How is the 2024 Major League Baseball “post season” going for you so far? There are only four teams remaining now. Some of us can remember the awful old days when only two teams participated unless one of the two leagues ended the regular season with a tie for first place as the National league did in 1951, 1959, and 1962 and the American League did in 1948. Then, at most, ten games would be played to decide what is called the World Champion. So far, in 2024, 27 games have been played and we are just getting started. We think that it’s great.

Being exclusively a television viewing fan, which as we know is short for fanatic, we do get tired beyond exhaustion with the same old insurance, beer, car, truck and stomach churning fast food advertising but it’s the price we pay for living in a country where Rupert Murdoch and now the loathsome Larry Ellison control much of the airwaves. We do get some really good games and, when TBS is involved, some really good analysis from the likes of Pedro Martinez, Dusty Baker, Jimmy Rollins, and Curtis Granderson with Lauren Shehardi as an excellent host.

It’s great to know that Cleveland will be there to challenge the New York Yankees. Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers were a great late season story and proved that, though it seemed they were giving up at trade deadline time, they will be a force to reckon with in the future. Their addition of Trey Sweeney at shortstop looks like it will solve the hideous Javier Baez situation very well. A.J. Hinch has bounced back well from the over rated “scandal” of his Houston Astros tenure. I’ll be rooting for the Guardians in their matchup with the powerful Yankees. Aaron Judge is likely to wreak havoc with Cleveland’s overworked pitching staff but Stephen Vogt has them believing. Emmanuel Clase is the true “closer” that most teams wish they had. Jose Ramirez and Andres Gimenez give them veteran strength that all teams crave. Judge, Juan Soto, and Giancarlo Stanton strike real fear in opposition but the Yanks may be vulnerable on the mound after Gerrit Cole. We must not fail to mention the stalwart, inspirational story of the Kansas City Royals, the team that lost 106 games in 2023 and won lots of games and many hearts as they became very serious threats this season Few if any of us expected three teams from the A.L. Central to make the playoffs but there they all were, and deservedly so.

For the first time since 1969, I will be a diehard New York Mets follower this autumn. Like the San Diego Padres, they were a fabulous second half team. No one should count them out against the Los Angeles Dodgers in this League Championship Series. Francisco Lindor is on a sensational roll these days and the Mets have a strong balance of speed, defense, and pitching that is reminding me of a World Series team from last year–the Arizona Diamondbacks. If this is a “new” trend in baseball, we will all be happier. Full counts, walks, and solo home runs are large contributors to snoring nationally. I once loved the Dodgers, but their yard has turned into a noiseatorium and they just have too much money . I do like Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez but they are like the old Yankees, too arrogant and wealthy. Plus, their DH has poor judgement. San Diego might actually be the better team, but not for the last 25 innings. After the Braves fell out amid lots of bad injury luck, I thought the Phillies would end up N.L. champs. That’s why I think the Mets are for real.

In other news, what do you call it, irony? Pete Rose, deservedly banished, has passed away in the year that Fan Dual has become “a proud partner of MLB”. Line up, suckers! Also, all of those team color towels were a bit tacky.

It’s still the best game in the world, let’s enjoy!