Baseball Playoffs

Its baseball playoff season and I'm pulling for the Braves and the Reds. I can lay claim to both because I saw Atlanta play last year and Cincinnati a couple of weeks ago. If they happen to meet each other in the playoffs, then I'll go with the Reds. In the 70's they were known as The Big Red Machine and had a bunch of hall of famers on the rosters (oops, all except Pete.) The current version is not quite as good - maybe the Pretty Good Sized Red Machine is a better name now.

The Braves are coming back from last year's epic collapse in which they seemed a lock for the playoffs when I saw them. Then they played awful down the stretch and were eliminated on the last day of the season. Speaking of collapsing, what about those Pirates? They've had losing seasons for about 20 years in a row. Last year they were winning, but choked at the end and had another losing season. This year they were way above .500 and looked like they would win their division. They choked again, only worse this time. They've lost like 80% of their games in the last month. Haw haw. They're finally getting what they deserve for eliminating the Reds from the divisional playoffs in 1971. (It takes me a while to get over disappointments.)

Speaking of baseball, I think I will write my first annual rant about Pete Rose not being in the Baseball Hall of Fame. About World Series time would be good timing. By then my little Braves and Reds will probably be eliminated and I'll be in a foul mood anyway.
Pete and I go way back. I remember watching him while he was a good player, but hadn't won any batting titles yet. I saw him once in person when he played for Philadelphia. I saw him in an all-star game. I got his autograph once when he was in Oregon. I saw him a couple times in Las Vegas signing baseballs for fans for an exorbitant price. (Gambling addictions don't come cheap.) A couple of weeks ago I parked my car on Pete Rose Way. Believe it or not, that was a big thrill for me. Anyway, lets go Pete and lets go Reds (and Braves).