Sure enough, on Friday night, the Red Sox finished off the Houston Astros in 5 games, and I developed a monstrous headache. I hadn't had a headache that bad, or that long-lasting, since the night Donald Trump took the presidency. That's right, both the Red Sox and Trump literally make me sick.
But now, the Milwaukee Brewers have forced a Game 7 against the Dodgers, and they have the home field advantage. I could live with it if the Brewers won the Pennant, something they haven't done since 1982.
It would be weird, for me, as a Yankee Fan, as a fan of a team in the American League Eastern Division, to see the Red Sox and the Brewers in the World Series against each other, since they both used to be AL East teams. And, of course, the Red Sox still are, and Champions of that Division in each of the last 3 seasons.
But last night, there was another shocking development. This one, I enjoyed. The football team at my alma mater, East Brunswick High School, did something they hadn't done since last season. They won.
Not only did they win, they poured on the points. They beat Monroe 53-21. Begging the question, how bad is Monroe?
In 2009, the last State Championship season for EB -- coincidentally, also the last World Championship season for the Yankees -- Monroe only lost one game all season, on the way to winning the Central Jersey Group III title, and it was away to East Brunswick, who won the Central Jersey Group IV title. This year, however, Monroe lost away to East Brunswick, and it may be the only game EB wins all season.
But at least we won't go 0-10. We will likely go 1-9, or maybe 2-8 if we get a favorable matchup in the consolation game. But at least we've got a win this season.
It is funny the way the Autumn winds shift. We have already had a couple of cold days, after complaining about how many miserably hot days there were during the Summer. I have already made the switch from Summer shirts to Winter shirts in my closet, and I'm enjoying being able to walk around in long-sleeve shirts without sweating to death.
I'm reminded of the poem that Steve Sabol of NFL Films wrote for the Oakland Raiders in 1974:
The Autumn Wind is a Raider,
pillaging just for fun.
He'll knock you 'round
and upside down,
and laugh when he's conquered and won.
What that has to do with the current baseball situation, I don't know. It may be nothing. But the winds are shifting.
For example, we have seen Manny Machado act like someone the Yankees shouldn't want to get. And then there's Bryce Harper. Sure, he has the talent, but would he be a good fit for the Yankees? Surely, there is a guy out there who is both a lefthanded batter with power, and a good psychological fit for the Yankees. And not as expensive.
Essentially, Brian Cashman threw away 2016, 2017 and 2018, so the Yankees could get under the luxury tax threshold, with the intention that, in 2019, with some big contracts coming off the books, he could spend big, and actually go for it.
This was stupid. The Yankees have the money. You go for it every year. You go over the luxury tax threshold? You will make that money back in postseason revenue. Especially if you win the World Series. That's something Cashman doesn't seem to understand.
But if, as Cashman's online apologists claim, winning it all in 2019 was really the goal, then what happens if the Yankees don't? We will have thrown away several seasons, not just 3, for his vision.
Joe Torre in 2007, and Joe Girardi in 2017, ultimately lost their jobs because they were no longer conforming to Cashman's vision. What happens if and when Cashman proves a complete failure at conforming to Yankee Fans' vision? When does he get held accountable?
When does the Autumn Wind raid him?
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The Autumn Wind sure raided Rutgers today. They blew a 4th quarter lead, on Homecoming no less, and lost 18-15 to Northwestern. They are now 1-7, 0-7 against BCS teams.
The the Devils were tied with the Philadelphia Flyers with 3 minutes left in regulation, and blew it, losing 4-2 (empty-netter at the end).
UPDATE: The loss to Northwestern was no shame, as they went on to win the Big Ten Conference Western Division title. Rutgers finished 1-11, East Brunswick 2-9, Monroe 1-8.
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Days until the New York Red Bulls play again: 1, tomorrow afternoon at 3:00, a "derby" away to the Philadelphia Union. Metro remain in the hunt for the MLS regular-season title, the Supporters' Shield. It would be their 3rd time with the honor in the last 6 seasons. But they're still looking for that elusive 1st MLS Cup.
