Baseball’s September Slump
September just hasn’t been the same this year. Typically, this is the time of year when baseball takes over all sports media as pennant races kick it up for the last stretch of the season. For everyone who was waiting for the glory of baseball to infix us all this September, keep waiting.
With the Brewers, Cubs and White Sox already gasping for breath to stay afloat in the playoff picture, it’s hard to turn on the games. The Cubs and Brewers are 9.5 and 15 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals, respectfully, so coming back to compete for the National League Central crown this season is only a dream. The Sox, only 6.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central, aren’t floundering nearly as much but their end-of-August trade of Jim Thome seemed to show fans that they were throwing in the towel on this season.
Baseball’s gleam isn’t as shiny and enticing overall this year because there is little uncertainty left in this season. The standings show it. As September rolls on, only one of the six division races, the NL West, is still remotely close, with 4 games separating the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers from second-place Colorado Rockies.
Other division leaders have run away from the competition, leaving little hope for them even with a month remaining. As of September 15, the Cardinals have a 9.5 game lead, the Philadelphia Phillies hold a 7 game advantage and the Tigers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and New York Yankees have 5.5, 6 and 7.5 game cushion, respectfully.
Strike one, baseball.
The most exciting race remaining this season is the National League wild card race, which features a sprint to the finish between the Colorado Rockies and the San Francisco Giants; and neither of these teams can generate that much excitement amongst Midwestern baseball enthusiasts.
Without the excitement of the baseball pennant push, everything else seems to be driving attention away from America’s Pastime as well. When, in late August, high temperatures are struggling to reach 70 degrees, this doesn’t draw my sports-loving mind to the baseball diamond, but rather to the gridiron. If the weather of late August can’t keep someone’s thoughts on baseball instead of football, it might be time to think about next year.
Baseball, that’s strike two.
Hot stories of football are eclipsing those of baseball, which is almost unheard of at this time of year. How can a story about the Brewers closing the first-place gap to 14 games compete with football headlines such as the return of Michael Vick after his prison stint for dog fighting or the signing of long-time Wisconsin idol Brett Favre by division-rival Minnesota Vikings? These stories just don’t compare, so strike three, baseball.
Well baseball fans, you know how this works — three strikes and you’re out.
Unfortunately for baseball, this means it will be pushed to the backburner of sports a little sooner than usual as fans turn their energy to football, in hopes of blocking out the pain of the season and the boredom of this September.
Tags: angels, baseball, Brewers, cardinals, chicago, Cubs, football, los angeles dodgers, september, sox, tigers, Twins, White Sox
Loading ...