Obviously that headline is supposed to read "Cubs 2024 World Series run to begin in Texas."

I love baseball. I really like MLB. However over the years, because I'm a cranky old white dude, there are things I've come to dislike about MLB.

Relievers elected to the HOF.
The manfred man runner.
Not enough balls in play per game.
Banning the shift.
and a few others I won't list.

The Rangers’ Opening Day contest against the Cubs

And interleague games. That just seems wrong. The Rangers really should be playing the Astros or the devil themselves, the Yankees, or some other high profile AL team. Is there even a thing between the Cubs and Rangers?

Ah, yes, the age-old rivalry.

Had the Phillies reached the World Series—a 90–72 Wild Card team just like the Rangers—then Texas would have had home-field advantage by virtue of having won their match-up in the opening series of 2023.

Is there even a thing between the Cubs and Rangers?

Of course there is. The Rangers have been trying to stop Boo-Boo and his friends from stealing pic-a-nic baskets for years.

Oh man it is ON this time!

Is there even a thing between the Cubs and Rangers?

Ask BDC.

What if I told you the winner of the series gets the coveted honor of Steve Buechele wearing the team’s cap into the Hall of I Played Long Enough to Get the Full Pension?

Let's see

Fergie for Madlock (and others)
Palmeiro (and Moyer?) for Mitch Williams (stroke of genius!)
Dempster (or was it Garza?) for Hendricks
I remember Buechele but not the trade
I'm sure I'm forgetting a few big trades

Important update: Buechele went from Texas to Pitt then Pitt to Cubs a couple of years later. I don't rememmber that trade either. And it was Dempster. And Larry Biitner is actually a Sens II/Rangers -- Cubs overlap but also not direct, he was in Montreal for a bit (so Expos/Nats crossover) ... if you're still doing the grid. The great Paul Kilgus also part of that Palmerio trade.

I was sitting here going “Paul Kilgus! You forgot about Paul Kilgus!!” But you got him at the buzzer.

How the world has changed factoid:

8.6 K/9 -- Mitch Williams career
8.7 K/9 -- 2023 MLB average

Red white and blue opening night.

Dear Mr. President, there are too many teams these days. Please eliminate three. P.S. I am not a crackpot.

27 teams?????? That's crazy!! You are a crackpot.

IDK, if you like the Manfred Men -- you'll *love* the 3 teams playing at once in the same game.

It's the Woke War on even numbers. It's all singles and menages a trois these days, you never hear about traditional couples anymore.