What Makes Baseball Great

So the best team in baseball in 2018 won the World Series in dominating fashion. Four games to one. World Champs. With 4 championships in 15 years you could call it a legit dynasty. They've had bumps in the road but they right to truck and away they go.

So is that what makes baseball great? If your a Boston fan, that may be enough. But for SoulSlam, it's journeyman Steve Pearce winning the WS MVP!

Steve Pearce is one of those guys. Not a star by any stretch. He's basically a platoon player. Never gets a ton of ABs since he only plays vs. lefties for the most part. But he got his chance. Remember the Sunday night game when he hit 3 HRs vs. the Yankees. That alone puts him in the Boston Red Sox "never have to pay for a drink in Beantown" category. But he had a tremendous playoff series. Both side of the ball. As one announcer said "nobody streteches farther than Pearce for a ball at 1B!". And they're right.

He's an FA now, so who knows where he lands. But he got his WS championship, the Willie Mays MVP trophy and a brand new Chevy truck last night! So a big salute to Steve Pearce!

Where You Been? (The Sequester Post)

Wow, I missed some baseball predictions. For the record I was thinking Brewers in seven so I missed that one. I wasn't to sure on Sox-Astros, figured Astros might be able to bust through the Boston 'pen but Price and Porcello came up huge and the Red Sox advanced.

As for WS...two games in and I think Red Sox might be way to good for anybody. I do think Dodgers will take 2 in LA. But I don't think they have the horses to compete with the Sox. And if Dave Roberts is gonna play the Lefty Righty strategy then he has to do it 100%. Can't leave Mr. Freese in there when Sale comes out of game...should've went right to Muncy or Bellinger.

In other doings, SoulSlam is aka "Juror #1" lately. That's right, I am on jury duty. A civil trial. Apparently the trial of the century if you were in the courtroom. But I can't discuss right now...

The Gods Have Spoken

The NY Yankees lose in terrific fashion at home in Division Series!!!! Happy Day!!!

Anyway, now we head to the ALCS and NLCS:

NLCS - gonna go 7 and I'm going to say Brewers, but I could go either way.

ALCS - also gonna go 7 but I really think the Astros will win...because of bullpen. Red Sox pen is average at best.

If you're keeping count I was 4-0 on Division Series predictions (well, the winners anyway).

DIVISION TITLES UP FOR GRABS!

Ok, SoulSlam was 1 for 2 on them Wild Card picks. Maybe the A's pitchers won't leave the ball on the tee next time. Bob Melvin screwed the pooch there.

So we got ALDS/NLDS up! Here's the skinny on my undoubtedly perfect picks:

National League:

Brewers over the Rockies in 5. Brew Crew is muy malo! But so are Rockies.

Dodgers over Braves in 4. Experience will win out here, Braves just a little too young.

American League:

Red Sox over Yankees in 5. Because it'll always be seven with these two teams.

Astros over Indians in 4. Bet that one.

Wild Card Predictions

Tuesday October 2nd on ESPN
ROCKIES OVER CUBS! YOU READ IT HERE FIRST!

Wednesday October 3rd on TBS
ATHLETICS BEAT YANKEES AT YANKEE STADIUM!
I'M SAYING ADDITIONAL PRAYERS ON THIS ONE.

Thank You, David

So with what SoulSlam is sure will be a tearful goodbye, David Wright will start his last MLB game tomorrow night at CitiField in front of a capacity crowd. YSSS and I will be in attendance. We had planned on going anyway, but the announcement earlier this month just made it more expensive than we had planned. But SoulSlam knows YSSS wants to be there. As an FYI, we were at the last game he played before his injury sidelined him in 2016.

What does David Wright mean to the fans? I'd argue he's either the #1 or #2 position player in people's hearts (Mike Piazza the other); he was our "star"; he has a rep for being the most genuine and generous guy off the field. Spinal Stenosis was the diagnosis a few years ago, and it robbed him of his playing time and what could've been. He is a Mets Hall of Famer no doubt and I'm sure they will retire #5 as they should sometime in the future.

I remember back in 2013 or so when my sons and I went to a late September day game vs. SF Giants and David took the time to autograph both boys caps...they were elated. For me he was a player that I could root for when the going got a little rough with the team. I'm sure I will mist up like all the other tough guys Saturday night.

Fantasy Football 2018

SoulSlam's team D Minus is 0-2.

Scored 135 pts in week 1. Lost.

Scored 172 pts in week 2. Lost.

So it's been that kind of start. On the positives, I rank high in power rankings and I'm the #1 owner in the league.

Here's my team:

QB - C. Newton, A. Luck

RB - M. Gordon, S. Barkley, J. White, J. Ajayi

WR - E. Sanders, B. Crooks, N. Agholor, C. Davis, S. Watkins

TE - OJ. Howard, J. Doyle

K - A. Vinatieri

DST - Bears, Steelers

PPR League with a flex (any position but QB). Need a W this week. Playing GTL. The team to beat.