Days until the Red Bulls next play a "derby": See the previous answer. The regular season ends the following Sunday, home to Orlando City. Then comes the MLS Cup Playoffs. New York City FC and Philly have qualified, and it looks like D.C. United also will, but the New England Revolution have been eliminated.
Days until Arsenal play again: 2, this coming Monday, at 3:00 PM New York time, home to Leicester City. Right now, The Arsenal are sitting on a 9-game winning streak in all competitions.
Days until East Brunswick High School plays football again: 6, this coming Friday night, away to neighboring (but not really rival) North Brunswick.
Days until the New Jersey Devils next play a local rival (after today): 14, on Saturday, November 3, against the New York Islanders, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The next game against the Philadelphia Flyers will be on Thursday night, November 15, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The 1st game against the New York Rangers, a.k.a. The Scum, will be on Thursday night, January 31, 2019, at the Prudential Center.
Days until the next Congressional election, when we can elect a Democratic Congress that can impeach and remove Donald Trump from the Presidency: 17, on Tuesday, November 6. A little over 2 weeks. Get out and vote!
Days until the U.S. national soccer team plays again: 26, on Thursday, November 15, at 3:00 PM New York time, a friendly against England at Wembley Stadium in London. They just blew a late 1-0 lead in friendly with Peru in Tampa, coming away with a 1-1 draw.
Days until the next Rutgers-Penn State game: 28, on Saturday, November 17, at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. Exactly 4 weeks.
Days until the next East Brunswick-Old Bridge Thanksgiving high school football game: 33, on Thursday, November 22. A little over a month.
Days until the next North London Derby: 43, on Sunday, December 2, at the Emirates Stadium. Just over 6 weeks.
Days until a Democratic Congress can convene, and the impeachment process can begin: 75, on Thursday, January 3, 2019. Under 11 weeks.
Days until the Baseball Hall of Fame vote is announced, electing Mariano Rivera: 95, on January 23, 2019. A little over 3 months.
Days until the Yankees' 2019 Opening Day: 159, on Thursday, March 28, home to the Baltimore Orioles. A little over 5 months.
Days until the next Yankees-Red Sox series begins: 178, on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at Yankee Stadium II. Under 6 months.
Days until the next Women's World Cup kicks off: 230, on June 7, 2019, in France. Under 8 months. The U.S. team, as 3-time and defending Champions, has, as usual, a better chance than the men's team would have had in 2018 anyway.
Days until the Yankees and Red Sox play each other in London: 252, on June 29, 2019. A little over 8 months.
Days until my 50th Birthday, at which point I can join AARP and get discounts for travel and game tickets: 424, on December 18, 2019. A little over a year, or a little under 14 months.
Days until the Baseball Hall of Fame vote is announced, electing Derek Jeter: 459, on January 22, 2020. A little over a year, or a little over 15 months.
Days until the next Summer Olympics begins in Tokyo, Japan: 643, on July 24, 2020. Under 2 years, or a little over 21 months.
Days until the next Presidential election, when we can dump the Trump-Pence regime and elect a real Administration: 745, on November 3, 2020. A little over 2 years, or a little over 24 months.
Days until Liberation Day: 823, at noon on January 20, 2021. A little over 2 years, or a little over 27 months. Note that this is liberation from the Republican Party, not just from Donald Trump. Having Mike Pence as President wouldn't be better, just differently bad, mixing theocracy with plutocracy, rather than mixing kleptocracy with plutocracy.
Days until the next Winter Olympics begins in Beijing, China: 1,203, on February 4, 2022. A little over 3 years, or a little over 39 months.
Days until the next World Cup for which the American team will be eligible is scheduled to kick off: 1,493, on November 21, 2022, in Qatar. A little over 4 years, or a little over 49 months. The charges of corruption against Qatar may yet mean that they will lose the tournament, in which case it will be moved to a nation where it would not be too hot to play it in June and July.
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