Wake me up when September ends

In an effort to atone for my poor title selection in Friday's post, I give you the very appropriate "Wake me up when September ends" by Green Day.

One of my friendly coworkers asked me during the last week of September what it was like to follow a baseball team that had nothing to play for in September. Because of our good-natured sports banter during the season, I know he was only partially asking to rub salt in the wound of a Cubs fan. Also, because he's a Braves fan and hasn't had a meaningless September since the year after the Berlin Wall came down, he was probably genuinely curious as to what it was like.

I thought about it for a while, trying to come up with an analogy that would make sense in describing watching something that, in the long run, is essentially meaningless. Sure the players could add to their individual stats and maybe some of the younger players could impress the coaching staff enough to get a shot at making the team next year, but no fan has ever looked back at a disappointing season and said "man, I'm glad we got to play those young guys this year. That more than makes up for missing the playoffs."

Then, like a Derrek Lee home run, it hit me.

Remember the movie Old Yeller when the kid has to take Old Yeller out back to shoot him because the dog got rabies. That's what it's like watching meaningless baseball in September. You're making the long walk out behind the barn to put the season out of its misery. When the final out is made, you're all set pull the trigger.

But it's not all bad. After the initial disappointment, you realize you're going to get a new dog next spring. Sure, it'll be slightly different from the dog you loved this season, but you'll grow to love that dog just as much. You'll have high hopes for it, watching it early in the season at it develops its personality. You'll overlook it's flaws at first, convinced other dogs' flaws are worse. But over time, you'll realize your dog isn't as fast or strong as the other canines in the yard. Eventually you'll have to come to realization that your dog isn't the best of the bunch this year either and you'll take the long walk out to shoot him as well.

But there's always that one team that ends up winning the title. How does the Old Yeller analogy work there? Well, that's the dog that ends up getting stuffed and used as an end table to be remembered for years to come.

And that, Eddie, is what it's like to watch meaningless baseball in September.

Fantasy Update:Much like the disappointment I feel by not getting a call from Denise Richards, the Fighting Squirrels let me down, falling in the baseball championship. Nevertheless, it was a good run for the Fighting Squirrels and we've already begun scouting for next year. In football, the Squirrels are winning in one league while trailing in the other, which leads us to . . .
What I'm looking for tonight (not involving Yes Dear): I need the Packers to win big and Brett Favre to throw to Ahman Green and Bubba Franks early and often.

Cubs Update: The Cubs finished the year 79-83 and watching the playoffs from the comforts of their own home. As best I can tell, only two of the seven positions are locked up for next year, so there could be quite a bit of change from this year's team. Only time will tell.

Health update: I spent all weekend taking either DayQuil or NyQuil. It was not the most eventful of weekends.

Until next time, take care of yourself, and each other.