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Teams in Palookaville are feeling low

Sporting News, The, Sept 23, 2005 by Josh Lewin

That anthem is being sung by a handful of teams right now. Few hearts were broken in August this season; the majority will be smashed in September or October.

With four of the five National League East clubs above .500, with the Astros about to feast on the weak sisters of the Central and with five teams fighting for three postseason spots in the American League, we might he heading for coin flips and one-game playoffs and that kind of sizzle. Very cool for baseball in general.

But what of teams such as the Cubs--not to mention the Blue Jays, Orioles and Rangers--who were holding out hope in early August, only to see their bubble burst a couple of weeks later? Those four were invited to the party but left before it really got rocking. They'll be getting the cell phone call from their buds a little later, with reports of the wild times they missed.

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Texas is a good example of a team that stayed a contender long enough to give fans hope, but the Rangers failed to slip early enough to get a head start on marketing for next season. Texas started 30-20 while the downstate Astros were a downtrodden 17-32. There was buzz about whether Roger Clemens would waive his no-trade clause and head north for the summer to help the Rangers win the A.L. West. Still within a game of first at the All-Star break, the Rangers played eight of their next 11 against the suddenly scorching Athletics and lost seven of those eight. A 1-12 trip the following month sealed Texas' fate.

The Rangers, though, turned around and kicked the Twins in the crotch last week. Michael Young ruined a Joe Nathan save with a two-out, ninth-inning single, and Mark Teixeira followed with a massive 3-run homer. The Twins can pretty much point to that loss on September 6 as the day the music died (gratuitous Don McLean lyric) for them.

At least the Twins made it past Labor Day and gave their fans reason to hold out hope. There might be no feeling as empty as having the air slowly let out of your balloon in August after three or four months of thinking you're in it. Fans of the Rangers, Jays, O's and Cubs all can share in that late-summer bummer.

Josh Lewin is the television voice of the Rangers and a play-by-play announcer for FOX's Saturday. Game of the Week.

Teams in Palookaville are feeling low

Sporting News, The, Sept 23, 2005 by Josh Lewin

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