At the Great Lakes World Series with Dave Bidini - Part 3
The last time two Great Lakes teams played each other in the World Series was in 1945. It's with great pleasure to have none other than long-time Waterkeeper friend and supporter, Dave Bidini write for us as this exciting Great Lakes series unfolds. Here is his third segment for this very special series.
And then, it was summer. It shouldn’t happen this way, but here we are: Game Six and 22 degrees celsius on the Lake Erie shoreline. Joe Madden will bury his toque and pitching sleeves will be rolled up and it will seem like June again; June in October; a sweet baseball gift despite the horrors of a melting world and a wildly spinning climate; all of that set against the terror of the American election and whatever else the world has in store for us. But first: Hendricks vs Tomlin, and one team that seems poised to win in spite of itself.
So far the legends have promised, but not delivered, the drama of two teams forever left staring into the well. Game 5 teetered until it didn’t – Aroldis Chapman steadied whatever uncertainty an 8-out relief appearance suggested – but if the baseball season hopes to be saved by the crest of the Series, it has two games, maybe one, left to thrill us out of our shoetops. We’ll need drama, we’ll need error, we’ll need clutch, but what we’ll probably get is the least inspired buzz of all: reliable bullpening. It’s great when it’s your team pitching, but to behold and another set of arms in another team’s colours is like watching someone else’s kid star in the school musical. You’re admiring, but deep down you hope they fail so that your night wasn’t worth nothing.
Time and length of the season and fatigue may have something to do with this – someone’s arm is bound to fall off; hopefully both starters’ at the same time – and maybe the warmth will finally weird the game: turning baseball on its side, which is when it’s viewed best; the impossible spilling out of the bottom. I fear one team – the Clevelands – romping at home (although, you know, congratulations, and good riddance, Chief Wahoo) and another – the Cubs – trying to distance themselves from a curse that sees a 103 win team scratching to score a run. But let’s keep a good thought: two games for the ages, two teams at peak crazy, and something to hold our imagination before winter comes and the lakes cool and we’re all out there skating across the frozen blue.