Baseball Fever

Fall is for football AND playoff baseball! People like predictability. The playoffs are anything but predictable, except.....the Yankees! Again this fall the Yankees found a way to make it to the post season. But so did the Cleveland Indians. The opening game of the American League Divisional Season was played in Cleveland. A tough ticket to be had.....so when I was able to get tickets I was elated. And the game was worth every penny. After the Yankees quickly jumped out to a one to nothing lead on a controversial first batter home run originally called foul and then called fair, the Indians behind CC Sabbathia settled down, cranked up the bats and reeled off 4 home runs and many more hits that led to 12 runs and the victory. But that doesn't capture what the opening round of the playoffs is really about. It is about approaching the stadium on I90 and gradually slowing to a crawl as you exit onto the roads leading to the stadium. It is about wondering whether or not you'll ever find a parking spot after the parking lot you've been waiting for, for over 20 minutes closes after the car in front of you pulls in - no more parking spots left. It is walking toward the gate, "stalked" by ticket scalpers charging outrageous prices for top row seats in the farthest corners of the stadium. It is the anticipation of walking through the gate, pausing for the bag search, and begin handed a towel - "Its Tribe time now". As you move toward your seats the smells of the food is enticing. Same food as in July when we were here last, but the crisp fall air heights the aroma and the realization that this is the last visit for another year heights the cravings. After a short weight for the eats we climb to our seats. Whoa! How can tickets purchased off Stub Hub provide us a perfect location smack dab behind home plate in the highest section. The view of the field, the stadium and the city of Cleveland was breathtaking. As opening ceremonies began the emotion began to swell up. Emotion that doesn't make sense, but touches all of the important memories in life: Patriotism, childhood, family and past world series appearances leaving fan empty and the title unclaimed. Players were announced while fans booed the Yankees and cheered the Indians. After a wonderful rendition of the star-spangled banner, the release of balloons, the first pitch by the man with the drum in the outfield the managers exchanged lineups. As the umpires took the field the crowd began their shouts, "Yankees suck, Yankees suck!". The creshendo ended with CC's first pitch. But the cheers continued until the final out and the crowd happy walked to their cars and bars after a resounding Indians victory over the often-hated Yankees. October Madness begins!