and have not looked back as a Nationals fan since.

Part of being a loyal fan is sticking by your team regardless of how well or how sucky they play (spell check says “sucky” isn’t a word, but I’m using it!).  And believe me – those first few seasons as a Nationals fan were pretty brutal.  Before the days of Strasburg and Harper, the team played in a crappy stadium, struggled to build their fan base, and went through several managers and staff changes.  And while they’ve come a long way in just ten years, some people think they haven’t lived up to the hype and the high payroll.  Yes, it would have been nice if the Nationals had made it this far (the red and white would have complimented the Royals’ colors nicely) – but I have not had a problem going to bed at my usual 10:00 time during a playoff game’s 6^th or 7^th inning.  If the Nationals had made the playoffs, I would have been sleep-deprived, stressed out, and impossible to live with (and that’s not my husband or kids talking – I think I know myself pretty well!).

So for all you fans of the other 28 teams that did not make it to the World Series:  Enjoy some good baseball, have fun checking out the cute players (Eric Hosmer for the Royals and Matt Harvey for the Mets), and feel free to go to bed before a game is over (unless it’s game seven or any other deciding game).  I predict that the Royals will win in six games (so they can win at home, which is always nice), but if the Mets end up winning, I will just shrug and wait for Bryce Harper to be announced as the NL MVP in November without having lost much sleep.  See how easy and laid-back it is when you don’t have anything vested in either of the two teams?  Let’s hope for some good clean baseball and let’s go Royals (I guess)!

Anyone??? Anyone???

The NBA players may have ended their lockout and the NFL may be in full swing, but there has been plenty going on behind the scenes in Major League Baseball, with the winter meetings wrapping up, players being traded and free agents being signed.  Albert Pujols signed with the Angels, Mark Buehrle went to the Marlins, and the Red Sox strengthened their bullpen by adding Mark Melancon to their pitching staff.  But there's one player out there who remains a free agent, one veteran who still has a few years of ball left in him.  No, I'm not referring to Prince Fielder (though I still don't know where he's going to end up).  It should come as no surprise to those of you who read this blog on a regular basis that I am referring to future Hall-of-Famer Iván "Pudge" Rodriguez.

"There she goes again!" you're thinking to yourself.  "Does she have to mention this old guy in every one of her posts?"  Well, I'm sorry, but it's my blog, so I can mention him every time if I want to!  :-)  Seriously; Iván is currently playing winter ball in Puerto Rico, but after that season is done, he may not have a job.  The Nationals are not going to re-sign him, because they currently have four catchers vying for spots on the opening day roster.  That has been a stark reality that I've had to accept; I need to cherish the memories of the many times I watched Iván play live at Nationals Park and the time he signed my Puerto Rican flag.  I need to put away my Nationals #7 Rodriguez jersey and print out all those pictures I've taken before my old computer decides to die and I lose those pictures forever.  I need to move on and find another player for whom to root. 

But really, doesn't anyone out there need a veteran catcher who still has a cannon for an arm and can work pitchers better than anyone?  He's caught no-hitters, won an MVP and a World Series title, and is so close to reaching the 3000-hit milestone that it would be a crime if he wasn't given the opportunity to do so.  How about a player/coach?  Isn't there a team out there who could use a part-time catcher who can also serve as a very good bench coach?  And while I'm asking, can that team be a National League one so I can go see him play when they come to DC?  Don't sign with an AL team; I don't want to go back to Baltimore!  There were rumors that the Marlins were interested in signing "Pudge," but those rumors have recently subsided.  Iván has a home in Miami, he's a favorite of new manager Ozzie Guillen, and he would be a big draw for Marlins fans, who still remember him from his stint with their team back in 2003 when he helped the Marlins win the World Series.  Come on; won't someone sign this highly valuable free agent?  Anyone?  Please???

So if Iván is forced to retire (gulp!), who can be my next baseball player to stalk - I mean, follow?  When I first became interested in baseball back in the 80s, I was a big Ron Darling fan.  I admit, not because he was an OK pitcher, but because he was good-looking.  Then I followed Jim Abbott, the one-handed pitcher for the Angels.  After Abbott fizzled, I became an ardent Kirby Puckett fan.  His death at such a young age was very tragic for me, and I sought comfort in #7, the handsome and clean-cut catcher from Puerto Rico who could do no wrong.  But now no one really stands out for me.  I can't possibly follow Derek Jeter - that's way too "bandwagon."  And Pujols is just - I don't know - he doesn't do it for me.  Then there's Ryan Braun, but now that he may be suspended for the first 50 games of the season because of allegedly failing a drug test, he's off my list.  I'm thinking of Ryan Zimmerman or Michael Morse, both of the Nationals and both really really good players.  Zimmerman is too serious though; Morse is a jokester and has a carefree way about him.  Hmmm... something to think about.

So while I ponder the thought of who my next baseball hottie will be, I will continue to count the days until the first game of Spring Training.  80 days and counting, my friends, and I can't wait!  In the meantime, may you all have a wonderful holiday season this year, and may 2012 fill you and your families with good health and much happiness!