2063.07 - Will's Aunt Before the Last Regular Season Sim

[R.Umali]

Will's aunt, Decorah, bought two tickets to the last game of the season. For a solid moment, she had an idea to get tickets to tomorrow's game. The Black Sox were facing the Louisville Sluggers in a 4-game set to end the season. It was going to be a good one: unlike the last 13 or so years, the Sox had something to play for: a Wild Card berth.

The Sox really started to falter in September. They were 8-11 this month, after posting an incredible 19-10 in August with strong showings against Yellow Springs, Twin Cities, and Nashville. What sucked is that they only went 2-2 against Louisville, the team they're playing in this last Sim. On the season, they have a losing record against the Sluggers. Some teams you just don't match up well against.

She tried to game the outcomes. Yes, if Chicago wins out they are in. Twin Cities faces Yellow Springs, and they have gone 8-2 against them this season. Des Moines faces the Madison, and they have gone 7-3 against the last place Wolves. It helps that Portland and Bikini, the other two teams with a chance at the Wild Card, play each other. There's a chance that neither team in the Pacific makes it.

The rotation lines up such that it'll be Robinson Pena, Adam Hines, Carlos Moya, and finally Stevie Bodine. As much as the starting pitching's been the strength of the team, having the rookie Pena start this series makes her nervous. And having Stevie Bodine start the last is also nerve-wracking, especially if it is a meaningful game. All 4 games in which Bodine has started against the Sluggers they've lost. She wonders if Forrest Rockburn will start. Surely Rocky Wattson wouldn't start 2 rookies in such a crucial series?

She sorely wants the Sox to pull through.

A part of her, though, wouldn't mind if they did not make it. A sick feeling, yes, but one born out of the consideration of her nephew, Will. Baseball is about losing and Will only just became a fan last year. Yes, they've been to losing games but he's never known Black Sox futility. He doesn't have the scars, hasn't endured the pain to be a real fan.

She scoffed at herself. "And so what?" And so what that he joined the bus while the team was already in its upswing with the signing of Adam Hines, the maturation of Carlos Moya, and the emergence of Dave Matthes and Timofei Gadomsky? That's how fans are born, right? Interesting players create interest. Interesting players who win create even more interest.

Decorah was born into Black Sox fandom. Born on the year of their 3rd championship. Back then, the Black Sox were in Huntsville, but her family still followed the team religiously.

She remembers her first playoff game in Chicago. That was 1942 and the Black Sox had returned just 2 year earlier. She was 19 years old and going to Roosevelt. Sweet times. Rocky Wattson had a great year: 40 HR. She doesn't think he ever hit that many in a year since, but boy did he have a career. 7-straight playoff appearances but he never brought him the big one.

She didn't think her nephew knew about any of that.

Did that make him any less of a fan? Losing is the default in baseball but is suffering a requirement for fandom?

She guesses the real test is when they stop winning. Will he shuck off his fandom then?

Losing will come eventually. Just let it not be this year. In her head, Decorah hopes this sentiment is more for her nephew than it is for her.