World Series 2016 Game 5: Indians @ Cubs

Sigh. I have to admit it hurts.

In 1969 I was the beneficiary of probably the greatest choke in Baseball history when my Metropolitans soared from a 9 1/2 game deficit on August 19th to an 8 game Division lead. To be fair we went 23 – 7 while the Cubs tanked 7 – 18 (the Cardinals were a game ahead of us and we beat them too). The reason they call it a “miracle” is that we were a new team (7 years) and were already famously hapless (“Can anyone here play this game?”).

However, as a Metropolitans fan you learn early that most years your team are lovable losers (unless they’re the Cardinals) and so you savor the summers they don’t actively suck. Frankly it’s gotten so I no longer slavishly sit season after season, rooting on each pitch. I wait until the day after and if it’s a win I’ll watch Fast Forward where they skip the Innings nothing happens (it’s not like you miss any of the ‘witty’ banter from the announcers unfortunately).

It is reliably reported that the most common exchange between true Cubs stalwarts is “You know, they’ll break your heart,” and it’s offered with a good deal more sympathy and sincerity than you ever heard from Red Sox fans who are consumed with so much Yankee hatred they’re hard to be around (Yankees fans hate the Metropolitans with the same fervor and treat the Sox with silent disdain).

It would have been nice to see them end a 108 year drought and now that they’re safely in the Central Division I personally don’t hate them any more than I do most average Senior League teams. It was with regret I put away my Metropolitans Cap this season, but also with understanding that it was a wacky fluke of luck that they even made the Playoffs given the number of injuries to key players.

Wait until next year.

There is a tad more emotion involved in parting with the Cubs who by every measure except World Series performance are the best team in Baseball this year. Wait until next year rings kind of hollow because this is a club built for today, not an institutional juggernaught.

Oh well. I’ve waited for the Cubs almost my entire life (they did win in 1908 when I was in my teens) and this is merely incentive to live a little longer. It would be nice if they’d extend the season a bit but I don’t expect it.