I think we all need at least one really nice positive thing about the entertainment business every single day of the year, including weekends. Sometimes it may be something simple, like a video that showcases something fun and sometimes it may be a movie poster that embraces the aesthetic we all want Hollywood to aspire to. Sometimes it may be a long-winded diatribe. Sometimes it’ll be from the staff and extended family of CHUD.com. Maybe even you readers can get in on it. So, take this to the bank. Every day, you will get a little bit of positivity from one column a day here. Take it with you. Maybe it’ll help you through a bad day or give folks some fun things to hunt down in their busy celluloid digesting day.
10.11.10
By Jeremy G. Butler (Author Page, Twitter Page, Facebook Page)
What I’m Thankful For:
October Baseball
Last Wednesday, Philadelphia Pitcher Roy Halladay threw a no-hitter. While that’s a helluvan accomplishment on its own, what makes it even more special is that he threw it in Game 1 of the Phillies’ divisional series against the Reds. That was only the second time in the history of Post-Season Baseball that someone had done that. The next day, The San Francisco Giants’ Tim Lincecum threw a 14-strikeout game. It wasn’t a no hitter (he allowed 2), but he threw like a beast for 9 solid innings. The Texas Rangers, a team that’s never really expected to do much – especially in the postseason – took a commanding 2-0 lead in their Divisional Series against the AL East Champion Tampa Bay Rays. And then the Rays, who, by all counts, had folded, came back and won two straight on the road to force a game 5.
This is the sort of thing that happens in October.
Now, granted, you can say that a lot of these things happen all the time during the regular season, and that’s true – they do. But, the thing about the regular season is that there’s a sense of fun, but there’s not a lot of sense of urgency. They play so many games during the regular season that an error, a walk, even a loss, doesn’t carry a lot of weight. But in the postseason, every mistake can change the course of the game, every stolen base or line drive that barely squeaks over the head of the infield can steal the momentum and steer an entire series. And it’s not only the sense of urgency, it’s the inherent magic of the season itself. When you walk outside there’s that hint of briskness in the air, the changing color palette – there’s warmth in the chilliness and there’s magic in the air.
You can see hundreds of 6-4-3 double plays during the course of the regular season, but you cheer a little louder when you see one after September 30th and for that I’m thankful.