|
“ALRIGHT MIKEY, LET’S GO TO THE OTHER WILD CARD MATCHUP — THE CHICAGO CUBS, 93 WINS, GOING UP AGAINST THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES, 90 WINS. WHO YA GOT, MIKE?”
Mike (measured, deliberate):
“Dog, I’m taking the Cubs. They’ve been more consistent. Ninety-three wins in that division is no small feat, and they’ve shown they can beat good pitching and win in tough parks. The Phillies — they’re a nice story, Brown’s been tremendous, the lineup can score — but the Cubs just feel more complete to me. Rotation, bullpen, depth — that’s October baseball.”
Mad Dog (eyes wide, animated):
“MIKE! YOU’RE CRAZY! YOU’RE CRAZY! THE PHILLIES ARE BUILT FOR THE POSTSEASON! THEY GOT THE BIG BATS, THEY GOT THE CROWD AT CITIZENS BANK — YOU PUT BROWN, YOU PUT TORRAS, YOU PUT THOSE GUYS IN A SHORT SERIES, THEY CAN MASH THEIR WAY RIGHT INTO THE NEXT ROUND!”
Mike (calm rebuttal):
“Dog, sure, they’ve got the bats, but do they have the pitching to hold up? You get into the later innings, tight games, and suddenly those bats don’t look quite as scary if they’re down 4–1 in the seventh.”
Mad Dog (laughing, pounding the table):
“MIKE, STOP WITH THE ‘LATE INNINGS’ NONSENSE! IT’S THE POSTSEASON! EVERYBODY’S GOT BULLPEN ISSUES! YOU DON’T THINK THE CUBS ARE GONNA COUGH ONE UP? OF COURSE THEY ARE! THE DIFFERENCE IS THE PHILLIES GOT THE SLUGGERS TO TURN ONE SWING INTO A THREE-RUN HOMER! THE CUBS, THEY’RE SCRATCHIN’ AND CLAWIN’ FOR RUNS, MIKE! THE PHILLIES, THEY CAN CHANGE THE GAME IN A SECOND!”
Mike (smiling, calm as ever):
“Dog, I hear you, but I’m sticking with Chicago. They’re steadier, and over the course of a short series, I trust their arms more than I trust Philly’s.”
Mad Dog (shaking his head, raising his voice):
“MIKE, YOU LOVE THE STEADY TEAMS! YOU ALWAYS LOVE THE STEADY TEAMS! But sometimes in October, steady doesn’t win — FLASH wins! And the Phillies got the flash!”
|