Boy, I sure am glad Rex Ryan made all those phone calls last week. The first-year Jets head coach's deliberate summoning of overly boisterous crowd support via season ticket holders' answering machines seemed to pay off Sunday when the Gang Green accomplished something they hadn't done since the start of the new millennium: beat the New England Patriots at the Meadowlands.
In just his second game as head coach, Ryan and his defense flustered the normally robust Patriot offense, and totally nullified my glorification of Tom Brady, who looked about as lost as my mother in an Identify-this-Celebrity game show, last week winning 16-9. New York is now alone atop the AFC East at 2-0 with rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez already showing signs of a seasoned veteran, and a cohesive defensive unit whose members not only appear to know every single one of their individual assignments, but also whose members have yet to concede a touchdown.
But I'm not here to celebrate nor flaunt the best team in the AFC, because it's almost October, and that can mean only one thing (besides Chad Ochocinco tweeting about his Halloween costume): it's the MLB postseason.
According to my good friend Wikipedia, the division series won't begin until October 7 and will end no later than October 14. This is of course only if one or two of the four series reach a decisive Game 5, which I do not foresee happening. No, the six items below would ideally come to fruition either before or on Monday, the 12th of October—Columbus Day. So without further ado, I raise a toast to the West Indies, a flat world, and indubitably, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, and reveal my wish list for the next 16 days.
And the Twins
Coming into Wednesday, the gritty Twinkies had won eight of their last nine and were within just 2.5 games of the AL Central-leading Tigers. Joe Mauer is having perhaps the most prolific season for a catcher in history hitting a staggering .372, half of the team's roster comprises players nobody has heard of, and having this plucky bunch in the playoffs is always a treat...and no, it's not just because the Yankees cakewalk past them every time. 2009 will mark the final season for the club in the cozy confines of the Metrodome, heralded by all for its trademarked trash-bag-like outfield fences and its general football-stadium feel. But what the enormous bubble devoid of all flashy amenities makes up for in its lack of spunk is found in the building's remarkable history that includes two World Series, Super Bowl XXVI, and an unprecedented number of miraculous home run robberies by Torii Hunter. The 2009 postseason will be the last chance we have of watching a live game from the Metrodome before the Twins move to Target Field at the beginning of next season, and I for one would be truly torn if the Hefty Bag is denied a final hurrah. Minnesota also continues to own one of the lowest payrolls in the game today, and them clinching a playoff spot is always good for baseball. Even with a fortnight to play, the 2.5 games that separate these tricky customers from Detroit is by no means insurmountable, and I'll be rooting for them to edge out Jim Leyland's floundering squad because of what they add to the culture of baseball...but mostly because I'd prefer if the Yankees didn't play the Tigers.
Another Rocktober
Who would have thought back on May 29 when the Colorado Rockies were 18-28—the Washington Nationals possessing the only record worse than that at the time—that replacing Clint Hurdle with Jim Tracy as manager would have produced such an astounding turnaround? The Rockies, now 86-65, are sitting pretty atop the Wild Card standings, a comfortable five games over Atlanta and San Francisco, and barring a huge collapse, Colorado looks headed to its second postseason in three years, the last of which saw them streak all the way to the World Series. There is no telling what Tracy's '09 Rockies are capable of, especially with arguably the league's most dangerous pinch-hitter in Jason Giambi. And even though they would be slated to play the formidable Cardinals in the first round, one thing is for certain: it's always better when it's Rocktober, even if it's short-lived this time around.
Fallen Angels
Last April, I published my annual baseball forecast for the upcoming season, and here are a few of the (expectedly regrettable) highlights: Red Sox will miss the playoffs, Royals and Mets will make the playoffs, and A.J. Burnett will win the Cy Young. One of the few viable predications left on that list, however, is the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim winning the World Series. Trust me, I would love nothing more than to watch in awe as one of my sports predictions actually came true, but if the Halos do win it all, it will be at the expense of either the Yankees or the Red Sox, and possibly even both. Regardless, professional sports' biggest rivalry's renewal would be thwarted should Mike Scioscia's crew steam their way to the Fall Classic, and that is definitely not something I might be interested in.
Giants become giants
The way it stands now, the San Francisco Giants sit five games behind the Rockies for the wild card, and a daunting ten games behind the Dodgers. Since I have already made it known that Colorado needs a ticket in, the Giants best hope would be for the Dodgers to suddenly freefall past the Rockies (who would overtake the NL West), which would effectively eliminate any chance of their being an awkward World Series between Joe Torre and the Yankees, and for San Fran to win out and secure the wild card. It's a pretty farfetched dream, but with Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Pablo Sandoval, I have no reason to give up until season's end.
A Yankees-Red Sox ALCS
By the time Columbus Day rolls around, the only thing that I hope to be looking forward to besides Mark Sanchez' first trip to Miami that night, is the best thing we have going in sports: it's Yankees Red Sox, it's the playoffs; I really shouldn't have to say anything more.
Dane Cook never appearing in another baseball-related commercial gain
That would truly be the greatest gift of all.