The MLB team of my youth (that would be the New York Yankees) certainly has looked like the MLB team of my youth the past two nights, with a pair of wins over the Guardians of Cleveland. The Guardians, nee Indians, ruined a few seasons I experienced as a youth, and this is some nice payback.
Yes, I’m holding grudges from decades ago. This is how you do it in sports fandom.
Feels good, no?
Sometimes you read a book and think damn, I wish I’d written this first. That’s what I think with every line I read from my “new” book, Dan Schlossberg’s Baseball Bits. I say new because it was written in 2008, but most of the bits are from like the 1930s so it still plays. Basically just imagine a giant list of interesting things about baseball. And yeah, that’s it. It’s perfect.
The only trouble is, it takes me about 20 minutes to read each page, as I have to look up every little fact and take a deeper dive into the stats and circumstances. Invariably it leads down a weird rabbit hole (is there any other kind?) and I find myself investigating airspeed velocities of unladen swallows or some such thing.
So yeah, it’s just about perfect.
But damn I wish I thought to write it first.
The MLB team of my youth–that would be the New York Yankees–has made the ALCS for the second time in the past three seasons. This time I’m looking for a little something different from the sweep of 2022.
But you won’t hear any of that today on Math and Musings.
Yeah, we recorded this one way ahead of time, thinking we didn’t want to run the risk of jinxing the Bronx Bombers.
So enjoy some Halloween trivia and we’ll talk baseball next week.
At times I play the role of baseball purist, insisting that novelties such as “wild cards” and “divisional playoffs” and “designated hitters” are mere dumbshows and noise.
Then there are days like today, where the MLB playoff slate rivals March Madness, and I cannot help thinking, yeah, this is pretty damn great.
And tell that old codger to stay off my lawn.
I’m going to keep talking about it every week until either it isn’t true any more, or my hometown NFL team (that would be the Washington Commanders) has walked away with a Super Bowl victory.
The Commanders, with a record of 4-1, have a commanding lead atop the NFC East. They’ve won four games in a row, a wildly surprising feat because after all…
last year they won a total of four games.
Have you ever wondered about the most popular Halloween candy in the state of Utah?
Today on Math and Musings Franklin and I try to outdo each other with some weird but true Halloween facts.
I’d listen, because you never know when these things are going to come in handy.
In many ways October is my favorite month of the year. In sports alone you’ve got baseball playoffs, football in full swing, and hockey and basketball getting underway.
There are various holidays and other days off, then the big one at the end: Halloween. Cue the outrageous candy purchases.
This year I have three extra reasons to be excited. One, my local NFL team (that would be the Washington Commanders) sit alone atop the NFC East. Two, the MLB team of my youth (that would be the New York Yankees) is in its best position in years to reach the World Series.
Three?
Pineapple frosty. Duh.
My hometown NFL team (that would be the Washington Commanders) were absolutely commanding yesterday and are now in sole possession of first place in the NFC East.
In baseball, the National League has an interesting two-games-in-one-day “playoff” this afternoon before the actual playoffs begin later this week. Delicious.
But the real story today is from Dublin, Ohio, home of The Wendy’s Company, makers of the iconic Frosty dessert.
According to wild Internet rumors, Wendy’s soon may have another in its arsenal of chilled perfection.
Pineapple, anyone?
Like anything on the Internet, these things aren’t always a guarantee, but I’m already the guy checking the Wendy’s app every day to see whether Pineapple Frosty has been added to the menu.
Supposedly a collaboration with the folks at SpongeBob SquarePants (now 25 years old), it sounds more like a Dole Whip knockoff, but hey, Wendy’s is seven for seven on Frosties so far and I’m willing to bet eight will be great.
I’ve already got my heart set on it.
Several years ago my son introduced to me to the concept of “shower thoughts.”
Well, not really introduced me to, but rather gave a name to a concept I’d pondered for decades.
Sometimes it’s an oxy moron or borderline oxy moron. Sometimes it’s a bit of wordplay or wordplay you wish were true.
Sometimes it’s just a brilliant insight, perhaps occurring to you while in the shower.
Today on Math and Musings my son and I discuss a few of these idle notions, complete with overanalysis as we often do.
Enjoying while showering is optional.
No more mikeoconnelljr.com curse, no more primetime curse, no more curses cast by those deeming their name offensive… my hometown NFL team (that would be the Washington Commanders) have won two straight and are tied atop the NFL East.
Pardon my jumping the gun on this excitement, but D.C. sports fans haven’t had much to cheer about recently and I’m willing to hang onto anything I can.
And enjoy it while it lasts.