All you budding meteorologists and dayologists might try and say Winter doesn't officially start until December, but as far as I'm concerned, it's all darkness, starting today, until Spring Training.
Last night, as the Phillies piled on one another in what looked like an elementary school pileup of "Smear the (insulting adjective goes here)", only with 200 pound bodies, I turned off the TiVo and started to make preparations for what will be a long hibernation period, as we baseball fans will go starving, snacking only on minor sports and petty contests like the Super Bowl and March Madness until the crack of the bat and thud of the catcher's mitt snap us back awake.
For the next few months, we are really in the worst part of the calendar year. You know, I was doubtful that this so-called financial crisis could really slip from recession to depression, until I realized there would be no baseball and got depressed myself.
After the very visible publication and aftermath of Moneyball, some of us have said that the games themselves aren't actually Billy Beane's and the A's favorite time of year, and they may enjoy the baseball draft and the Hot Stove League more. But as a fan, I'd rather sit in the rain to watch a sloppy blowout against the Mariners than be reloading the transaction wire on the Web. I'm a fan to see the games, to sweat out every strike and bloop hit, to debate the merits of speed, fielding and if there is such a thing as too many strikeouts.
Even if I hadn't been rooting for the Rays in this year's World Series, which I was, I didn't want baseball to end last night, because every year, when the lights finally go out on the last game of the season, I know the future is bleak, full of cold, darkness, and silence.
How many more days until pitchers and catchers report?
0 recs | 25 comments
How many more days until pitchers and catchers report?
What? Don’t you know? :)
FormerHuntsvilleStar - October 30, 2008
Seems appropriate that it rained today.
A dreary start to a dreary winter.
whiteshoes40 - October 30, 2008
Before March Madness...
http://www.springtrainingonline.com/features/master_schedule_cactus.htm
nevermoor - October 30, 2008
The A's just released their schedule today
Tickets on sale Nov. 17
A’s Spring Training 2009
Soaker - October 30, 2008
SPRING TRAINING!!!!!!!!!!
pam5981 - October 30, 2008
You had me at
This may be inappropriate, louismg, but I think I might love you. Seriously though, wondrous use of the pen, my friend.
Now, as much as I will surely miss baseball (my first and truest love), I say this with significant trepidation that there is someone else to get me through these dark months. Of course, as has been the case for many years now, the Raiders manage to make me miss my A’s that much more.
Sigh.
67MARQUEZ - October 30, 2008
+1...
just replace Raiders with “Whiners”…I mean “Niners” and you stole the words right out of my mouth, my friend.
DyeLongJustice - October 30, 2008
Thank you, 67MARQUEZ
I thought some might agree with my lament.
louismg - October 31, 2008
Rain. Bleakness. Sadness.
I’m not sure Bleakness is a word, but I don’t care. I miss baseball. and 67marquez has it right on. “Seriously though, wondrous use of the pen, my friend.” (my reply boxy thingy doesn’t work…)
I’m glad AN “knows no offseason,” otherwise this offseason truly would be terrible.
{sobs}
#14fan - October 30, 2008
The Premier League is in full swing and we're at the mid point
of the NFL season. Why the need to get depressed?
You do follow other sports than baseball, right? ;-)
OldhamA - October 30, 2008
no.
#14fan - October 30, 2008
Not to mention, college basketball is about to start up
I’m excited to see what Mike Montgomery makes of Cal… and Stanford should be interesting, in an “explosion in a septic tank” sort of way, at least…
PaulThomas - October 30, 2008
Let's go UCLA!!!!!
DyeLongJustice - October 30, 2008
I can't wait to see Jrue Holiday!
FUCK SC!
miggyk2 - October 30, 2008
couldn't have said it better myself
DyeLongJustice - October 30, 2008
Pretty funny that you mention the first day of winter,
here in Sacramento, it truly is the first day of winter, as we have received our first storm of the year and is currently raining. As far as the rest of the year, I’m sorry that you can only get into this one sport, as for me I will be enjoying the many others until the Green and Gold take the field next year.
mattman - October 30, 2008
I hear you man.
Walking home from school after a mid-term was not the highlight of my week. I might have to buy a parking pass after all.
miggyk2 - October 30, 2008
Unitrans!!!
DyeLongJustice - October 30, 2008
I'll say it again
The excitment and build up of the offseason is enough to entertain me until ST arrives. To me that’s the hardest part of the year, having to be teased with games that are meaningless without any promise of major transactions possibly taking place.
Helloooo 1st - October 30, 2008
a bit like these last two years
after the trade deadline?
alea iacta est - October 30, 2008
This time every year....
…I am reminded and google Bart Giamatti’s The Green Fields of the Mind.
The first paragraph always seems…appropriate.
gallopingael - October 31, 2008
Or Rodgers Hornsby's quote.
“What do I do in the off season? I stare out the window and wait for spring.”
alox - October 31, 2008
It's not over yet
The Arizona Fall League is still going.
Monday Fan - October 31, 2008
And no thread?
67MARQUEZ - October 31, 2008
Maybe...
Some ANtics would dispel some of the gloom around here. Hint Hint…
IM4Oakgal - November 1, 2008
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