So I Changed my Mind.

1966…43 years ago, I was 12. I was a Dodger fan. I’m still a Dodger fan, so this year didn’t end right. Never-the-less in 1966 I picked the Dodgers to win the World Series. They had the previous year or two. But Baltimore swept them in 4 games; in fact the Dodger’s only scored 2 runs in the series as I recall. It was pitiful. I still hate the Orioles for it. From then on I have had an uncanny ability to pick the winner of the World Series. I know nobody believes me, but it’s true. Usually I watch a couple of games and know for sure. But I can usually tell from the playoffs.

This year I opened my big mouth and let the world know of my record. I had chosen correctly in 42 straight series. This year I picked Phillies over the Yankees. It went against what everyone else in the sports world was saying, but I’ve been there before. I had to brag about it. I’ve told a few people in the past but never the whole internet on Face Book. I even had people defending my knowledge of baseball, which isn’t as vast as some people think…but I won’t tell them that.

The truth is I knew by game 2 I was wrong. Here’s what happened. I hadn’t seen the Phillies pitching really. I figured it would hold up from last year and with Cliff Lee in there they should be able to handle the Yankees, I didn’t know Hammels and Lidge didn’t show up this year and at least one of them wanted to take his ball and go home early.

You need to know I don’t hate the Yankees. I really like a lot of the players on the team. I still can’t figure out what Mario Rivera does that is so effective. It just is. I think it’s probably psychological mostly. That’s the only thing I see going on. Anyway, when Yankee pitching shut down some of the Phillies hitting, the writing was on the wall. When your big gun sets a World Series record for most Strike Outs in a Series, there’s a problem. Utley went nuts, and Wade had his moments, but it was usually with the bases empty.

Both teams deserved to be there and either one could have won. It was a pretty evenly matched couple of teams. It was a good series. But now I have to hate them both like the Orioles. They made me look pretty stupid. You don’t mess with a 42 year record, even if you are the Yankees. I’m not real great at anything else, just getting the World Series right (technically I did this time too, but it wasn’t until game 2).

That leaves me thinking I will never again say it out loud to anyone ever again. I’m not a gambler so I’ll never get anything out of it except some satisfaction. But then I can change my mind once I see the match up and not spout off to the world.

I do have to say nobody has really rubbed it in. I’m hoping they forgot about it. If that’s the case then I can still claim an extension on my record. But don’t ask, and don’t tell is now my policy, and you’ll never know if I’m telling you the truth or not if you ask and I do pick a team, because this is now just my fun thing and mine alone. I’ve been chastened and humbled and have learned my lesson. Well at least until next October.