October 7, 2024
Nicky and Bryce
By James Finn Garner
With apologies to Robert Frost
Some say the game will end with Nicky,
Some say Bryce.
From what I’ve seen of players gritty
I hold with those who favor Nicky.
But if it had to happen twice,
Say, if the game was going late,
I know that for destruction Bryce
Is also great
And would suffice.
October 7, 2024
Why I Believe in Baseball Gods
by Ryan Diaz
Mets @ Brewers, Final Score: 4-2. METS WIN!
I’m only a pagan come October, when the
air cools and the leaves burn bright
and expectation fills the air like
incense spooling from marble altars,
and prayers like candles light the night.
And maybe Odin, after losing his bout
with Christ, figured an American pastime
. would have to do, and Zeus
for all his thunder, settled for blessing bats,
heeding the prayers of grown men
. who long after boyhood still wear
their baseball caps.
Maybe last night, one of them listened,
and in the bottom of the ninth worked
a little magic—and I, agnostic at best, atheist at worst
. summoned up the faith
to ask for a blast over the right field fence.
Ryan Diaz is a writer and poet from Queens, NY. He is the author of three poetry books — For Those Wandering Along the Way (Wipf & Stock), Skipping Stones (Wipf & Stock) and The Wounded Monk — a chapbook of short poetry, Like Falling Leaves, and a novel, Abuelo: A Memoir. He lives in Queens, NY, with his wife Janiece and his son Damian, and is a lifelong (self-loathing) New York Mets fan.
October 8, 2024
Dodgers – Padres Game One
by Fred Lovato
Media wondered
Could Shohei handle spotlight?
Bat flip quashed concerns
October 8, 2024
Dodgers – Padres Game Two
by Fred Lovato
Dodgers’ bats silenced
Stymied by “old man” on mound
Vintage Yu Darvish
October 9, 2024
Dodgers – Padres Game Three
by Fred Lovato
Out doing errands
missed big innings by both teams
bad timing — my thing
October 9, 2024
MLB All-Autumn-Cozy-Like-Martha-Stewart Team
1B Canadian Goose Tatum
2B Pumpsie Spice Green
SS Luke Caramel Appling
3B Alex Decorative Gourdon
LF Tail Gates Brown
CF Walt “Turtleneck” Williams
RF Félix Pumpkin Pié
C Moses Fleecewood Walker
LHP Cliff Leefpile, Matt S’Moore
RHP Boof Bonfire, Aaron Rakers
MGR Hot Cyder Young
October 10, 2024
Fire Cats
by James Finn Garner
Somebody let the Tigers get hot
No one told Houston the plot
AJ Hinch gave his old squad a swat
Somebody let the Tigers get hot
Now Cleveland’s about to get taught
The summer games might come to naught
Somebody let the Tigers get hot
Whatever team comes down the slot
They still lose when they’ve shot their shot
Somebody let the Tigers get hot
Are these rookies aware what they’ve got?
Any need for vets they forgot
Playing with Red Bull, courage and snot
Youthful spirit means quite a lot
Call them “Tigertown Tots”
And they’ll tie your tongue in a knot
What hath the Ilitches wrought?
Somebody let the Tigers get hot.
October 10, 2024
Dodgers – Padres Game Four
by Fred Lovato
Mookie Betts homers
bullpen pitchers dominate
Series tied at two
October 11, 2024
Another Fine Mets
by Michael X. Ferraro
You should not take a lead on these Mets–
it will just lead to major regrets.
They show great restraint,
hit ’em where they ain’t,
and give rival fans real bad Tourette’s.
October 11, 2024
When Stanton Steals
by Hart Seely
When dolphins fly,
When nuns wear heels,
When lakes go dry. . .
Then Stanton steals!
When box scores lie,
When kings cut deals,
When fans ask, “Why?”
Then Stanton steals!
When Royals cry,
“He has no wheels.”
It’s time to try. . .
And Stanton steals!