I Threw It All Away
Way back, in 1985, I created what is arguably the longest and oldest continuously running roto league in Seattle. We began back when Roger Clemens wasn't yet Roger Clemens, and in 2021 are still going strong. Younger generations have come in, and stay, or go. Old timers (OGs - original gangstas) have moved on, except for 3 of us, and a couple who, like Ronnie Wood of the Stones, deserve the title for their years of service. A couple have yet to win the title, but like the M's, hope springs eternal. One OG recruited his son, a preteen who in 2001 bought every available Mariner, because kids believe, and don't mind being homers. Being 2001, he naturally smoked the rest of us. That kid is today a Yale grad and college professor in Poland. You can have a head and a heart.
We are old school: AL only, keeper league, no divisions, we meet in a living room. Everyone competes for the best record and the best record wins the pennant And the lion's share of the money. Some of the younger folks like this, and don't call for playoffs (although we began by strictly following the original Rotisserie League rules, we adjust with the times after discussion and vote - but generally, the younger crowd hates rule changes more than some of us OGs). One former player, a younger guy (in High School in 2001) recently admitted he did not know that this was the way the two major leagues once operated and that the only reason the Mariners are the only team to never play in the World Series is because the playoffs were created in 1969 and the 2001 season would have automatic placed them in the classic under the old setup. He had a difficult time imaging professional leagues without playoffs. It would indeed be unmanageable today, but when some other team's fan makes a crack about the Mariners being the ONLY team to never play in a World Series, my response is always the same: what's so damn special about doing something everyone else has doing? You're ordinary. But does your team hold the record for most wins in a season? Try joining THAT CLUB. We'll be in a World Series someday...the odds pretty much ensure it. But will your team ever set the record for most wins in a single season?
One of the pleasures of roto ball is having home town players on your team - when they produce. of course, I don't mind other teams having Mariner stars and beating mine out of the winnings, Mariners come first. But this season, I was able to snag Mitch Haniger for a bargain. It was a good contract, but I was in the midst of my own long put off rebuilding effort, and in the middle of a trade negotiation foolishly traded him away. Now THAT hurts, and I have a sort of weakness regarding sunk costs in that I can't forget the last and move on. Part of me...too large a part of me I confess...wants me to look brilliant in hindsight. So the kid I snagged in the deal - Tiger farmhand Riley Greene - damn well better become a star (along with Oakland Randy Johnson wannabe AJ Puk, who's looking more like little unit/James Paxton these days).
Watching Mitch Haniger choke up last night as he spoke about how special this season is after missing a year of a half of a painful injury and rehab (unable to even walk through much of it) - I was touched, and so happy for him. And I wished, again, That I had kept him, to make my baseball joy complete.
So, here's to you, Mitchie. I love what you're doing this September...carrying the offense on your back. You're our Joe DiMaggio. Classy, quiet, beautiful to watch. Show me wrong. Make me look like an idiot.